March 6, 2017

Meet Rener Gracie of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rener Gracie.

Rener, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My grandfather, Helio Gracie, created Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the early 1900’s in Brazil. My father, Rorion Gracie, brought the family art to American in 1978 and began teaching classes in his garage in Hermosa Beach. After 11 years in the garage, we opened the Gracie Jiu-jitsu Academy in Torrance, and in 1993 he created the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Today, the Gracie Academy serves as the headquarters for over 100 training centers worldwide and we offer a wide range of programs for men, women, and children as well as specialized training for law enforcement professionals.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When my family arrived in America, everyone was still in “Bruce Lee mode.” The popular martial arts at the time were the ones that looked spectacular on the big screen but weren’t always effective in a real self-defense situation. At first, people were not interested in my family’s jiu-jitsu because it wasn’t flashy, but as soon as they witnessed the effectiveness in a “Gracie challenge match” (check them out on YouTube!) or in the UFC, they were eager to learn more. Today, Gracie Jiu-jitsu is the official martial art of the U.S. Army and is practiced by law enforcement professionals throughout the country. In 2009, we launched an online academy called GracieUniversity.com and within 6 years we had 100,000 active students learning jiu-jitsu from their homes in 196 different countries around the world!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Besides the incredible effectiveness of the art, at the Gracie Academy we are most known for the specialized instructional programs that we’ve created for the entire family. Gracie Bullyproof teaches children to defend against bullies without violence. Women Empowered prepares women to neutralize the 20 most common attacks in a fun, safe learning environment. Gracie Combatives prepares provides any adult beginner student with the most complete beginner jiu-jitsu program ever created. Regardless of gender, age, or athletic ability, we have customized program that will work for you! Come in a try classes for 10 days before you sign up. We guarantee you will love every class!

What were you like growing up?
Growing up in a multi-generational jiu-jitsu family is quite interesting. You are introduced to jiu-jitsu before you can walk, all your sibling disputes are resolved in a grappling match, and you are 100% capable of defending against bullies as early as you can remember. The confidence, discipline, and healthy lifestyle achieved through jiu-jitsu is truly unmatched, and I’ve dedicated my life to sharing it with others.

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