Rayron Gracie has been promoted to BJJ black belt a few weeks back by Kyra Gracie, after winning the brown belt absolute division at the 2023 IBJJF World Championship…
And he is proud of that fact.
Here is why, as explained in a recent interview with the Gracie Magazine:
A lot of people don’t know, but Kyra was my first connection with competitive Jiu-Jitsu.
My uncles Renzo and Ralph already lived in the United States and my father had already passed away.
From a young age, I saw Kyra at home with her medals and I could see what hard work went into training. She was my first role model on the mats and I look up to her.I spent eight years in New York and I didn’t spend as much time with her in that period.
It was very special to go back to Brazil and receive the black belt from her hands, it was as if the cycle had started all over again.I’m the first Gracie man to receive a black belt from a woman.
By the way, I received it from the first Gracie woman to graduate as a black belt. I’m proud of it all.
Rayron added that Kyra’s, as well as Roger Gracie’s presence at the 2023 Worlds made him nervous in the beginning.
And then, in the end, more wholesome:
It was great, but it also made me ten times more nervous with them there.
In addition to the championship part, it was a pleasant moment.Just being with them in that moment and knowing that I carry on my family’s legacy makes me so proud.
In 2025, it will be 100 years since Carlos Gracie gave the first Jiu-Jitsu class in Rio de Janeiro.
So knowing that another generation of the family is still in the championships after almost a century makes me feel honored.It was worth it just to make them proud.
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