Rolls Gracie

MMAstatsbox|name=Rolls Gracie|
nick=
height=
weight=
birthdate=birth date|1951|3|28|mf=y
died=death date and age|1982|6|6|1951|3|28|mf=y
fightingfrom= Brazil
hometown=Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
fightstyle=Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu|

Rolls Gracie (March 28, 1951 - June 6, 1982) was a notable practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

As a child, Rolls was raised by his uncle Helio Gracie where he trained extensively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Rolls trained and taught at Carlson's Copacabana Academy and eventually met a judo practitioner named Osvaldo Alves, who trained with him for a year, improving his skills. Upon his return to Carlson's school, Rolls trained and influenced Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Carlos Gracie, Jr., Rillion, and Crolin Gracie. Rolls competed in many tournaments in various martial arts styles including sambo and wrestling. The video "Gracie in Action" documents Rolls and several of his students defeating several karate students and their teacher.

In 1978, Rolls met Bob Anderson, a member of FILA. The two formed a close friendship and this helped transform Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into an even wider art. Rolls and Anderson later went to the AAU National Sambo Championships and the YMCA National Championships. Both of them won their respective divisions.

Rolls' mother was Italian but lived in New York City where Rolls spent a lot of time. He was the first Gracie to venture away from Jiu-Jitsu, tricking an American wrestling coach into teaching him and some of his training partners collegiate wrestling.

On June 6, 1982 Rolls Gracie died during a hang gliding accident in the mountains of Mauá. Rolls had only promoted six men to black belt before his death:
* Marcio 'Maccarao' Stambowsky
* Mauricio Motta Gomes (father of Roger Gracie)
* Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti (founder of Alliance BJJ)
* Nicin Azulay
* Paulo Conde
* Talarico

Rolls had many other notable students that did not receive there black belts from him, but were students of his up until his death: Carlos Valente (Writer for Grappling Magazine, 6th Degree Black Belt, 2 World Champion Students)

Luiz Palhares (6th Degree Black Belt & Producer of National Champions Gi & No Gi)

Alvaro Romano ( Founder of Ginastica Natural)

His sons Rolls Jr, Igor, and Gregor are Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts and active competitors today.

References

Main references

* [http://bjj.org/a/people/gracie-rolls.html Rolls on bjj.org]
* [http://bjj.org/a/people/cavalcanti-romero-jacare.html Jacare on bjj.org]
* [http://bjj.org/a/people/gomes-mauricao.html Mauricio Gomes on bjj.org]

Interviews

* [http://www.alliancebjj.com/instructors.shtml#jacare Interview with Jacare]
* [http://www.kamonwingchun.com/Brazilian%20Jiu-Jitsu2.asp Interview with Mauricio Gomes]