George Gracie
“Gato Ruivo”
Source: digitsu.comKnown as Gato Ruivo, George Gracie’s story spans a 1929 ring debut, a long fighting career, and a later fight-promotion company, Empresa George Gracie.
Biography
Sources for this profile
GracieMag, ‘George Gracie: O Gato Ruivo,’ retrieved 2026-09-13.(opens in a new tab)
GracieMag’s George Gracie profile gives his lifespan as 1911–1985 and says he was born in 1911.
Where in the source: Opening biographical paragraph — “Grande mestre George Gracie (1911–1985)”.
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GracieMag’s George Gracie profile says he died on 8 August 1985 at age 74.
Where in the source: Closing biographical paragraph — “Faleceu no dia 8 de agosto de 1985, aos 74 anos.”
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GracieMag dates George Gracie’s first ring appearance to 28 April 1929, when it says he drew with heavyweight Getulio Mariano in São Paulo.
Where in the source: Career account — “estreia … 28 de abril de 1929” and “empatou com o peso pesado Getulio Mariano”.
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Digitsu, ‘George Gracie,’ retrieved 2026-09-13.(opens in a new tab)
Digitsu’s George Gracie profile lists his nickname as Gato Ruivo.
Where in the source: Profile facts — “Nick Name: Gato Ruivo”.
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Digitsu’s George Gracie profile says that his older brother Carlos introduced him to jiu-jitsu after the family moved to Rio de Janeiro.
Where in the source: Origins, Family Background, and Early Training — “his older brother Carlos Gracie introduced him to jiu-jitsu”.
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Josh Simon, ‘The Story of the Red Cat, George Gracie,’ Simon BJJ, retrieved 2026-09-13.(opens in a new tab)
Simon BJJ dates George Gracie’s professional fighting career from 1930 to 1953 and reports more than 75 documented fights.
Where in the source: The Story of the Red Cat, opening career section — “began his professional fighting career in 1930” and “75+ documented fights”.
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Simon BJJ says George Gracie began Empresa George Gracie, his own promotion, in 1956.
Where in the source: Later Years — “In 1956, he started his own promotion, Empresa George Gracie”.
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GracieMag, ‘Pedro Hemetério,’ retrieved 2026-09-13.(opens in a new tab)
GracieMag’s Pedro Hemetério profile says Pedro fought George Gracie on 13 December 1952 and submitted him with a choke after mounting him at 26 minutes.
Where in the source: Pedro Hemetério biography — “A luta ocorreu em 13 de dezembro de 1952” and “aos 26 minutos, Hemetério montou, encaixou o estrangulamento”.
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