Kyra Gracie
The first Gracie woman to compete at the top
- Born
- May 29, 1985, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Nationality
Brazil- Height
- 170 cm (5′7″)
- Style
- Closed-guard specialist
- Weight
- Lightweight, Open class, ADCC -60 kg
- Active
- 2004–2012
- Status
- Retired · age 41
The medals
4× IBJJF World Champion, 3× ADCC
The story
yra Gracie grew up in Rio de Janeiro in a house shared with three black-belt uncles, Renzo, Ralph and Ryan Gracie, and started regular classes at about 11. She became the first woman of the Gracie family to compete seriously, pressing on when relatives argued the sport was too rough for her, and Carlos Gracie Jr. awarded her black belt at 21. She won ADCC gold at under 60 kg in 2005, 2007 and 2011 and IBJJF world titles in 2006, 2008 (weight and open class) and 2010, and became a regular on Brazilian television. After the birth of her daughter she confirmed her retirement from competition in 2014. She was the first woman inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame, and in 2023 she became the first Gracie woman to promote a family member to black belt.
- IBJJF World champion (lightweight 2006, 2008, 2010; open class 2008)
- ADCC champion (2005, 2007, 2011; -60 kg)
- Pan American champion (2005, 2007)
- Brazilian National champion (2005, 2008)
- First woman inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame
- IBJJF Hall of Fame
Defining matches
- 2006WINvs Hannette Quadros (IBJJF Worlds lightweight final)
- 2008WINvs Luanna Alzuguir (IBJJF Worlds lightweight final)
- 2008WINvs Ana Laura Cordeiro (IBJJF Worlds open-class final)
- 2010WINvs Luanna Alzuguir (IBJJF Worlds lightweight final)
Use Kyra's closed guard against bigger opponents: break posture with a collar grip and your knees, keep their elbows inside your thighs, and attack the triangle the moment one arm drifts across your centre line.
