Robson Gracie

Carlos Robson Gracie Sr. (; 16 January 1935 – 28 April 2023) was a Brazilian martial artist. The second son of Carlos Gracie, Gracie was a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, affording him the title of Grandmaster. In the 1950s, Robson competed in Vale Tudo competitions. His début mixed martial arts fight was against Artur Emidio in April 1957. During the fight, Gracie submitted his opponent but refused to release him until the referee pulled them apart. Despite his small stature, incidents like this were to characterize Gracie's professional life as a tenacious fighter. Gracie lived and taught in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he was the president of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro. His political affiliations placed him under the scrutiny of the military regime, following the 1964 Brazilian coup d'état. His assistance to the Marxist guerrilla organization Ação Libertadora Nacional led to his arrest, and the arrest of several members of his family, by the Brazilian Secret Service. Gracie's wife, Vera Lucia, made representations to the Brazilian military government to release her husband which resulted in her own arrest; however, she was quickly released. Death Gracie died in Rio de Janeiro on 28 April 2023, at the age of 88. In November 2023, it was announced that a public landmark in Rio de Janeiro would be named after him to honor his contributions to the city.

Documentary

On July 6, 2023, it was announced that ESPN Films is producing a documentary series on the Gracie family directed by Chris Fuller and produced by Greg O'Connor and Guy Ritchie.