Rose Gracie

Rose Gracie carries one of the most storied surnames in martial arts history. The daughter of Rorion Gracie — a 9th degree red belt and co-founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship — and the granddaughter of Helio Gracie, the legendary master whose refinements transformed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into a globally practiced discipline, Rose was immersed from an early age in the philosophy, values, and technical traditions that define BJJ at its foundational level.

Her lineage places her at the very center of the art's history, connecting her directly to the principles of leverage, practicality, and self-improvement upon which Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was built. That heritage has informed every dimension of her work as a promoter, advocate, and administrator within the combat sports world.

In 2008, Rose Gracie co-founded Gracie Tournaments alongside Javier Vazquez, a top grappler of his generation, establishing one of the most distinctive submission-only competition platforms in the sport. Though the two have since separated, the organization they built together has grown into a meaningful alternative to mainstream points-based competition.

Philosophy and Ruleset

Gracie Tournaments was built as a direct response to Rose's sustained criticism of the IBJJF's points-oriented format. Every match places the submission at the center, with competitors working under a 15-minute time limit. The promotion reports a 90% submission rate across its events — a figure that speaks to the format's effectiveness in producing decisive, high-quality grappling. The ruleset is tiered by belt level, granting more advanced practitioners access to a broader range of submission techniques, ensuring competition remains appropriately challenging and technically rich at every stage of development.

Events and Collaborators

The promotion hosts five annual events: Gracie Nationals, Gracie Regionals in Chicago, San Jose, and Anaheim, and Gracie Worlds in Las Vegas. To develop and refine the ruleset, Rose collaborates with a respected group of practitioners and martial arts figures, including the Valente Brothers, Henry Akins, Steve Hordinski, Eddie Bravo, Caio Terra, and Herb Dean. Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu family stand among the promotion's most prominent supporters, their submission-focused approach aligning closely with the Gracie Tournaments philosophy.

The organization's stated mission is to cultivate what Rose describes as "True Jiu-Jitsu Champions" — competitors defined by their ability to finish, not merely to score.

Rose Gracie has established herself as a vocal and persistent critic of the IBJJF's competitive ruleset, arguing that points-based competition has drifted from the original purpose and philosophical foundation of the art. In her view, a system that rewards positional control and accumulated points over submissions incentivizes passive or strategic movement rather than the effective application of technique.

Her advocacy is deeply rooted in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family's foundational belief that jiu-jitsu must remain practical and effective above all else. By championing a submission-first framework, she positions herself as a defender of the art's original intent — a discipline designed to resolve a fight, not to accumulate advantages over a timer. Gracie Tournaments functions as the operational embodiment of this philosophy, offering a competitive environment where the rules themselves reinforce the values she promotes publicly.

In February 2025, Rose Gracie was appointed president of the Brazilian MMA Confederation, known as CBMMAD. The appointment marks a significant expansion of her influence, extending her reach beyond jiu-jitsu competition into the broader institutional governance of combat sports in Brazil. In this role, she shapes the strategic and regulatory direction of MMA at a national level, bringing with her a philosophy grounded in the traditions and values she has championed throughout her career. The appointment reflects both her growing stature within the global combat sports community and the enduring influence of the Gracie family on the institutions and culture of martial arts.