Kyra Gracie Guimarães (born 29 May 1985) is a Brazilian submission grappler and a 4th degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner. A member of the Gracie family and a highly decorated competitor, she is a four-time World Jiu-Jitsu champion and a three-time ADCC Submission Fighting World champion.

Kyra Gracie Guimarães
Kyra Gracie
BornKyra Gracie Guimarães
(1985-05-29) 29 May 1985 (age 39)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight130 lb (59 kg; 9 st 4 lb)
DivisionFeather
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
TeamRenzo Gracie Combat Team
Gracie Barra/Osvaldo
Rank
  •   4th deg. black belt in BJJ
  •   black belt in Judo
OccupationBJJ Instructor
Notable relativesGracie family
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Grappling[1]
ADCC World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2005 Long Beach, CA -60kg
Gold medal – first place 2007 Trenton, NJ -60kg
Gold medal – first place 2011 Nottingham, UK -60kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World Championship[1]
Silver medal – second place 2004 California, USA -70kg[2]
Gold medal – first place 2006 California, USA -76.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2008 California, USA -76.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2008 California, USA Absolute
Gold medal – first place 2010 California, USA -76.5 kg
Pan American Championship[1]
Gold medal – first place 2005 California, USA -70kg
Gold medal – first place 2007 California, USA -76.5 kg
Brazilian National Championship[1]
Gold medal – first place 2005 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -60kg
Gold medal – first place 2008 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -76.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2008 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute[3]

Biography

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Kyra Gracie is one of only two women in the Gracie family to achieve a black belt in BJJ. She is the first Gracie woman to actively compete in the sport. For several years she lived full-time in the United States, where she is associated with the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York and the Gracie Barra Academy in Lake Forest, California.

Gracie won the women's under 60 kg title at the ADCC submission championships in 2005,[4] 2007, and 2011.[5][6][7] She finished first at the IBJJF world championships in 2006,[8] twice in 2008 (lightweight and absolute divisions),[9] and 2010[10] She also finished second in 2004,[11] 2005,[12] twice in 2009 (light and open divisions),[13] and 2011.[14]

She has been associated with the Gracie Barra Academy and Evolve/Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro. Gracie competed in tournament six of Kunoichi, the female version of Sasuke (or Ninja Warrior).[15] She announced training for a debut in MMA.[16] In addition to BJJ, she also trains in judo and wrestling.[17]

In 2010, Gracie began competing for the newly formed Gracie Elite Team, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition team, composed of competitors representing Rilion Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Cesar Gracie, and the late Ryan Gracie’s respective academies.[18] In 2010 Gracie also trained in boxing at the Nobre Arte gym in the Morro do Cantagalo area of Rio de Janeiro under the tutelage of boxing coach Claudio Coelho, to complement her grappling skills.[16]

In 2010, Gracie, along with family members Rillion, Rolles, Roger, Igor, and Gregor began Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Adventure Camp. The purpose of the camp was to provide training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with access to the local tourism of the various host countries.[19][20]

In 2023, she became the first Gracie family woman to promote a member of her family to black belt, her cousin Rayron Gracie.[21]

Personal life

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Gracie is the granddaughter of Robson Gracie, who is the second son of Carlos Gracie Sr, the founder of BJJ.[22] Gracie has four younger half-siblings: three half-sisters and a half-brother. Her mother, Flavia Gracie, and her uncles Charles Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie (now deceased) all practice BJJ.

Gracie has two daughters with the Brazilian actor Malvino Salvador.[23][24]

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling competitive summary

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In the major championships at black belt level:[1]

Main Achievements in coloured belts:[1]

  • 3x Pan-American Championship champion (2001/2002 blue belt, 2003 purple)
  • 4x Brazilian Nationals champion (1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 2001)

Other achievements:

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Kyra Gracie". BJJ Heroes.
  2. ^ "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004.
  3. ^ a b "Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2008". Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2008.
  4. ^ Burne, Kathrine. "Throwback: ADCC 2005 Introduces First Women's Divisions". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ "2005 ADCC results".
  6. ^ "2007 ADCC results".
  7. ^ "2011 ADCC results".
  8. ^ "2006 IBJJF world championship results".
  9. ^ "2008 IBJJF world championship results".
  10. ^ "2010 IBJJF world championship results".
  11. ^ "2004 IBJJF world championship results". Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  12. ^ "2005 IBJJF world championship results". Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  13. ^ "2009 IBJJF world championship results". Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. ^ "2011 IBJJF world championship results".
  15. ^ Kyra Gracie competing on Kunoichi. URL accessed on 3 April 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Gracie Magazine >> Kyra Gracie Interview". Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  17. ^ "Kyra Gracie Interview". The Guard.TV. Archived from the original (Video) on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  18. ^ Gracie Elite Team Debuts at the 2010 BJJ World Championship. URL accessed on 5 July 2010.
  19. ^ Embark on the Gracie Adventure and learn from the family Archived 26 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed on 14 October 2010
  20. ^ Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Adventure URL accessed on 14 October 2010
  21. ^ Phillips, Sabrina. "Rayron Gracie Promoted To BJJ Black Belt By Kyra Gracie". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  22. ^ Charles Gracie Family Tree URL accessed on 18 December 2013
  23. ^ Kyra Gracie still targets UFC career after pregnancy URL accessed 6 April 2014.
  24. ^ Kyra Gracie hopes to fight for UFC following pregnancy and childbirth URL accessed 6 April 2014.
  25. ^ "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004.
  26. ^ "Asian Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2006". Asian Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2006.
  27. ^ "Kyra Gracie Becomes First Woman in ADCC Hall of Fame". 15 December 2021.
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