The Lineage of Hélio Gracie and His Children

From left to right: Rolker, Royce, Rorion, Hélio, Relson, Rickson and Royler

The Main Names of the Gracie Family

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has deep roots in the Gracie family, and among its many members, the lineage of Helio Gracie has been prominent in spreading the art around the world. Known for adapting and refining Jiu-Jitsu to make it accessible to smaller, lighter fighters, Helio influenced generations and created a legacy of champions who shaped the sport as we know it today.

Helio Gracie: The Patriarch of Modern Jiu-Jitsu

Hélio Gracie (1913-2009) was one of the people most responsible for popularizing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With a physique considered fragile in his youth, he developed techniques based on leverage, precision and strategy to overcome stronger opponents. His style gave rise to what we know today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Throughout his life, Hélio not only proved the effectiveness of his system in Vale-Tudo combats, but also dedicated himself to teaching and expanding the sport. His children followed in his footsteps, each contributing in their own unique way to the evolution and dissemination of Jiu-Jitsu.

The Children of Hélio Gracie and His Legacy

Rorion Gracie

Rorion was one of the main people responsible for bringing Jiu-Jitsu to the United States. He founded the Gracie Academy in California and, in 1993, was one of the creators of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), an event that revealed the superiority of Jiu-Jitsu in real combat. His work helped transform the sport into a global reference within MMA.

Rickson Gracie

Considered by many to be the greatest Jiu-Jitsu fighter of all time, Rickson has racked up impressive victories in both Vale-Tudo and MMA. With his refined technique and unbeatable mentality, he has become a living legend and an icon for practitioners of the gentle art.

Royce Gracie

Royce was the big name in the UFC during the organization's early events. His performance at UFC 1, where he defeated much larger opponents with submission techniques, showed the world the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and cemented the art as one of the pillars of modern MMA.

Royler Gracie

A standout in sport Jiu-Jitsu competitions and the ADCC (the world's largest grappling tournament), Royler has won world titles and helped raise the level of competitive Jiu-Jitsu. His technical approach and precision in submissions have made him a reference within the sport.

Relson Gracie

Relson was one of the first members of his family to settle in Hawaii, where he helped spread Jiu-Jitsu throughout the region. With an aggressive style focused on self-defense, he became one of the art's leading teachers and influenced thousands of practitioners.

Robin, Rolker and others

Other sons of Helio have also followed the path of Jiu-Jitsu, whether as teachers, fighters or ambassadors of the sport. Each one has contributed to the growth and strengthening of the art, ensuring that the Gracie family legacy remains alive and relevant.

Helio Gracie’s lineage revolutionized Jiu-Jitsu and hand-to-hand combat, taking the art to a global level and influencing everything from Vale Tudo to modern MMA. His impact is still felt on the mats around the world, and his teachings continue to shape new generations of fighters.

If you practice Jiu-Jitsu, know that you are part of this history of innovation and overcoming. And to train with maximum performance, count on ROKN to offer the best in kimonos and equipment for your game.

OSS!