About Us

About Royce Gracie

We are a Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Team R.O.C. Mixed Martial Arts school with students of all experience levels. No matter whether you are here for a sweat and some self defense or you desire to become a MMA fighter, we have you covered. There is a rich tradition of building skilled and well-rounded individuals in both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. Several of our students have been successful in professional MMA. Many of our students, however, are here only for community, exercise, and learning.

Royce Gracie was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 42 year-old Gracie is one of nine children, seven of whom are boys. His training in Jiu-Jitsu began at a very early age as a game with his father Helio. Helio never pushed any of the children to take formal classes until they wanted to do so, however they often went to the Academy in Rio after school and on weekends.

Training and Fight Career

Royce began competing in tournaments at age eight. He received his blue belt at age 16 and was promoted to black belt in less than two years. Royce moved to the United States at age 18 to live with his brother, Rorion. They began teaching private classes out of their garage, sometimes for more than ten hours a day. Rorion and Royce opened the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy eleven years ago in Torrance, California. Today it is one of the largest martial arts schools in the country.

Royce's reputable career as a fighter began in 1993 after defeating three opponents in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. His brother Rorion came up with this innovative challenge as a way to show Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the world. Discipline after discipline was defeated by the slight 6'1", 180 pound Royce Gracie. His opponents consistently outweighed him by more than 50 pounds. He went on to win 3 UFC titles and today is the only man in the history of no holds barred matches to successfully defeat four opponents in one night. Royce is still very active in the fight world with most recent fights in the PRIDE Grand Prix held in Japan in 2000. Royce's success has opened the eyes of many disbelievers to the importance of leverage and technique in grappling.

The legend of the Gracie family began in Brazil with Royce's father, Helio Gracie. Today Royce is privileged to spread the techniques perfected by his father all over the world. Throughout his busy fighting career Royce has maintained a rigorous travel schedule of seminars and classes. His list of students is enormous. Royce has taught many of the big screen greats like Chuck Norris, Ed O'Neal, Guy Ritchie and Nicholas Cage. He has also been very active with the CIA, FBI, DEA, Secret Service, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy Seals and many sheriff and police departments.

Royce makes his home in Torrance, California with his wife, Marianne and three sons, Khonry, Khor and Kaydon and daughter Kharianna. He maintains an impressive training regimen, which includes running, weight training, cardiovascular activity, meditation and countless hours of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He is always up to the challenge and eagerly awaits his next fight