The Maeda Project · 2352 of 2945 biographies complete
2,945 athletes across 5 eras of BJJ history
Region
Athletes with the most registered students in the database
Chapter 5 · The Organizer
Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie Jr. (born 1956) is an 8th-degree coral belt and the single most important organizational figure in BJJ history. He founded Gracie Barra (1986) -- now the world's largest BJJ organization with 800+ schools -- and co-founded the IBJJF (2002), which standardized competition rules and belt requirements globally.
Rigan Machado is an 8th degree coral belt, one of the five Machado Brothers.
Chapter 4 · The Warrior's Branch
Carlson Gracie was born on the 13th of August, 1932 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was the son of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Founder Carlos Gracie and he became a top competitor in No Holds Barred/Vale Tudo matches during the 1950's and 1960's era. He was also one of the finest Jiu-Jitsu coaches to have ever lived.
Pedro Sauer isan 8th degree Brazilian jiu jitsu coral belt and a former student of the legendary Rickson Gracie. Pedro Sauer is revered as one of the pioneers of the gentle art in the United States, having moved to the northern hemisphere country in the early 1990's.
Royler Gracie (born 1965) is a 4x IBJJF World Champion, 3x consecutive ADCC champion, and son of Helio Gracie. He ran Gracie Humaita in Rio before relocating to San Diego. Inducted into both the IBJJF and ADCC Halls of Fame.
Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti (born October 22, 1952) was the last black belt promoted by Rolls Gracie before his death in 1982.
Chapter 6 · The New York Line
Renzo was born on March 11, 1967, in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. He is the grandson of Gracie Jiu Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie and son of 9th Dan BJJ black belt Robson Gracie , brother to Ralph and Ryan Gracie. Like most men in the Gracie family, Renzo started training Jiu Jitsu as an infant.
Rickson Gracie was born in November 20, 1958 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rickson is one of the 9 sons of Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster Helio Gracie (in order: Rorion, Relson , Rickson, Rolker , Royler , Royce , Rerika, Robin, Ricci), spending most of his youth on the mats.
Chapter 3 · The Philosophy
Born in October 1st 1913, Helio was the youngest son of Gastao Gracie, a third generation Scotsman. There were 9 brothers and sisters, and Helio stood out since the beginning due to his body type; tall and lanky he was the complete opposite of his brothers who were shorter, and stockier.
BJJ history across five eras