The chapter that would cement Reyson Gracie's place in BJJ history began in late 1976, when Senator Artur Virgílio extended an invitation to bring Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the vast, underserved state of Amazonas. Reyson accepted without hesitation, relocating to Manaus with a clear mandate: establish the art where it had no formal presence.
The results were swift and enduring. In 1977, Reyson founded the Amazonas Federation of Jiu-Jitsu, giving the sport its first institutional home in the state and laying the groundwork for what would become one of Brazil's most vibrant jiu-jitsu communities. That same year brought a deeply personal milestone — his daughter Kendra was born on August 3, 1977, in Manaus, weaving his family story directly into the founding of the art in Amazonas.
Building a Generation of Practitioners
Reyson's instruction in the region produced a generation of practitioners who would carry the art forward long after his departure. Fernando Façanha, Alfredo Jacauna, and Kako Caminha emerged as pillars of jiu-jitsu in Amazonas, sustaining the community Reyson had built. After establishing a solid foundation, he returned to Rio de Janeiro while maintaining regular visits to Manaus to monitor his students' progress and preserve the momentum he had generated.
His close associate Osvaldo Alves also invested considerable time in the region, making extended visits that deepened the art's roots and reinforced Reyson's groundwork. Together, their combined efforts transformed Amazonas into one of jiu-jitsu's most important hubs in Brazil — a legacy tracing directly back to Reyson's willingness to answer Senator Virgílio's call.