Clark Gracie - The Gracie Allegiance Coach, and The Omoplata King

Clark Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie Senior and son of Carley Gracie is the top Belt under his father Carley Gracie. He is one of the best middleweight BJJ competitors of his generation. 

Clark Gracie started training BJJ at a very young age like other Gracies . He started BJJ from 3 to 4 years of age in his living room by his father. He said in various interviews that he learned the basic BJJ techniques from his father. 

When he was 10 years old, he joined his father’s academy in San Francisco, California because there was no special academy or class for kids. He started training with lighter guys and girls, but when he turned 12, he was very much inspired by his cousins who are representing the Gracie family in big events like UFC.

He was very motivated to represent Jiu-Jitsu in the World. He wanted Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to be good on the mat and also off the mat because Jiu-Jitsu is not a sport, it's a lifestyle. 

At the age of 15, Clark went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil along with his father. Clark started his school and training in Brazil. Clark went back to America to complete his high school but again relocated to Brazil. 

Clark moved to San Diego to join the Revolution Team led by Rodrigo Medeiros. He wanted to make his game more efficient. In the Revolution Team, he met various tough competitors. After training with these tough guys, Clark improved his game. 

Clark started training in Muay Thai as his father had some Muay Thai students in the gym. He also trained in boxing. He loved to see MMA fights. He was a little bit confused about the decision of his future career between BJJ and MMA . 

Clark decided to pursue BJJ because BJJ is growing as an uprising sport and it has its roots in Gracie Family. He loves to watch MMA but does not train and participate in MMA. He wanted to become a master in one field.

Another reason for not joining MMA is he thinks MMA audiences want some barbaric views and are provoking violence in this sense. He believed that overcoming and taking down your opponent takes time, preparation, and determination. If you are expecting a 5-minute game, it will cause bleeding and the game can be barbaric. 

Clark Gracie was very inspired by his grandfather Carlos Gracie and his father Carley Gracie. He said that his grandfather was a very smart and fantastic guy and also his dad. He was like a mentor for the whole family.

Clark Gracie also found it very special to receive his Black Belt from his father. He said that he learned Jiu-Jitsu from many people but his fundamental skills come from his father and he is very much honored to represent his Jiu-Jitsu.

His senior cousins also inspired him very much. He said Gracie's family is spread all over the world. He met his cousins at different international tournaments and these tournaments are family reunions for them. 

Clark Gracie found Jiu-Jitsu as his lifestyle. Jiu-Jitsu is about resolving problems with different techniques. He thinks that in our life, we need to have this approach that if we are stuck in a problem, we should always opt for a solution-oriented approach.

Besides this, Jiu-Jitsu gives you the opportunity to make friends. When you go to the gym and start training, you will meet a lot of people who are helping you or need your help. This is like a family. 

Clark Gracie mentioned that he is never afraid of losing a fight. He does fight with his maximum energy and gives his best but is not afraid of results. He enjoys the battle. 

Clark Gracie is considered a ridiculously photogenic Jiu-Jitsu instructor. One of his pictures became viral on the internet. Due to the fame of this picture, Clark Gracie was also invited to a morning show, “Good Morning America”.

This picture belongs to the 2012 New York Open when Clark was applying his favorite Omoplata and his opponent took him up from the ground. Due to his strong grip, he did not fall. This moment was captured by cameramen and got viral. 

Clark Gracie is the owner of Gracie Allegiance and is one of the richest people in the Gracie family which owns a net worth of five million dollars. His income source is teaching Jiu-Jitsu and seminars. 

After his successful performance in various tournaments in 2010 at the Brown Belt level, Clark Gracie was promoted to Black Belt by his father, Craley Gracie in May 2010. He was awarded his belt in a ceremony that was conducted at BJJ Revolution Team Academy. 

In Pan's American 2013, Clark performed in the Middleweight category and submitted his opponent with Omoplata. This was the only submission in the Pan American tournament and his opponent went unconscious Omoplata. He was awarded “The Submission of the Year Award ''. 

Clark Gracie is also World Master 2018 as he won the IBJJF World Championship No-Gi Master 2018 in the Middleweight division. 

Clark Gracie is the owner and coach at Clark Gracie Jiu-Jitsu which is now converted to Gracie Allegiance Jiu-Jitsu. Clack Gracie merged his Clark Gracie academy with Allegiance Jiu-Jitsu which is present in New Zealand.

Both academies changed their names and selected one name. Gracie Allegiance Jiu Jitsu academy's headquarter is present in San Diego. 

Clark Gracie also has a website where he is giving online classes to those who are willing to learn JiuJitsu from Clark Gracie. Furthermore, he also made various instructional videos which are available on Youtube. 

Clark Gracie is famous for his submission style. He submitted his opponents various times with Omoplata and Kimura. These two are Clark’s favorite techniques.

Clark is also known as Omoplata king because he turns any position into Omoplata and had 50% of his submissions due to Omoplata. Clark also got the submission of the year award for submitting his opponent with Omoplata. He is famous for his signature Omoplata and he made various instructional videos on this technique. 

Clark Gracie faced Marcelo “Lapela” Mafra in the final of Pans American 2013. Marcelo took a good start by taking down and trying to apply a triangle choke.

Gracie tried to score points by taking down Marcelo but Marcelo scored two by sweeping. After that sweep, Clark took Marcelo in a leg lasso position and had a strong grip on his left hand which prevented Marcelo from applying side control.

Clark succeeded to apply full guard which he turned into Omoplata very fabulously. Marcelo tried his best and succeeded to escape from Omoplata.

In the last 1 minute and 40 seconds, Clark took down Marcelo and submitted Marcelo with his signature Omoplata with which he was awarded his submission of the year award.

Clark Gracie faced John Combs in the Elementary fight of the Pans Championship 2017. He executed his best performance of Omoplata in this match.

John Combs tried to take down Clark but Clark countered by applying his favorite technique, Omoplata. John Combs tried hard in the next four minutes to escape from that Omoplata but Clark had a very strong grip on his arm.

At the end of the match, when John tried to escape, Clark took this as an opportunity and turned towards John’s back. From the back, Omoplata got severe and John did not tolerate it and gave submission. 

This fight was between Clark Gracie and Marco Machado in IBJJF Pans 2013. Marco Machado was very much energetic at the beginning of the match. He tried to take down Clark but Clark countered with Triangle Choke. Marco escaped from Triangle Coke and tried to turn Clark by pulling his legs in the air.

Clark is an expert at various positions in Omoplata. He used his legs to apply Omoplata by making a hook of legs around Marco’s shoulder.

Clark’s grip is so strong that Marco tried to escape with his grip but it was futile. In his last try to escape, Clark submitted Marco with his deadly Omoplata. 

Clark Gracie VS DJ Jackson / Pan Championship 2013

Clark Gracie vs Marcelo "Lapela" Mafra Pan 2013 Jiu Jitsu Middleweight Finals OFFICIAL

Clark Gracie vs John Combs / Pan Championship 2017

Clark Gracie VS Otavio Sousa / Pan Championship 2013

Photo Credit: @clarkgracie