Rener Gracie

Rener Gracie (born November 10, 1983) is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, a chief instructor at the Gracie University (formerly Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy), and co-creator of the Gracie University online curriculum.[1] A member of the Gracie family, he is the grandson of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, and the second-eldest son of Grandmaster Rorion Gracie, who was among some of the first family members to bring Gracie jiu-jitsu to the United States along with Carley Gracie, and Carlson Gracie. Rener is the husband of actress, model and former pro-wrestler Eve Torres.

Rener Gracie
Born (1983-11-10) November 10, 1983
Torrance, California, United States
Nationality
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st)
StyleBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out ofTorrance, California
TeamGracie University
Rank4th degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Rorion Gracie
Spouse
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2
Notable studentsBrian Ortega
Tamba Hali
Websitewww.GracieAcademy.com

Rener has spent over twenty-five years at the Gracie Academy studying under Rorion and Helio Gracie. Rener and his brother, Ryron Gracie created Gracie University, an online martial arts learning center, and developed distance learning packages for their proprietary courses.[2] He is also the founder and CEO of Quikflip Apparel, a clothing company that specializes in garments that convert into backpacks. Quikflip was featured on ABC's Shark Tank and Time Magazine listed it as one of the "Best Inventions of 2019." [3]

Early life and education

Rener was born on November 10, 1983, to Rorion and Suzanne Gracie. He has one older brother, Ryron Gracie, and two younger brothers, Ralek Gracie and Reylan, as well as one younger sister, Segina. He also has two half-sisters, Rose and Riane Gracie, from his father's first marriage, and three half-brothers, Roran, Renon, and Ricon, from his father's third marriage.[4]

Rener received his black belt in 2002 from his grandfather, Grand Master Helio Gracie.[4]

Competitive career

Rener competed in the 2003 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship and took 3rd place.[5] Later that year, Rener participated in the first Southern California Pro-Am Invitational, a 16-man single elimination tournament with no time limits. Rener was the only one of 16 competitors to wear a gi. He won first place submitting all four of his opponents. His opponents were Joe Stevenson (UFC Fighter), Cassio Werneck (BJJ World Champion), Jason "Mayhem" Miller (UFC Fighter), and Tyrone Glover.[6] In 2004, Rener retired from point-based sport jiu-jitsu competition to focus on the street self-defense aspect of jiu-jitsu.

Gracie University

Rener is best known for his abilities as a Gracie jiu-jitsu instructor and his role in popularizing jiu-jitsu using web-based distance learning programs. He started teaching Gracie jiu-jitsu when he was 13 years old and six years later assumed head instructor duty at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy with his brother, Ryron. He and his brother oversaw all aspects of training and program development within an enterprise consisting of resident training at the World Headquarters in Torrance, California along with an additional location in Beverly Hills, California, which opened its doors on June 4, 2012.[7] They also have a global network of Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Centers, extension training through the web-based Gracie University and DVDs, and on-site training for law enforcement and military personnel. The brothers completely revamped pre-existing Gracie Academy programs developed by their father and created several new ones to facilitate the export of their instruction through distance education and cadre training. In 2017, they moved to a larger facility in Torrance to accommodate the worldwide expansion of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and rebranded as “Gracie University” to reflect the shift from a single academy to a global organization. [4]

As part of Gracie University, Rener has also been pushing for national police reform that includes a regular curriculum of BJJ training for all officers. Since unveiling his plan for reform, he has also managed to get his Gracie Survival Tactics approved for use by Police Officers in the State of California, the first BJJ curriculum to ever have done so.[8]

Gracie Breakdown

The brothers use YouTube to popularize Gracie jiu-jitsu through segments such as “The Gracie Way” and “The Gracie Breakdown”, which are commentaries on mixed martial arts bouts and real-life self-defense situations in which the brothers explain the techniques and strategies employed, or what could have been done better. Ryron and Rener's video analysis of a match between Fabrício Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko was one of YouTube's top viewed videos on June 28, 2010 with over 100,000 views in 24 hours. Gracie breakdowns are now featured on UFC's weekly show 'UFC Ultimate Insider.[9]

Quikflip Apparel

Gracie is the founder of Quikflip Apparel.[10] Time Magazine selected Quikflip as one of the "Best Inventions of 2019." [11]

Personal life

Rener married his longtime partner, Eve Torres, in Santa Barbara, California on April 13, 2014. Eve is a purple belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and currently works as a spokeswoman and head instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered Self-defense program.[12]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Rener caught the virus before recovering quickly and having several negative tests. He then tested positive for a second time on October 10, 2020, and was forced to withdraw from cornering his fighter, Brian Ortega, at UFC Fight Night 180, which took place at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.[13]

Instructor lineage

Kanō Jigorō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Helio Gracie → Rorion Gracie → Rener Gracie

References
  1. "Students & Schools". Gracie University. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  2. "The MMA Hour Episode 121 Rener Gracie". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  3. "Quickflip Apparel". Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  4. "Rener Gracie Biography". gracieacademy.com.
  5. "pan-jiu-jitsu-championship-2003-results".
  6. "Southern California Pro-Am Invitational". Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  7. "Gracie Academy - Beverly Hills". www.gracieacademy.com.
  8. Jones, Phil (9 December 2020). "Gracie Survival Tactics First BJJ Curriculum To Be Approved For Police In California". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. "Rener Gracie Interview". tapoutlive.com. December 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012.
  10. "Quickflip Apparel".
  11. "Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2019".
  12. "Today's The Day! - Eve Torres".
  13. Lindsey, Alex (10 October 2020). "Rener Gracie Tests Positive For Coronavirus Again, Out Of Brian Ortega's Corner". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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