Who Is Carlos Gracie? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Carlos Gracie was born on September 14, 1902, and passed away in 1994. With a legacy that shaped martial arts, particularly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), his revolutionary techniques continue to influence practitioners worldwide. Born in Belém do Pará, Brazil, Carlos started studying Judo at an early age and later adapted its techniques, leading to the creation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By 2025, his teachings and legacy are celebrated globally, contributing to a flourishing community of BJJ enthusiasts.
| Occupation | Martial Artist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 14, 1902 |
| Age | 92 Years |
| Birth Place | Belém do Pará, Brazil |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Brazil |
| Date of death | 7 October, 1994 |
| Died Place | Petrópolis, Brazil |
Popularity
Carlos Gracie's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific height and weight details for Carlos Gracie are not extensively documented, he was known for his athletic build, which was sculpted through years of rigorous training. During his prime, he was an embodiment of strength and skill, vital for the high-level grappling and ground fighting that BJJ emphasizes.
The conflict then moved to the newspapers, where Rufino criticized Carlos's skill and dismissed his jiu-jitsu credentials, leading Carlos, George and Hélio to assault him in front of his teaching place at the Tijuca Tênis Clube on October 18.
They hit him repeatedly with a steel box and immobilized him for Carlos to apply an armlock, dislocating Rufino's shoulder so badly that it needed surgery.
This time the brothers were arrested and were convicted to two years and a half in prison for assault, as well as for trying to run away during the arrest, but their connections to President of Brazil Getúlio Vargas granted them a pardon.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Carlos Gracie was married to his wife, Maria Gracie, with whom he had several children. The Gracie family remains an important pillar in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, with many of his descendants continuing to teach and promote the art. As a family man, Carlos was known for his strong values and dedication to his family, ensuring the legacy of BJJ would be upheld for generations.
He was a mischievous, aggressive child, prone to getting involved in brawls and getting expelled from schools.
When Carlos was 15 years old, hoping to find a way for him to vent his aggression, his father Gastão took him to a professional wrestling challenge hosted in the circus he owned, where Carlos witnessed how the judoka Mitsuyo Maeda defeated a much bigger man.
Impressed by the feat, he allegedly started taking classes under Maeda and his assistant Jacyntho Ferro, albeit for a short time, as his family moved to Rio de Janeiro for economic reasons.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimating Carlos Gracie's net worth in 2025 is challenging due to his passing in 1994. However, his legacy continues to add considerable value to the Gracie name, with the family affiliated schools and organizations thriving globally. The income generated through these institutions helps maintain and promote the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, potentially earning millions annually.
Career, Business and Investments
Carlos Gracie's career as a martial artist started in the 1920s, around the time he developed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His dedication to teaching and refining this martial art has influenced countless practitioners. Gracie established the first BJJ academy in Brazil, and his innovative teaching methods attracted students both locally and internationally. In addition to his teaching, Carlos was known for his contributions to the founding of several Gracie Jiu-Jitsu schools and associations, which have driven the growth of BJJ as a competitive sport.
During this time, aside from both teaching and learning jiu-jitsu under Pires, Gracie dedicated himself to participate in unsanctioned prizefights in small bars, to promote cockfighting, and to experiment on nutrition and dietary habits.
He would claim in 1981 to have competed in amateur boxing with a 20-0 record during this time, while his daughter Reila Gracie cited him as a national middleweight champion, but there is no record for those claims. In June 1931, Pires moved to Santa Catarina due to his job in the Ministry of the Economy, leaving his academy in Gracie's hands.
Social Network
Carlos Gracie's impact on social networks in terms of fandom and community is vast. While he does not have a direct social media presence in 2025, the Gracie family, as well as various BJJ organizations, continue to share his teachings and philosophies through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Fans and students frequently share videos and posts honoring his contributions to martial arts.
Education
Carlos Gracie was primarily self-taught in martial arts, learning from various practitioners of Judo. Over the years, his extensive training and experimentation led him to develop his techniques and strategies, which became the foundation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His legacy is not just about fighting techniques but also about life lessons and physical education that continue to inspire new generations of martial artists today.
On July 3, 1931, Gracie and Jayme Ferreira celebrated a challenge event between three jiu-jitsu fighters from his academy and three capoeira fighters trained by Ferreira, echoing a street fight Carlos supposedly had years before with a capoeirista named Samuel.
The challenge forced the fighters to wear judogis and forbade strikes on the ground, which caused one of the capoeiristas, Coronel, to be disqualified upon hitting George Gracie. In the other two matches, Oswaldo Gracie and Benedicto Peres defeated their opponents.
The event was negatively received, however, not only due to a ruleset perceived as too favorable to the jiu-jitsu side, but also to accusations that Ferreira (a Greco-Roman wrestling teacher associated to Gracie) was not a capoeira master and therefore his side could not represent the art.
