The Legacy of Rolls Gracie: The Tragic Master

To many people, Rolls was the greatest Jiu-Jitsu practitioner of his day. Learn about Rolls interesting history as well as the legacy he has left in the art of Jiu-Jitsu.
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Information and credit to these links! They gave us a lot of information on the legend and you might wanna check them out as well!
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Music by:
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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[@j.b.708]

its interesting to hear the 2 main strategies discussed with their origins: slow the flow to wear them down until they make a mistake, capitalize: Helio. speed up the flow until they make a mistake, capitalize: Rolls.

[@HansDavidian]

My instructor got his black belt from Jacare who was one of Rolls' students. Thank you for this.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Spectacular lineage, indeed!

[@latenovembersdream]

Mine was a student of rolls .. but when he died gor his black belt under rickson.. his name .. luiz palhares

[@AffectionateEucalyptusTr-it8uh]

Holy smokes thats good rolls was a true legend ahead of his time to bad he died young 😢❤

[@raymondayala5355]

Rolls reminds me of Ryan and Rockson Gracie. They lived a fast life pushing the edge. Rockson was the person that got me into Jiu jitsu and changed my life forever 23 years ago. My focus now is to give the gift of Gracie Jiu Jitsu 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@charlesharsha6527]

That’s admirable that you want to pass the art to others

[@cabalofdemons]

Everyone should watch the documentary "Gracies And The Birth of Vale Tudo" as it features interviews of Gracie family members describing Rolls' abilities and his contribution to jiu-jitsu. He was the best at the time and Helio showed some animosity towards Rolls because his skill eclipsed his sons. Furthermore, Rolls' death was certainly a tragedy as he died at age 31 and had so much more to give. He was instrumental in the evolution of jiu-jitsu and was the best.

[@alanguages]

He not only had the physical ability, but his open minded evolution of using other grappling arts also. No doubt for me Rolls is the best of the best.

[@cabalofdemons]

Agreed.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Robert Leone lots of legends in that family.

[@saviorJay51]

Thanks for the reference bro!

[@dzenetasuljic8036]

cabalofdemons Zijada jaic

[@FlippyHambone]

ROLLS IS JON SNOW!!!

[@rhinobridge]

I came here to say the same haha

[@montagistreel]

You know nothing

[@AZTigerMMA]

I was adopted so I really love this story

[@bisonmma-kickboxing2511]

AZ Battle School 🙏

[@ghostfacekrueger]

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. I love your content and your fascination with Jujutsu history which bleeds in to your storytelling abilities. Keep doing what you are doing and hopefully one day I can train at Kama.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Ghost Face awww! Thank you!

[@victorhieber703]

Thank you very much for making this video. Great info on Rolls background and upbringing. Someone needs to make some shirts of Rolls

[@llcrs9640]

Rolles Gracie Jr is the replica of his grandfather. Amazing

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

I always thought it weird when people call him “jr.” His name is Rolles. His father was not “Rolles,” he was “Rolls.”

[@rbjj861]

I met Rolls in 1981 and watch him dominate a judo champ with stand up and destroy him on the ground. He also asked me in I wanted to go tandem with him with the hand glider. He was amazing!!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Richard Bresler Thanks for the memory, Professor!

[@Stevie929]

Richard Bresler suuuurreeee...

[@rbjj861]

Zaziar what does that mean?

[@stgeorge6947]

Richard Bresler the hand glider he died on? Bs

[@rbjj861]

Trippy Uk no, he died in 82. I was there in 81

[@mikebowser48]

I love studying the history of our sport. Thank you Ryan for creating these. My biggest fear is that time will pass and we will lose the knowledge of how our sport started and it will change and or become lost all together.

[@purehell5010]

Thanks so much. I really enjoyed this and you have answered a lot of questions about the Gracie's I have had in your videos. Keep up the good work and keep on rolling man!

[@gibbacool2009]

Thanks Mr. Yang for the way you spoke about ROLLS Gracie,as a Brazilian I'm proud of you sir !!!!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you! I have nothing but admiration for GM Rolls, despite never meeting him. Without his influence, GM Rickson may not have developed into what he developed into, and hence, my instructor, Dave Kama.

[@victorherreraguzman5014]

I really love your videos man, they are so explanatory, with too many ways of seeing the situation. It's completely amazing

[@krl52]

Rolls,My Late Teacher Carlson Gracie's Brother. ~ The GREATEST!

