Meet Your Instructors

Ryron and Rener Gracie are the eldest grandsons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

In 1993, their father, Rorion Gracie, created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to determine which fighting system was the most effective in a realistic "no-holds-barred" confrontation. Rorion chose his younger brother, Royce, to represent the art against all comers in order to highlight the superiority of their father's art. Their uncle, Royce, weighting only 178 lbs., defeated every opponent he faced using only the fundamental techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. This proved, once and for all, the with leverage and technique anyone could defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. Ryron and Rener, like the preceding Gracie generations, were born into this family tradition of testing the art against all challengers.

Rorion introduced his sons to the art's basic movements as soon as they could walk.

As children, they spent the majority of their time watching their father teach private classes in their garage in Southern California. But, it wasn't until they observed their father and uncles – Royce, Rickson, and Royler – easily winning "no-holds-barred" challenge matches that they began to fully comprehend the effectiveness of their family's art. Perhaps even more important, Ryron and Rener recognized the profound impact Gracie Jiu-Jitsu had on all those who studied it. Having witnessed the life changing transformations experienced by Gracie Academy students motivated the brothers to become teachers of the art. While constantly perfecting the techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, they worked equally hard to master the powerfully effective teaching methods developed by their forbearers. In 2002, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded Ryron and Rener their black belts in recognition of their mastery of his unique techniques and teaching methodologies.

Today, the demand for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instruction is growing at an unprecedented rate based on the art's proven effectiveness and simplicity.

Unfortunately, many self-proclaimed instructors are teaching variations of the art without regard to the founding principles of street applicability, energy efficiency, and natural body movements. As a result, Ryron and Rener have launched the Gracie Global Training Program to preserve and perpetuate the techniques in their purest and most effective form. Through fully comprehensive instructional DVDs, interactive online videos courses, and a network of certified training centers, Ryron and Rener are determined to extend the complete Gracie Jiu-Jitsu curriculum, once found only at the Gracie Academy, to students around the world.