Introducing the Gracie Barra Legacy Hall
We are launching the Gracie Barra Legacy Hall to honor the outstanding GB members who embody our core values of Brotherhood, Integrity, and Development. We're all part of "Keeping the Legacy Alive," but some go above and beyond. We want to honor those individuals for their efforts and dedication to the mission of Gracie Barra.
As the saying goes, "it takes a village,” and our village consists of athletes, coaches, school owners, global leaders, and a lifetime of commitment. We have established a Legacy Hall Committee made of 5 individuals within Gracie Barra. The committee is diverse and has a reputation of integrity and honor within GB. They will be responsible for reviewing the criteria to identify those extraordinary individuals eligible for the Legacy Hall awards and put it to vote on who will receive the awards. The award recipients will be notified ahead of time and inducted into the Legacy Hall on Sunday at the GB World Summit 2021.
See the honorable heavy hitters of Gracie Barra get inducted into the Legacy Hall in recognition for their outstanding contributions to Gracie Barra in areas such as athletics, coaching, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Be the first to witness this new tradition of honoring those contributions as we launch our Legacy Hall.
The Gracie Barra Legacy Hall is an ever-evolving structure reflecting the dynamic nature of our organization and capturing the outstanding contributions of individuals and how they have helped our team advance on the notion of teaching Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone.
In 2021, the GB Legacy Hall has five different branches as follows:
School Wing
Gracie Barra Schools are the foundation of our team. Since 1986, our founder has been working to value and strengthen the profession of Jiu-Jitsu instructors. His efforts propelled the industry, creating new opportunities and tools for thousands of individuals to make a living teaching Jiu-Jitsu. These efforts were a vital piece of the puzzle to accomplish the dream of having a Jiu-Jitsu school in every community.
At Gracie Barra, we have individuals who push the boundaries of what’s possible—expanding their reach to thousands in their communities. And, they go above and beyond to share their strategies and methods with peers across our organization. These school owners have a depth and breadth of space within their communities that is unsurpassed, and they act as inspiration for others to see what is possible when we keep our mission of Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone in mind.
Eligibility Criteria: School owners who have built schools with an active student enrollment exceeding 500 students for a year or more. School Owners can also qualify if they have three or more Premium Schools, with at least 150 students in each school. In addition, they have demonstrated their commitment to sharing business, instruction, and leadership practices with their peers at Gracie Barra.
Athletes Wing
Gracie Barra athletes are the ambassadors who carry our Jiu-Jitsu and values to competitive stages worldwide. In pursuing the dreams of competitive excellence, they inspire and produce a sense of pride across the organization. For more than 35 years, thousands of Gracie Barra athletes have brought Gracie Barra to the top of the world’s most renowned competitive stages, positioning GB as one of the most amazing teams in the Jiu-Jitsu industry.
Few individuals have transcended the highest level to be considered some of the greatest competitors of their generations. Beyond their accomplishments, these individuals have always carried our red shield with pride, displaying formidable Jiu-Jitsu and great sportsmanship.
Eligibility Criteria: Athletes who have competed for GB for at least five years in the competitive arenas worldwide, won at least two major titles as a black belt adult & master (IBJJF Worlds Gi and NoGi, ADCC, Abu Dhabi Pro, World Masters), and has represented Gracie Barra in line with our core values. In addition, these candidates continue to work on behalf of the team leading the way as competitors, coaches, professors, or leaders. Additionally, Youth competitors who have actively competed for three or more years and have earned at least three major titles (Pan Juvenile or Pan Kids) are eligible for consideration.
Coaches Wing
Competitiveness is at the core of Gracie Barra’s cultural DNA. From the local tournaments in Barra da Tijuca to the world’s most critical competitive stages, our team has built a reputation of competitive excellence through generations of athletes’ hard work and dedication. Behind each athlete, there is always a coach guiding, encouraging, celebrating, and igniting the competitive spirit in each one of them.
Since 1986, each of our instructors has played a significant role in coaching their students through competitions. A few outstanding coaches have developed athletes that excel in the global competitive stages while representing our team with integrity and sportsmanship.
Eligibility Criteria: Celebrating those who consistently prepare and stimulate an ever-growing generation of new GB athletes. Those who fiercely represented Gracie Barra in at least two nationwide recognized Jiu-Jitsu events, displaying the highest levels of sportsmanship and alignment with our team’s core values.
Development Wing
Since 1986, Gracie Barra has been at the forefront of Jiu-Jitsu’s development. Starting with our founder Master Carlos Gracie Jr., our team results from the arduous labor and dedication of leaders who have seen opportunities where many could only see risks. They work selflessly to bring to fruition an inclusive vision where the success of one of us would be the success of all of us, allowing us to grow together instead of growing apart.
Among these leaders, some individuals have gone above and beyond their roles, expectations, and limitations, making outstanding contributions that have allowed Gracie Barra to become the largest Jiu-Jitsu team in history with over 900 schools on the six continents.
Eligibility Criteria: Gracie Barra leaders who have directly led or pioneered initiatives, projects, or departments that contributed significantly to the evolution of Gracie Barra into a united global team.
Legacy Wing
Loyalty is the cornerstone of teaching and training philosophy. Gracie Barra has endured the test of time and the many disruptive moments that come with being an industry leader. Only possible because leaders remained loyal to each other, the team, and our mission. They have defied the calling for individualistic, short-term gains by believing that we are stronger together.
Individuals who have actively contributed to the overall mission of Gracie Barra, representing the team with honor as a student, instructor, competitive leader, or school owner, are notably recognized for their outstanding contributions to keeping our legacy alive.
Eligibility Criteria: Gracie Barra Black Belts and above, who have been actively contributing to the strengthening of our team for 25 years or more. Submit your proof of eligibility here, listing your School & Instructor History.