[@RiniHaerinnisya]

You have such an amazing storytelling way that I could literally nodding at the screen while you say something that I agreed to. I’m new in BJJ and your video helps me to understand better the story behind and put more respect to everyone. Thanks for sharing :-)

[@SteveAustinBJJ]

I really enjoyed this video and how you told the timeline of Rolls. Also I have had the honor of training with Marcio a few times and at first I didn't know that he was under Rolls until he was telling stories and saying my Master Rolls. I felt extremely honored to be listening to a simple story like this and once again falling back in love with Jiujitsu. Thanks for sharing this

[@bwilli1982]

Man I can't get enough of these! Thanks so much!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Breau Williamson thank you.

[@JohnIniguez-xt2pv]

Attitude of gratitude for who you are and all you share.

[@jimmynich4791]

Rolls died on this date 37 years ago, RIP. From what I've read and seen in videos Rolls was ahead of his time and was one of the first Gracies to really cross train and add things from other arts to make BJJ better.

[@BrianBirdy]

Thanks so much for making these videos. Quality 👌🏻

[@darylkenny4562]

I’ve been around jiu jitsu for nearly 20 years now and so I was familiar with the name Rolls Gracie and knew the history. What drew me here was after listening to the Lex Friedman podcast with John Danaher, GSP and Gordon Ryan. I wondered what John’s bjj lineage was. Turns out it is Renzo, Carlos Jr, Rolls, Helio. I thought hmm that’s a crazy amount of talent! So then I remembered from years ago learning that Rickson also got his black belt from Rolls (or trained to black belt with Rolls, though it may have been Helio who actually gave it to him). So then I started looking at the lineages of many of the top grapplers of the past 20+ years. Gordon Ryan, Gary Tonon, Renzo Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Roger Gracie, Kron Gracie, JJ Machado, Eddie Bravo…and so many more. They all come from the Rolls lineage. When you start to break it down that way it becomes super clear just how incredible and how important he was and still is to the art today.

[@kingkpin100]

Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@abc80s74]

Another awesome video history keep em coming I'm hooked

[@geraldburgos292]

Thank you for some history on Rolls... so very informative!

[@tscorpio27]

Well said. Thanks for all you do for us!!

[@tigermaskly]

This is awesome. Thank you for posting this.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+tigermaskly thank you!

[@foghornnosehorn8383]

5:05 that is the original "NoGi" outfit. I'm buying a speedo and wearing it next no-gi class.

[@christopherwalker6056]

😆 Awesome. Thank you, I needed that laugh.

[@bananapatch9118]

Great video….love learning the history ! Thx !

[@joesantos1513]

Awesome video!Thank you!

[@seanb1482]

The story about wanting the quick submission is true. Master Marcio still tells this story at his academy to us and has always remembered all these years later.

[@HerreraCam]

I love hearing stories about Rolls, too. Thank you so much. #AllianceBJJ

[@MarioUcomics]

Love hearing these stories!

[@DeSmoSmusic]

Thank you for the very informative video keep up all the great work

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Epic Guy Reborn thank you for the encouraging words, sir!

[@chriskelau421]

Late to the game , but very thankful that I got to learn more of Gracie history ... Awesome 💯👊🏾🙏🏾🤙🏾

[@artkingofwholefoods74]

Subscribed! Awesome story telling!!!!!

[@franhdez4711]

Awesome content as always. Big fan of Ryan and Kama BJJ!

[@FightCommentary]

Rolls sounds like the Bruce Lee of the Gracie family!

[@timothysmith9107]

Rolls grappling + Bruce Lee’s striking = Power level over 9000

[@blackenskatography9928]

Ya man!!! i felt that too!!! except that Rolls have a more tragic story than Bruce's have!!!

[@nikiktwotwo4470]

It was exactly like that. He improves the bjj by training other martial arts that wasn't mentioned in this video. He brought everything he thought would be useful Ina fight. By the way, that inspired Gracie family to create UFC years later. So basically, he was the uncrowded father of MMA.

[@hamadalrowaie6882]

Shang tsung !! 🖐👺

[@christopherwalker6056]

@Daniel Gigante namely, Mike Tyson. One of the best 'strikers' ever in the history of combat sports.

[@barryadrianallen]

Fantastic. Thank you.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Barry Allen thank you!

[@robertnewell4054]

Rolls sounds like a true pioneer & trailblazer. His untimely death makes you wonder what the Grappling World would look like today if he was able to pursue his vision. R.I.P. Master Rolls

[@adaptiveagile]

Excellent vid and very well-stated. Heard much about this subject this from my own instructor in the Pedro Sauer/Rickson lineage.Some of the best Jiu-Jitsu has come via Jacara, student of Rolls.

