Robson Gracie

Carlos Robson Gracie Sr. (January 16, 1935 – April 28, 2023) was a Brazilian martial artist and 9th-degree red belt Grandmaster of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The second son of BJJ founder Carlos Gracie, Robson learned martial arts from his father and his uncle Helio Gracie. Known by the nickname "Nanico" (meaning "small/short"), a reference to his compact frame, he was nonetheless a fierce and tenacious competitor. Robson defended the Gracie family name in vale tudo (no-holds-barred) fights during the 1950s. His debut was in April 1957 against Artur Emidio, whom he submitted but famously refused to release until the referee physically separated them — a display of the intensity that characterized his fighting style. Robson's life extended far beyond the mat. In the 1960s, he served as a personal bodyguard to Leonel Brizola, the brother-in-law of Brazilian President João Goulart. Following the 1964 military coup, Robson's political affiliations placed him under scrutiny by the military regime. Though he did not follow a particular political ideology, he assisted the Marxist guerrilla organization Ação Libertadora Nacional (ALN) in arms deals. This led to his arrest by the Brazilian secret service (DOI-CODI), and several family members were also detained. Robson was imprisoned and subjected to torture for 60 days before being released in an open field in Teresópolis. His wife Vera Lucia petitioned the military government for his release and was herself briefly arrested. Later in life, Robson became an important administrator in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In 1983, he was appointed President of the Superintendence of Sport in Rio de Janeiro (SUDERJ). He subsequently became president of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro (FJJERJ), a position he held for many years, playing a key role in the institutional development of the sport. Robson's greatest legacy may be his children and grandchildren. He fathered five children who became central figures in modern BJJ: Charles, Renzo, Ralph, Ryan, and Flavia Gracie. His grandchildren include Kyra Gracie, the most decorated female Gracie competitor, and Neiman Gracie, a professional MMA fighter. The Robson Gracie branch became arguably the most internationally active lineage within the Gracie family, establishing academies across the Americas. In 2018, Robson presented an honorary black belt to future Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a ceremony that generated controversy as Bolsonaro had no formal jiu-jitsu training. Robson passed away on April 28, 2023, at the age of 88 in Rio de Janeiro. Sources: Wikipedia — Robson Gracie; BJJ Heroes; Graciemag; Jiu Jitsu Legacy; Elite Sports; Reila Gracie, "Carlos Gracie: O Criador de uma Dinastia."