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Relson Gracie
Name: Relson Gracie
Born: March 28, 1953
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rank: 9th Degree Red Belt
Black Belt Awarded By: Helio Gracie
Patriarchal Team: Gracie Humaitá
Team: Relson Gracie
Nickname: Campeão (Champion)
Current Residences: Hawaii, United States and Brazil
Relson Gracie is the second oldest son of Helio Gracie. Helio and his brothers are credited with enhancing and popularizing early Brazilian Judo/Jiu-Jitsu into what we currently consider Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or more specifically, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Relson began his training at the age of two, started competing in sport Jiu-Jitsu tournaments at the age of ten and was awarded his black belt by his father at eighteen years old. Relson, along with his younger brother Rickson and cousin Rolls, were considered the three greatest competitors of their generation. Relson competed for twenty-two years, retiring undefeated and earning the nickname, Campeão, Portuguese for champion.
Different Gracie family members would go on to specialize in various facets of Jiu-Jitsu and would expand and refine the art in their own ways. Relson, as a rambunctious teen and then as a young man, would get into many street fights and challenge matches. It was here, that Relson would develop his signature style. It is often said, that if you ask any Gracie family member which Gracie they would not want to fight in the street, the unanimous answer would always be Relson.
Relson would teach at the original Gracie Academy at Rio Branco before he founded the incredibly influential Iate Clube Jardim Guanabara (ICJG) academy in 1975. He would then go to teach at the relocated Gracie Academy when it opened in Flamengo in 1978. In 1985, Relson would move from Rio de Janeiro to Monterey, California to teach at the Eseline Therapy Institute. In 1988, he would relocate to Honolulu, Hawaii and establish his permanent academy and home.
Relson’s specialization in street self-defense and Vale Tudo (Portuguese for “anything goes” fights. An early precursor to today’s Mixed Martial Arts [MMA] competitions.) caused him to be selected as younger brother Royce Gracie’s trainer for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
During this time period in the 1990’s Relson was instrumental in spreading Gracie Jiu-Jitsu throughout the United States. It was a time when there were very few instructors in the United States and Relson would tirelessly travel the country visiting academy to academy (two of the most prominent being Maxercise in Philadelphia and Gracie Ohio in Columbus). Relson’s dedication to his students is demonstrated in the dozens of academies that continue to be members of the Relson Gracie Team today.
Grandmaster Relson Gracie
Relson Gracie Black Belts (Work in Progress)
The below is a partial list of Black Belts awarded by Relson Gracie. This was previously listed on his Wikipedia, but is no longer available. I am publishing a copy here, but cannot confirm it is accurate nor complete, as people could self-edit the Wiki page. If you have updates or corrections, please reach out to me.
- Steve Maxwell - Maxercise - Philadelphia, PA - 11/2001
- Scott Devine - Devine Jiu-Jitsu - Brunswick, GA - 3/2003
- F M - Relson Gracie - Honolulu - 3/2003
- Jeff Hudson (6th Degree/Coral Belt) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 3/2003
- Phil Migliarese (6th Degree) - Balance Studios - Philadelphia, PA - 3/2003
- Andre Derizans - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI - 3/2003
- Sam Mahi (7th Degree) - Relson Gracie - 4/14/2004
- Rick Migliarese (5th Degree) - Balance Studios - Philadelphia, PA - 1st, 2005
- Kofi Debrah - Relson Gracie - 9/28/2005
- Robin Gieseler (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2006
- Ronn Shiraki (7th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy - Honolulu, HI - 6/5/2006
- Kimo Kreis (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy - Kaneohe, HI - 6/5/2006
- Phil Cardella (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy Austin - Austin, TX - 6/5/2006
- Mike Onzuka (7th Degree) - 02 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 4/4/2007
- Garth Spendiff (3rd Degree) - Coastal Combatives Inc - Savannah, GA- 8/25/2007
- Vince Panzano - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - ?
- Lionel Perez - North Florida Brazilian jiu-jitsu - Jacksonville, FL - ?