[@JUGGA_NUTT]

I enjoyed this, thanks for sharing!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+UGOTGLKTOUT it was our pleasure.

[@poopydoodoobritches4780]

Mahalo. That was a great commentary on an amazing man. Aloha

[@yamashitashorinryu]

Awesome discussion! Well done sir-

[@hgkal808]

Awesome vid bro. I'm not a JJ guy, just someone who loves history and appreciates stories of people of accomplishment. You share stories like you are a grand master historian and orator. I'm impressed. Great work bro!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you, brother!

[@SwordTune]

The candle that burns twice as bright lasts half as long.

[@rootstriker1618]

Love it

[@irongrip]

Thanks for the video! Very informative and it kept me interested throughout the whole thing. I'd only heard the name Rolls before, now I know a little about him - what a legend! :)

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+IronGrip he was a fascinating Grand Master, for sure.

[@danieldelewis2448]

This was a great video and a really great story

[@inigmaman1]

Very informative Ryan. Thank you. Hope to meet you some day.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+inigmaman1 you’re welcome. Let’s make it sooner rather than later!

[@RedSplinter36]

Your videos professor are amazing! Please please please never stop sir!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Jesse Rangel thank you, sir. Now you’re raising the bar too high!! I’ll try to figure out what to do next...

[@RedSplinter36]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu haha just keep doing what you do sir! Such great information and history as always!

[@elvergalarga6016]

Video came up right after bob Anderson's video about rolls. Good stuff

[@matthewcoreyvilla5674]

Rolls was light years ahead of his time, as the legend goes. He crossed trained and made himself aware to all martial arts. Myth or lore or outright tales, many the Gracie family speak very highly of the man. Out of every legend, facts “lie.” Would love to have seen what the family might have been if he lived longer.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

We all wish that.

[@deweydoan5968]

Beautiful....mahalo 🙌❤️

[@joeschmoe9154]

Another great video!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Joe schmoe thank you.

[@ctb3386]

Thank you for the video. I am fortunate to be able to train at Igors' academy in NY where he continues the legacy in all respects.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

That is awesome!

[@terryfonz4603]

Good stuff thanks!

[@charlesbuckingham3467]

Great video. Thanks!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you

[@vincespell]

Rolls was raised by Helio because he was born out of wedlock! Carlos's wife would not allow Rolls to live with the family so Helio took him in and raised him as his son. Carlos son's knew he was their brother and he was exposed to his brothers a lot but for the most part he was raised with Rorion, Relson and Rickson and later became Roylers mentor! Rolls also spent time in Mexico training wrestling with the Mexican's this is how wrestling technique were integrated into Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or at least this is what I was told. I had a conversation with Royler about Rolls and Royler said he was amazing!

[@exterMEnator83]

Amazing story! And video!

[@bisonmma-kickboxing2511]

Great Historical Info

[@joeferguson2606]

excellent work on this

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

thanks, Joe!

[@MDMOTP]

The Truth about the Zulu Fight! Gacies and Zulu were in a large room discussing the arrangement of a fight between Zulu and one of the Gracie Brothers. Rolls was across the room from Zulu staring at him and pacing back and forth. Zulu said "I will fight anyone except him (Pointing at Rolls across the room) with the deemond eyes. So they choose Rixon. Rolls was the family Champion at the time.

[@visionstonemedia]

Great Work !! Please keep on producing more videos. Your work is solid enough to do a feature length Documentary. Continued success and all the very best to you. I've studied with Rorion and Royce inTorrance and many years with Rickson in LA. I love your work.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you!

[@ECJ49]

I know this is a 6 year old comment and you probably don't use this account anymore. But if you do I'd like your input on something. Do the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu stand up self-defense techniques work in your experience or are they a waste of time learning?

[@rossbeake5779]

Great story telling man, nice tribute

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you, Ross.

[@edfreded6152]

Thank you for the video ! Greetings from Mayriver Bjj Bluffton s.c

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Greetings!

[@plcustodian]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu: Thank you and all respect to you for showing this video of Rolls Gracie. In 2007 I met a relative of Rolls (named Charles Gracie who himself is an instructor) and he told me that Rolls was the best. I would like to know if someday you do a video of the first generation Gracies, Other than Helio and Carlos, I believe there like three other brothers not too many of us know about, if someday you can. Thank You again for this.

[@micahbodha6129]

Rickson was #1

[@live2win4freedom82]

Awesome

[@luisjordan3922]

If you are ever in the east coast, stop by Gracie Sports in Norwalk Ct. Master Marcio is still laying down the pain lol. My favorite place to train jiu-jitsu.

