Kyra Gracie
Encyclopedia
Kyra Gracie Guimarães is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...

 (BJJ) practitioner and grappling
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...

 world champion.

Biography

She is one of the few Gracie women to achieve a black belt in BJJ and is the first Gracie female 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
Renzo Gracie Academy
Renzo Gracie Academy is one of the camps participating in the International Fight League. Coached by MMA legend Renzo Gracie, Renzo Gracie Academy takes the place of the New York Pitbulls who were the 2007 IFL champions....

 in New York and the Gracie Barra Academy in Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 77,264 at the 2010 census.Lake Forest incorporated as a city on December 20, 1991. Prior to a vote of the residents in that year, the community had formerly been known as El Toro since the 1880s...

. In 2009, she moved back to her native Brazil, however she still maintains her U.S. green card
United States Permanent Resident Card
United States lawful permanent residency refers to a person's immigration status: the person is authorized to live and work in the United States of America on a permanent basis....

 and must spend at least 6 months of the year living in the United States.

She is also associated with the Gracie Barra Academy
Gracie Barra
Gracie Barra is one of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu associations, with over 400 black belts and 150 schools or affiliates worldwide. It is headed by Carlos Gracie, Jr., son of Carlos Gracie the first Gracie to ever learn Jiu-Jitsu from Japanese emigrant to Brazil Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda.- History...

 and Evolve/Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro. Gracie competed in tournament six of Kunoichi, the female version of Sasuke
Sasuke (TV series)
Sasuke is a Japanese sports entertainment television special in which 100 competitors attempt to complete a four stage obstacle course. An edited version, renamed Ninja Warrior, is screened in at least 18 other countries....

 (or Ninja Warrior). Kyra is currently training for her debut in MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

. In addition to BJJ she also trains in Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

 and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...

.

In 2010, Kyra began competing for the newly formed Gracie Elite Team, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition team, composed of competitors representing Rillion Gracie
Rillion Gracie
Rilion Gracie is a martial artist and a prominent member of the Gracie family. He is the youngest son and 20th child of Carlos Gracie the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

, Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and a former mixed martial arts competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He is member of the Gracie family of Brazil. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos...

, Ralph Gracie
Ralph Gracie
Ralph Gracie is a Brazilian martial artist. Like other members of the Gracie family, he competed in mixed martial arts. He is the son of Robson Gracie and brother to Charles Gracie, Renzo Gracie and the late Ryan Gracie, both of whom have competed in various fighting events...

, Cesar Gracie
Cesar Gracie
Cesar Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who trains a number of top fighters in Pleasant Hill, California. Gracie is a member of the Gracie family, the son of Sonja Gracie-Gronning and not to be confused with his cousin also named Cesar Gracie who is the son of Reylson Gracie.- Biography...

, and the late Ryan Gracie
Ryan Gracie
Ryan Gracie , was a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was a member of the Gracie family, and the grandson of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

’s respective academies.

Kyra is currently training to make her MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 debut in 2011. Since January 2010, she has been training in boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

 at the Nobre Arte gym in the Morro do Cantagalo area of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

 under the tutelage of boxing coach Claudio Coelho, to complement her grappling skills.

In 2010, Kyra along with family members Rillion
Rillion Gracie
Rilion Gracie is a martial artist and a prominent member of the Gracie family. He is the youngest son and 20th child of Carlos Gracie the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

, Rolles
Rolles Gracie Jr.
Rolles Gracie Jr. is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the son of one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Rolls Gracie....

, Roger
Roger Gracie
Roger Gracie Gomes is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Roger was awarded his black belt by his cousin Renzo Gracie at the behest of Carlos Gracie, Jr. whilst training in New York in 2003. He is currently a second degree black belt...

, Igor
Igor Gracie
Igor Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and professional mixed martial artist.-Fighting career:...

, and Gregor Gracie
Gregor Gracie
Gregor Rangel , better known as Gregor Gracie, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He is a black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and son of the widow of Rolls Gracie and thus half-brother of Rolles Gracie Jr. and Igor Gracie. He was an ADCC participant,...

 began Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Adventure Camp. The purpose of the camp is to provide training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with access to the local tourism of the various host countries.

Personal life

Kyra has 4 younger half siblings, 3 half-sisters and a half-brother. Her mother, Flavia Gracie, and her uncles Charles Gracie
Charles Gracie
Charles Gracie is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and occasionally mixed martial artist.- Biography :Gracie started training in jiu-jitsu when he was 5. He was instructed by his uncles Rolls Gracie, Carlos Gracie Jr. and Reylson Gracie and received his black belt at the age of 20. In 1986,...

, Ralph Gracie
Ralph Gracie
Ralph Gracie is a Brazilian martial artist. Like other members of the Gracie family, he competed in mixed martial arts. He is the son of Robson Gracie and brother to Charles Gracie, Renzo Gracie and the late Ryan Gracie, both of whom have competed in various fighting events...

, Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and a former mixed martial arts competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He is member of the Gracie family of Brazil. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos...

, Ryan Gracie
Ryan Gracie
Ryan Gracie , was a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was a member of the Gracie family, and the grandson of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

 (now deceased) all practice BJJ. She is the great granddaughter of Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie was the first Gracie to learn Judo from Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda. Based on this judo training, Carlos and his brothers founded the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

.

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda
Mitsuyo Maeda
,a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda,was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908...

 → Carlos Gracie, Sr.
Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie was the first Gracie to learn Judo from Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda. Based on this judo training, Carlos and his brothers founded the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

 → Robson Gracie
Robson Gracie
Carlos Robson Gracie is the 2nd son of Carlos Gracie, the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a member of the Gracie Family. Grandmaster Robson is a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the father of several children including notable black belts Charles Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Flavia...

 → Flavia Gracie → Kyra Gracie

Grappling credentials

  • 4x World BJJ Champion (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)
  • 5x Pan American BJJ Games Champion (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007)
  • 5x Brazilian BJJ Champion (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004)
  • 5x New York State BJJ Champion (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
  • 3x ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Champion (2005, 2007, 2011)
  • 1x Asiatic BJJ Champion (2006)

External links

  • Kyra Gracie on Facebook
  • Kyra Gracie on YouTube
  • Kyra Gracie on Orkut
    Orkut
    Orkut is a social networking website that is owned and operated by Google Inc. The service is designed to help users meet new and old friends and maintain existing relationships...

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