OUR HISTORY

Gracie Barra History

At the heart of the Gracie Barra Family's extraordinary success over the years is our strong philosophy and mission as a group, a foundation which our masters laid many years ago, but is constantly made stronger by all of the great people involved in our community. Jiu-Jitsu is a beautiful art, and we have a vision of how it should be taught, as well as how our community should work together for common, powerful, and positive goals. [ Read More ... ]

Carlos Gracie Jr. History

"I am Carlos Gracie Jr., the founder of the Gracie Barra academy, located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I want to share a few words about the early days of the school and how it was created. The history of Gracie Barra is directly related to my life, and as a result, the story of the school is also the story of my life, both past, present, and future." [ Read More ... ]

Jiu Jitsu History

Some historians of jiu jitsu say that the origins of "the gentle art" can be traced back to India, and was practiced by Buddhist Monks. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques based upon principles of balance and leverage, and a system of manipulating the body in a manner where one could avoid relying upon strength or weapons. In the last days of the 19th century, some jiu jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents, teaching the martial arts, as well as competing in fights and competitions. [ Read More... ]