[@genepatino9856]

Great video well spoken.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you

[@shable1436]

Holy cow, great info on the family, such an interesting family, there is even a Gracie practitioner here where I live, master renzo taught him, his name is Tim mannon

[@seanfarrellsullivanhasemotions]

Love this video. Thank you. I'd go with the pronunciation you've heard from a family member of his.

[@honestlee9921]

when your name is fuckin rolls. you know your gonna be good at rolling

[@LuisRodriguez_007]

Rolls and Rener look like almost twins........what a awesome family

[@xxxxxbriansanchezyyy]

L.A beast music in the background. HAVE A GOOD DAY!

[@blackbeardsmedia]

This is fantastic! Warm Regard's A Jiu Jitsu Irmao Jameson "DOC" Sharp in Kansas City

[@ikapatino3214]

Rolls was so handsome he wasnt dark and had colored eyes.

[@LoganCharlesII]

7:47 LOL @ that Bob Anderson cover

[@ReannaPeters12]

Rolls has stunning eyes.

[@goldfish8196]

GOAT

[@KidNato]

Great video. Somebody needs to make a grand Game of Thrones length series about the Gracie's. Such a fascinating family history and story.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Supposedly they are. Netflix series I think. - Rusty

[@cajunpoet8701able]

awesome video bro, really enjoy alot of your content. this is gonna sound a little random, but what kind of couch is that?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

That couch is an old carved Hawaiian mahogany (but not Koa) that is circa 1950s that I inherited from my grandparents. The cushions are off amazon (I think).

[@eddieedwards5292]

Helio never doubted the ability of Rickson Gracie that part i don't believe.

[@enriqueguerrero9551]

As for the first fight rei zulu vs gracie those body slams by zulu would be brutal out on concrete. Broken back at the least. Zulu had super natural strength excellent cardio and very little technique and that was enough to confuse him.

[@PattyMelt]

it's a sub from me, great video.

[@HumanInterested]

This is great. What documentary is @3:10 from?

[@parobg]

thank you for this video! by the way I remember watching somebody telling a story about a student of Rolls being beating up just because he was his student. Then Rolls goes to their academy with some people and beats the shit out of everybody... I can't find the video. If somebody can help me out I would really appreciate it. And remember - Rolls would roll :)

[@paulruprai1274]

Live fast die young .... cool GOOD guy Halls ..

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Extraordinary people live impressive, although often compressed, lives.

[@ProLookout]

Rolls would've made some great changes in gjj for the better. Beast mode fighters

[@boricuaislife5511]

The best Gracie....

[@jackcole8309]

Even if you are part of Rickson’s team, please feature carley gracie as well...

[@thebeast9606]

The video of Rolls and Rickson is obviously not too long before he died and Rickson is definitely not a teenager in the video. I believe there is only a 7 year difference between them, so that gap wouldn’t make a huge difference in terms of just age being why Rolls was better, he was due to his knowledge and skill in GJJ being overall better, but also his incorporation of other grappling arts giving him even more of an advantage. The fact that he was so well-rounded means he probably would have always been the best, but if anyone had a chance to be better it would have been Rickson. I wish you’d show some videos of you debating some of Carlos Sr’s lineage on this subject-that would be interesting as I’ve heard even Rickson’s brothers viewed Rolls as the best...

[@PlooKon09]

Why isn’t this a Hollywood movie already?!? fantastic story

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

oh, stop! (but say it again, please!) lol.

[@TheLochs]

I used to train with one of his students.

[@conanthebarbarian7223]

Kron Gracie is the reincarnation of Rolls

[@Braz438]

Nao Não Nooooo ROLLS The BEST Gracie!!!!

[@ludditerebel]

Where can I find that first portrait of Rolls?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Just do a google search for Rolls Gracie. If you need a larger size, press the "search by image" button next to the picture once you highlight it. It's pretty easy to find. - Kama JJ Editor

[@justdust7964]

I was always curious if Rolls called Carlos his dad over Helio.

[@jayedington3258]

he lived it

[@jayedington3258]

without fear

[@jcli1829]

I just realized that there is a Rolls and Royce Gracie.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Yep. True story.

[@denzel7822]

When was that picture of the family at 3:28 taken?

[@buffalospringfield9140]

In the endly of 70`s

[@ppkrex]

The Arete (good) die young. 'Whom the gods love dies young,' a statement by the Greek historian Herodotus in 'History' (c. 445 B.C.)