ROLLES GRACIE BIO

Rolles Gracie Jr. was born into the world’s first family of fighting on July 14, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is the grandson of Carlos Gracie Sr., the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and son of Rolls Gracie, who is widely considered to be the Gracie family’s most legendary Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Rolles is physically the largest in the history of the Gracie clan, standing at 6’ 4” and weighing 250 pounds. He is a second-degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a multi-title holding champion, not only BJJ, but also in Judo and submission wrestling.

Rolles began his Jiu-Jitsu training around the same time that he learned to crawl. Working out on the mats with his father, Rolls, was an everyday part of life. Rolles trained with his father through his younger years until Rolls’ tragic and accidental death in 1982.

At the age of six, he began training with his uncle, Rilion Gracie, one of the most technical BJJ practitioners and coaches. During his early teenage years, Rolles trained at the world-famous Carlos Gracie Jr. Gracie Barra School in Rio de Janeiro. The Gracie Barra School holds the most major titles in the world in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. During this time at Gracie Barra, Rolles also trained with his cousin, Renzo Gracie, world-renowned MMA and BJJ fighter, who has defeated five UFC champions.

In 1996, Rolles moved to Santa Catarina, Brazil, to live and train with his Uncle Rilion. After only six months, Rolles became the 1996 BJJ Pan American champion. Rolles continued his Jiu-Jitsu training for two more years in Santa Catarina. However in 1998, he moved to Boca Raton, FL to work on his stand-up game. Rolles excelled at his Judo training and soon took two major state titles.

In 1999, Rolles moved back to Rio to train and compete, winning several more national and world titles over the next few years.  Rolles moved to New York City in 2004 to teach and train again with Renzo Gracie, at the Renzo Gracie Academy. Rolles is the Head Instructor at the Renzo Gracie Academy in Holmdel, New Jersey. He teaches private seminars all over the world with clients such as The New York Jets, NYPD, Fort Meyers Police Academy and the United States Navy Seals.

Rolles is focusing on his MMA career under the training of Renzo Gracie in Holmdel, NJ and Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, NM. His physical training is coordinated by Martin Rooney, a physical therapist and performance enhancement specialist who has supervised the training of several NFL, MLB, MMA and Olympic athletes.

MAJOR TITLES

MMA
• 3-1-0, 3 submissions

Jiu-Jitsu
• No-Gi Pan-American Champion ‘08
• 3 times Pan-American Champion ‘06/’00/’96
• Ranked #1 North America ‘05 www.GrapplingRatings.com
• 1st Place Grapplers Quest Copa Atlantica ’05
• Brazilian Teams Champion ’00
• 3rd Place World Championships ’99
• 2 times Brazilian National Champion ‘99/’96
• 2nd Place World Championships ‘98
• 3 times Rio de Janeiro State Champion ‘93/’91/’89

Submission Wrestling
• 2nd Place World ADCC 99 Kg + Division ‘07

Judo
• Gold Medal Sunshine States Games ‘98
• Gold Medal Miami Dade Open ‘98

*  NEWFOUNDLAND FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 
TOTAL MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY - RENZO GRACIE NEWFOUNDLAND are pleased to announce that the 1st Newfoundland Fighting Championship will take place in May 2010.  All competitiors must pre-register for this event.  More information will be available in the near future.


*  NL 2 NYC TRAINING CAMP 2010.  October 8th - 15th, 2010  
TEAM RENZO GRACIE NEWFOUNDLAND are pleased to present NL 2 NYC TRAINING CAMP 2010 at Renzo Gracie Academy in NYC.  Any students interested in traveling from Newfoundland to New York for a week of training at Renzo Gracie Academy should contact Tom Dunne at 709-543-2286 or totalmartialarts@hotmail.com.