- Richard Giberson (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy Austin - Austin, TX - 10/8/2007
- Nathan Zigler - (6th Degree) - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 1/26/2008
- Toney Waldecker (6th Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy - Sunderland, MD - 4/18/2008
- David Wilson - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 7/24/2008
- Shawn Chitwood (6th Degree) - Team Chitwood - Columbus, OH - 11/14/2008
- Steve Hordinski (3rd Degree) - Katharo Training Center - Littleton, CO - 1/17/2009 (no longer affiliated)
- Michael Casey (6th Degree) - Gracie Jiu Jitsu New York - Bronx, NY - 1/24/2009
- Chris Onzuka (6th Degree) - 02 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 2/11/2009
- Shane Agena - 02 Martial Arts Academy - Aiea, HI - 2/11/2009
- Todd Tanaka (6th Degree) - Relson Gracie/Team HK Jiu Jitsu - Honolulu, HI - 7/22/2009
- Jay Dennis - Relson Gracie Myrtle Beach South Carolina - 8/9/2009
- Rodrigo Salazar (3rd Degree) - Denver Jiu Jitsu Academy - Denver, CO - 10/24/2009
- Heath Wigginton - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 12/16/2010
- Tony Zara - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2/19/2011
- Matt Rigney - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 2/19/2011
- Mark Kurano - Relson Gracie/Gracie Waikiki - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Jeff Furuta (2nd Degree) - Relson Gracie/Gracie Uptown - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Kaleo Auwae (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie/Team Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu- Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Josh Lauber (5th Degree) - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Rhalan Gracie - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Kaleo Hosaka (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Gye Nitta - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/22/2011
- Jim Hannan - Relson Gracie - Relson Gracie DC - Fairfax county, VA - 7/13/2011
- Dan Wallen (4th Degree) - Relson Gracie - Fightworks Academy - Greenville, SC - 7/13/2011
- Tom Feister - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 7/29/2011
- Stuart Ramos - Team Maryland BJJ, Towson, MD - 12/2/2011
- Paul Kimo Kalaiwaa - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 2011
- Craig Chitwood (4th Degree) - Team Chitwood - Mansfield, OH - 1/20/2012
- Doug Moore - Relson Gracie-Gracie Arizona-Phoenix, AZ - 1/28/2012
- Shane Briggs - Legion Martial Arts - Little River, SC - 1/21/2012
- Dave Patton (3rd Degree) - Relson Gracie - Fightworks - Sterling, VA - 03/2012
- John-Michael Kaleikini (3rd Degree) - Gracie Florida Jiu-Jitsu, Ormond Beach, FL - 3/26/2012
- Kayle Quinn - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 5/30/2012
- Makena White - Relson Gracie Association Honolulu, HI - 6/6/2012
- Brad Scott - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 6/11/2012
- Christina (Thomas) Del Guidice - Empire Jiu Jitsu - Austin, TX - 6/19/2012 (Relson's first female Black Belt?)
- Steven Abood - Tokyo, Japan - 8/18/2012
- Mark Stefanac - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/2/2013
- Neil Chitwood - Team Chitwood - Lexington, OH - 4/6/2013
- David Tabron - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 5/6/2013
- Tracy Hopkins (2nd Degree) - Bushido Martial Arts - Columbus, OH - 5/7/2013
- Kyle Spendiff - Gracie Jiu Jitsu Maryland - Clarksville, MD - 11/1/2013
- Jerry Brewer - Gracie Charleston-Charleston, SC - 12/03/2013
- Robert Moss (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 4/2/2014
- Chris Spicer - Relson Gracie Waco - Waco, TX - May 2014
- Greg Bartman (2nd Degree) - Bartman MMA and Self-Defense - Silver Spring, MD - 5/13/2014
- Jim Thrift (4th Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 6/18/2014
- Josh Simon (4th Degree) - Relson Gracie Academy, North Columbus Chapter - Columbus, OH - 10/2/2014 (Black Belt originally awarded by Gracie Barra. First degree awarded by Relson - 3/6/2017)
- Scott Phillips - Danger Academy - Wylie, TX - 1/15/2015
- Marco Moreno - The Basics Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - Leesburg, VA - 3/27/2015
- Michael Cassesa - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 3/28/2015
- Nick Goldizen - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 3/28/2015
- Rod Amano - Relson Gracie - Honolulu, HI - 8/26/2015
- Gabriel Obiedo (2nd Degree) - Relson Gracie Austin - Austin, Texas - 9/02/2015
