Professor Carlos Gracie Jr. is the founder and head instructor of the Gracie Barra Academy, the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in the world, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The son of Carlos Gracie, the pioneer of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie Jr., has produced well over 200 black belts in his tenure, which today includes numerous world class athletes and well-known instructors including Renzo Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Marcio Simas, Marcio Feitosa, Nelson Monteiro and the Machado Brothers.

At the heart of the Gracie Barra mission statement is the goal of training both the body and spirit, going beyond the 'winning-losing' or 'contest' philosophy present in other martial arts. Instead, Professor Carlos Gracie Jr. emphasizes the fundamental principle of Jiu-Jitsu: "Minimum effort for maximum efficiency," a method of utilizing strength through gentleness, an expression exemplifying both the mental and physical aspects of Jiu-Jitsu. In Professor Carlos' mind, Jiu-Jitsu was in fact a method of education, which could be used to foster one's personal development. Professor Carlos considered the goals of Jiu-Jitsu to revolve around three aspects: physical education, personal achievement, and ethical growth. In other words, through the practice of Jiu-Jitsu, one would complete their personal development through the training of body and mind, becoming a person better able to contribute to society and the world. Recognizing the never-ending quest for self-perfection, even today Professor Carlos continues to study these techniques and principles with his students. The constant development of techniques demonstrates Professor Carlos' adherence to these principles, continuously striving for further progress and knowledge.

In spreading the values of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Professor Carlos is also the head of the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, www.cbjj.com.br) the largest international organization for overseeing the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The IBJJF is the organizer of the largest competition tournaments in the world including the World Championships of Jiu-Jitsu ("Mundials"), held in Rio every July, the Pan-American Championships held in Dominguez Hills, California, the European Championships held in Portugal, also held annually. This year also marks the first Asian Championships to be held in Japan.

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I am Carlos Gracie Jr., the founder of the Gracie Barra academy, located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I want to share a few words about the early days of the school and how it was created.

The history of Gracie Barra is directly related to my life, and as a result, the story of the school is also the story of my life, both past, present, and future.

The principal goal of my family of athletes and fighters, lead by my father Carlos Gracie, has always been to spread jiu jitsu, and to share the art which brings enormous benefits to one's life. My father was a naturalist and a very spiritual person, who had a great desire to pass on his knowledge to others, so that they could receive the benefits of jiu jitsu as well. Growing up in this environment, I learned the art of jiu jitsu is actually a method through which one strives for self-perfection.

My father's original academy was in the center of Rio de Janeiro, lead by my uncle Helio Gracie. It was there that I began my studies in jiu jitsu, becoming an instructor there, and finally, a professor. During this time, I worked alongside my brother Rolls and my cousin Rorion Gracie, who were also professors there.

Eventually, Rorion decided to live in the United States, and Rolls established a school in Copacabana together with my other older brother, Carlson Gracie. Thus, I was called upon to assume the responsibilities of running the academy together with my cousin Rickson. I was there for approximately two years, but during this time I went to study nutrition at a University and was living in Copacabana. During this time, I decided to work with Rolls. In the meantime, Carlson and Rolls had separated their schools but were still located in the same building, with the students training with either teacher on alternating days.

After working together for seven years, Rolls passed away in a hang-gliding accident. All of the students reunited and together with Rolls' wife, asked me to assume the responsibility of continuing the path that my brother Rolls began. We stayed in Copacabana for another four years, after which I decided to move to Barra da Tijuca, a promising newer neighborhood in the western part of the city which was growing. It was here that we became known as the "Gracies of Barra," and eventually, as we are called, simply, "Gracie Barra."

The first seeds of Gracie Barra were planted inside a small house almost twenty years ago. The first school had approximately 20 students, and grew to almost 200 hundred after just one year. We then moved the school to larger space inside of a gym, where we are still located today. Since establishing the school, we have consistently produced jiu jitsu instructors with high qualifications, as well as distinguishing ourselves in international competitions in Brazil and around the world. Today, Gracie Barra has the biggest jiu jitsu teams in the world.

Still, I feel very proud that my life's work has been to create an institution which is not focused just on building athletes or professors, but instead, in helping to build one's character.

Repeating the words which my father told me:
". . . each person who puts on the kimono and believes in jiu jitsu that myself and my family teaches is the realization of my life's work." - Carlos Gracie (1902-1994)

~Carlos Gracie, Jr.~

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