Our History

Grandmaster Helio Gracie (1913-2009) was one of the original founders of the martial arts system that came to be known today as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Along with his brothers Carlos, Gaston, George and Oswaldo, Helio initially practiced the martial art handed down to Carlos from Mitsuyo Maeda. Maeda was a student from Jigoro Kano’s Kodokan in Japan, today the worldwide home of Judo. Kano developed Judo from the Jujutsu of the Samurai warriors of feudal Japan. In this way, Gracie Humaita traces it’s roots back hundreds of years to the Samurai of Japan.

Grandmaster Helio’s primary contribution to development of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was to adapt it to his own physique, being a relatively slender, smaller man. Helio focused on development of the techniques to favor position, control and leverage over strength and speed.

Pictured: Helio Gracie in 1952

Today Master Royler Gracie is the head of Gracie Humaita worldwide.  He is currently an 8th degree red/black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and has been training, competing in, and teaching Jiu Jitsu for over 50 years.  He began learning in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from his father, Grandmaster Helio Gracie, when he was 3 years old.  Master Royler ran the Gracie Humaitá Academy in Rio de Janeiro for many years under the direction of Grandmaster Helio, and currently lives in San Diego, where he oversees the Gracie Humaita organization today.  There are currently more than 100 certified Gracie Humaita Academies worldwide

More details of the history of the Gracie family and Gracie Humaita can be found here:  http://www.graciehumaita.com/about-us/

Professor Mica Cipili was born in southern Brazil. Growing up he studied numerous martial arts including Capoeira, boxing, Kung Fu and Judo before discovering what became his lifelong passion, Jiu Jitsu. He has trained under Pedro Sauer, Rickson Gracie and Rigan Machado. He received his black belt from Pedro Sauer and is currently a 6th degree black belt under Pedro Sauer. Professor Mica has a highly successful competition record beginning in 1994 and continues to compete today. He owns and runs several Gracie Humaita Academies in Las Vegas, Nevada. Co-owners of Gracie Humaita Cedar Crest, Kati and Terry, received their black belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Professor Mica in 2019.