Gracie Barra started in 1986 as one jiu-jitsu academy by the beach in Rio de Janeiro. Now, forty years later, it's one of the world's biggest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) teams, with hundreds of schools on every continent, including one in Birmingham, England.
This article explains who founded Gracie Barra, how it grew and how it teaches.
What Is Gracie Barra?
Gracie Barra is a global team of Brazilian jiu-jitsu academies that use the same teaching program, uniforms and values. Whether you train in Rio, California or Birmingham, classes follow the same structure. This way, students can visit any Gracie Barra school and feel welcome.
The team is based on three main values: brotherhood, integrity and development.
Who Founded Gracie Barra?
Carlos Gracie Jr., son of Carlos Gracie Sr., one of the founders of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, founded Gracie Barra. Read the history of jiu-jitsu.
He opened the first academy in 1986 in Barra da Tijuca, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Instead of using his own name, he named the school after his family and the area: Gracie Barra. His goal was simple but ambitious: to bring jiu-jitsu to everyone.
In 2026, Gracie Barra celebrated its 40th anniversary in Rio, bringing members from all over the world together.
How Did Gracie Barra Grow Around the World?
For nearly 20 years, Gracie Barra grew mostly in Brazil. In 2005, it opened its first school outside Brazil, in California, and moved its headquarters there.
Today, Gracie Barra has hundreds of schools in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. The team has also produced some of the sport's top competitors, like Roger Gracie, a ten-time IBJJF World Champion at black belt who grew up training in Rio before moving to London to train with his father.
What Are Gracie Barra's GB1, GB2 and GB3 Programs?
Every Gracie Barra school uses the same curriculum, divided into three programs:
- GB1 Fundamentals: the core techniques, positions and self-defense skills, designed for beginners
- GB2 Advanced: more complex techniques and concepts for experienced students
- GB3 Expert: high-level gi and no-gi training, including skills used in MMA
Each program runs on a 16-week cycle. This means new students can join at any time and still learn every key technique.
Are you new to BJJ? Our beginner's guide explains what to expect in your first class at any gym.
Is There a Gracie Barra in Birmingham?
Yes. Gracie Barra Birmingham, in England, was started by Mauricio Gomes, Roger Gracie's father, who brought Gracie Barra to the UK.
Today it's run by world champion Braulio Estima, who has taught in Birmingham for more than 20 years alongside his brother Victor. Its coaches also include black belt Jakub Zajkowski, who moved from Poland to train under Braulio.
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