Biography of BJJ Red Belt: Grand Master Robson Gracie

Carlos Robson Gracie was a 9th-degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He had a lot of passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Besides having a passion and strong interest in Jiu Jitsu, he was also interested in Brazilian politics. This interest led him to involve himself in his country’s politics. He liked his country’s president and military officer, Jair Bolsonaro. He also awarded him with the honorary black belt. His extraordinary skills and work in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game earned him the title of “Grand Master.”

Carlos Robson Gracie was born on the 16th of January, 1935. He was raised in a city that gave birth to a number of martial artists, Rio de Janeiro, located in Brazil, the founding country of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is a member of the Gracie family. He was the son of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (also termed Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) founder Carlos Gracie. Being a member of the Gracie family, it was not unusual for him to have a passion and interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He started doing Jiu Jitsu, seeing his parents and other family members practicing and training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Carlos Robson Gracie started learning and practicing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under his father and founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie. Later on, his uncle and brother of Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie, started coaching Carlos Robson Gracie. Both made sure to make their son the best BJJ player in the world after them. It was the result of the coaching by the BJJ legends Carlos and Helio, which made Robson earn the title of Grand Master in BJJ.

Carlos Robson Gracie made his debut in mixed martial arts in 1957 and played his first professional match against Artur Emidio. Robson remained dominant throughout the match and submitted his first opponent. He continued holding him until the referee had to come and separate the two. This way, Robson started his professional MMA career with a great win. He made headlines with this win, as this created controversy around the media because he was not releasing his opponent despite being tapped out by his opponent. In his upcoming fights, he also displayed great courage and dominated his opponents. 

Like his father and uncle, Carlos Robson Gracie earned a red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His uncle Helio Gracie was the one who awarded him with the red belt as he was the instructor of Robson. It takes years for someone to earn a black belt in the BJJ, and it takes your whole life if you want to earn the red belt. This was what Robson gave to BJJ World to earn a red belt. This achievement, along with other contributions of Robson Gracie to the BJJ world, was enough for him to earn the title of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grand Master.

Carlos Robson Gracie was raised in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), where he first practiced and trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Later on, he continued his career as an instructor. He started teaching at the most prestigious BJJ academy in the world “Gracie Academy.” It was the same academy where his father, Carlos Gracie, and his uncle, Helio Gracie, used to teach. Both were among the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, who brought the greatest martial art to Brazil.

Carlos Robson Gracie entered the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation in his state, i.e., Rio de Janeiro Federation of Jiu-Jitsu. He was nominated as the president of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation in his home city. He remained the president till his death in 2023. Rio de Janeiro Federation of Jiu-Jitsu is the governing body of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the city of Rio de Janeiro. All certifications, whether it's teaching or any other thing related to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, were given by this federation under Carlos Robson Gracie. Belt promotions to black belts and above black belts are also governed by this federation in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Robson Gracie remained deeply involved in the politics of Brazil. The governor of Brazil, Leonel de Moura Brizola, nominated him as his personal bodyguard. He was also the one who awarded the then Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro an honorary Jiu-Jitsu black belt. This created controversy because Jair had never trained and practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and he got a black belt. He was a supporter of the Marxist Guerrilla group in Brazil. When the military dictatorship was started in Brazil, their president was overthrown by the military, and Robson and many other Gracie family members were arrested and taken into custody due to Robson Gracie’s support for the Marxist group, which was against the military. However, he was later on released.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend and grandmaster Carlos Robson Gracie passed away on April 28th, 2023. He worked all his life for the promotion and development of the game. He learned, practiced, fought, and taught in his home city, Rio de Janeiro. He became president of the federation in his home city and later on died in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has left behind many greats and best fighters in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world. Notable mentions are Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, Ralph Gracie, and many other students who ruled the BJJ world later on. His students became instructors. So, the legacy of BJJ Grandmaster Carlos Robson Gracie is still continued. 

Rodrigo Reis vs Carlos Robson