Kyra Gracie

Kyra Gracie Guimaraes (born May 29, 1985, in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian submission grappler and 4th-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The granddaughter of Robson Gracie and great-granddaughter of BJJ founder Carlos Gracie Sr., she is widely regarded as the most accomplished female competitor in the history of the Gracie family. Kyra grew up in the same household as her uncles Renzo, Ralph, Ryan, and Charles Gracie, all BJJ black belts, and began practicing jiu-jitsu playfully as a toddler. She took up formal training around age 11, but faced resistance from the conservative men in her family who considered the sport too rough for women. Undeterred, she dedicated herself fully to competition, proving she was as tough as any Gracie before her. Training extensively with Alexandre Soca before moving to Gracie Barra headquarters in 2005 to work under her uncle Carlos Gracie Jr., Kyra received her black belt at age 21 — becoming one of only two women in the Gracie family to achieve this rank and the first Gracie woman to actively compete in tournaments. Her competitive record is extraordinary. She won four IBJJF World Championships (2006, 2008 in both weight and absolute, and 2010), three ADCC World Championships (2005, 2007, 2011), two Pan-American titles (2005, 2007), and three Brazilian National Championships. She also earned numerous silver medals at Worlds and Pans, reflecting years of consistent dominance at the highest level. She was inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame in 2021 in recognition of her historic contributions to submission grappling. Beyond competition, Kyra holds a black belt in judo and participated in Kunoichi, the female version of Japan's Sasuke/Ninja Warrior obstacle course show. She also studied law briefly before leaving university to focus entirely on jiu-jitsu. After retiring from competition in 2014, Kyra transitioned to media work, becoming a prominent UFC and MMA analyst for TV Globo, SporTV, and Canal Combate in Brazil from 2012 to 2018. She appeared on high-profile shows including Programa do Jô (comparable to The Tonight Show) and Esporte Espetacular, becoming one of the most recognizable jiu-jitsu personalities in Brazilian media. In 2018, Kyra left television to open Gracie Kore, a boutique jiu-jitsu academy in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, together with her husband, Brazilian actor Malvino Salvador. The academy focuses on women and children, offering programs starting from six months of age, anti-bullying curricula, and female empowerment workshops. The couple has three children: daughters Ayra and Kyara, and son Rayan. Sources: Wikipedia — Kyra Gracie; BJJ Heroes; BJJ Fanatics; ADCC News; Gracie Kore.