> Gracie Barra

Gracie Barra is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and global network founded in 1986 by Carlos Gracie Jr. in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carlos Gracie Jr., a son of BJJ co-founder Carlos Gracie Sr. and a student of Rolls Gracie, established the school with a mission of making jiu-jitsu accessible to all — a philosophy the organization later codified as “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone.” From a single academy in Rio, Gracie Barra grew into the largest organized Brazilian jiu-jitsu network in the world, with more than 1,000 affiliated schools across more than 60 countries. The organization operates under a structured curriculum and maintains standardized instructor certification. Gracie Barra fighters have won world titles at the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship across multiple weight classes and belt levels. The global headquarters of the organization is based in Irvine, California, with the original academy remaining in Rio de Janeiro.