Carley Gracie
Encyclopedia
Carley Gracie, nicknamed "The lion of the Gracie family", is a Brazil
ian-born martial artist and a prominent member of the Gracie family
.
Carley is the 11th child of Carlos Gracie
(the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu), and was the last member of the Gracie family to actually be trained by his father Carlos Gracie. Carley is one of the few people in the world to hold an 8th degree black belt
or red and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
, and is known to be one of the most technical members of the Gracie family.
From 1969-1972, Carley was the Brazil
ian national champion in both jiu-jitsu and vale tudo
. He received his 7th degree black belt at the unprecedented age of 22, and is currently certified an 8th degree red-and-black-belt by the Federation of Jiu-Jitsu of Rio de Janeiro (the first certifying organization for the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu).
In 1972, Carley moved to the United States, where he fought challenge matches and trained students up and down the eastern seaboard. Carley was the first member of the Gracie family to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
in the United States, and gave classes at locations in Virginia and Florida before moving to California in 1979. He eventually opened a school in San Francisco, California
, where he currently teaches.
In 1994, Carley interceded in a family dispute over use of the Gracie name in jiu-jitsu. His cousin Rorion Gracie
had obtained a federal trademark registration for the term "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" and was demanding that other members of the Gracie family stop using their surname (Gracie) in connection with jiu-jitsu instruction. Carley, who was the first Gracie to teach in the United States, challenged Rorion's registration and a lengthy legal battle followed. Carley ultimately won the lawsuit over the Gracie name, when the jury found that Rorion did not have a valid federal trademark registration for the name "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu." The jury also found that Carley had infringed a triangle logo trademark, which was designed by the late Rolls Gracie and used by many Gracie family members in Brazil but had been registered in the United States by Rorion, who was awarded $108,000 in damages (along with attorney's fees). Both sides appealed, but Rorion's appeal was dismissed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Carley's favor, affirmed his victory over the Gracie name and ordered the District Court Judge to cancel Rorion's federal trademark registration.
→ Carlos Gracie, Sr.
→ Carley Gracie
, in California
. He has one daughter Tanya Gracie and two sons: Clark Gracie
and Ralston Gracie. Both of his sons train and teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Clark Gracie has an academy in La Jolla, California. Ralston Gracie is currently teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Brentwood as well as at Carley's academy in San Francisco, California
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian-born martial artist and a prominent member of the Gracie family
Gracie family
The Gracie family is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu . They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events...
.
Biography
Carley was born at sea, off the coast of Natal, Brazil, and was raised in Rio de Janeiro and Teresopolis, Brazil.Carley is the 11th child of Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie was the first Gracie to learn Judo from Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda. Based on this judo training, Carlos and his brothers founded the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
(the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu), and was the last member of the Gracie family to actually be trained by his father Carlos Gracie. Carley is one of the few people in the world to hold an 8th degree black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
or red and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
, and is known to be one of the most technical members of the Gracie family.
From 1969-1972, Carley was the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian national champion in both jiu-jitsu and vale tudo
Vale tudo
Vale tudo are full-contact unarmed combat events, with a limited number of rules, that became popular in Brazil during the 20th century. Vale tudo has been considered a combat sport by some observers...
. He received his 7th degree black belt at the unprecedented age of 22, and is currently certified an 8th degree red-and-black-belt by the Federation of Jiu-Jitsu of Rio de Janeiro (the first certifying organization for the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu).
In 1972, Carley moved to the United States, where he fought challenge matches and trained students up and down the eastern seaboard. Carley was the first member of the Gracie family to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
in the United States, and gave classes at locations in Virginia and Florida before moving to California in 1979. He eventually opened a school in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he currently teaches.
In 1994, Carley interceded in a family dispute over use of the Gracie name in jiu-jitsu. His cousin Rorion Gracie
Rorion Gracie
Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor, a prominent member of the Gracie family, and a founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the oldest son of Hélio Gracie and one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,...
had obtained a federal trademark registration for the term "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" and was demanding that other members of the Gracie family stop using their surname (Gracie) in connection with jiu-jitsu instruction. Carley, who was the first Gracie to teach in the United States, challenged Rorion's registration and a lengthy legal battle followed. Carley ultimately won the lawsuit over the Gracie name, when the jury found that Rorion did not have a valid federal trademark registration for the name "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu." The jury also found that Carley had infringed a triangle logo trademark, which was designed by the late Rolls Gracie and used by many Gracie family members in Brazil but had been registered in the United States by Rorion, who was awarded $108,000 in damages (along with attorney's fees). Both sides appealed, but Rorion's appeal was dismissed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Carley's favor, affirmed his victory over the Gracie name and ordered the District Court Judge to cancel Rorion's federal trademark registration.
Instructor lineage
Mitsuyo "Count Koma" MaedaMitsuyo Maeda
,a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda,was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908...
→ Carlos Gracie, Sr.
Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie was the first Gracie to learn Judo from Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda. Based on this judo training, Carlos and his brothers founded the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
→ Carley Gracie
Personal life
Gracie is a resident of the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He has one daughter Tanya Gracie and two sons: Clark Gracie
Clark Gracie
Clark Gracie is a Brazilian-American martial artist and the oldest son of Carley Gracie, both prominent members of the Gracie family, a Brazilian martial arts dynasty famous for its mastery of the sport of jiu-jitsu.- Biography :...
and Ralston Gracie. Both of his sons train and teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Clark Gracie has an academy in La Jolla, California. Ralston Gracie is currently teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Brentwood as well as at Carley's academy in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.