- George Mathai (2nd Degree) - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 9/2/2015
- Paul Joyner - Relson Gracie601 - Meridian, MS - 11/11/2015
- Jason Dodd - Global Mixed Martial Arts Academy - Gainesville, FL - 2015
- Eric Smith- Relson Gracie- Gracie Arizona-Phoenix, AZ - 2/2/2016
- Ron Aderhold - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/13/2016
- Doug Kalin - Relson Gracie Cleveland - Cleveland, OH - 2/13/2016
- Dave Futa - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 5/17/2016
- Mike Tran (1st Degree) - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 6/14/2016
- AJ Mendoza - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 11/25/2016
- Drew Arthur - Relson Gracie Tyler / Lone Star MMA Academy - Tyler, TX - 1/1/2017
- Desmond Thain - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 11/28/2017
- Kevin Tang - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI - 12/9/2017
- Zachary Pang - Relson Gracie Team HK - Honolulu, HI - 12/27/2017
- Christopher Slavens - Relson Gracie O2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 12/27/2017
- Travis Kashiwa - Relson Gracie O2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 12/27/2017
- Andrew Kawada - Relson Gracie O2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 12/27/2017
- Grant Arakawa (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie O2 Martial Arts Academy - Honolulu, HI - 12/27/2017
- Patrick Gaul Jr. (1st Degree) - Team No Quarter - Greenville, SC - 2/22/2018
- Eric Olson - Gracie Combat - Ashburn, VA - 02/22/2018
- Isaac Ike Haertel - Kogen Dojo-Relson Gracie - Severna Park, MD - 02/27/2018
- Blayne Barlow - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/20/2018
- Conor Waffle - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/20/2018
- Dan Radoff (1st Degree) - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/20/2018
- Michael Morales - Relson Gracie- Gracie Arizona-Phoenix, AZ - 3/20/2018
- James Watkins - Relson Gracie - Relson Gracie - 3/24/2018
- Mitchell Johnson - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/18/2018
- John Gilbert - Relson Gracie - Columbia, MD - 11/9/2018
- John O'Brien - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu NY- Bronx, NY - 11/14/2018
- David Caraulia - Relson Gracie - Waterfront - Honolulu, HI - 2/26/2019
- Josh Harrold - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019
- Jack Notebaert - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019
- Seta Reupenny - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019 (Gracie Arizona's 1st and Relson's 2nd Female Black Belt)
- Juan Berumen - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019
- Adrian Berumen - Relson Gracie - Gracie Arizona - Phoenix, AZ - 3/7/2019
- Tori Garten - Bartman MMA and Self-Defense - Silver Spring, MD - 3/27/2019
- Seth Caron - Calvert MMA Academy / Lineage BJJ - Sunderland, MD - 3/28/2019
- Julio Lima - Relson Gracie Curitiba - Brazil- 4/27/2019
- Michael Stewart jr.- Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, MD - 4/27/2019
- Carter Lee - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/8/2019
- Shane Nakagawara - Relson Gracie - RSA - Honolulu, HI - 10/8/2019
- Chad Kam - Relson Gracie/Team Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu- Honolulu, HI - 11/27/19
- Phil Clark - Phil Clark's Martial Arts Academy/Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Kentucky - Ashland, KY - 12/10/19
- Steve Salas - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 6/3/2021
- Mark Sanchez - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 6/3/2021
- Victor Ramos - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 6/3/2021
- Michael Campos - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 6/3/2021
- Michael Delgado - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu San Antonio - San Antonio, TX - 6/3/2021
- Ivelin Ivanov - Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Austin - Austin, TX - 6/3/2021
- Jordan Stewart - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, MD - 6/12/2021
- Naqi Sayed - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, MD - 6/12/2021
- Stephen Miller - Rising Tide Academy - Columbia, MD - 6/12/2021
- Dwayne Bowie - Kogen Dojo - Severna Park, MD - 6/12/2021
- Johnathan C. Bolton - Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Hawaii - Honolulu, HI - 6/20/2022
Relson Gracie, 9th Degree Grandmaster in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu