Renzo Gracie Added To GAMMA USA Board Of Directors
The Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), today announced that Renzo Gracie has been appointed to the GAMMA USA Board of Directors.
Renzo’s responsibility is to help GAMMA USA facilitate our shared goals and ambitions to bring mixed martial arts into Olympic Recognition. Part of that goal is continuing to build a strong foundation for Youth, Novice, and Amateur developmental programs in the United States.
Renzo has fought all over the world for organizations such as ONE Championship, UFC, K-1, and Pride FC in its heyday. He pioneered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America in the 1990s when he founded Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City, one of the cornerstones of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America.
He is established as one of the best teachers and mentors in combat sports. With his signature combination of charisma and intelligence, he has guided students such as Matt Serra a former UFC Champion, Roger Gracie a 10x Jiu-Jitsu world champion, John Danaher the Jiu-Jitsu Coach to Gordon ‘The King’ Ryan as well as UFC Champions Georges St-Pierre, Chris Weidman, Shawn Williams, and Ricardo Almeida to black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Renzo is also the grandson of Gracie Jiu Jitsu’s legendary founder Carlos Gracie and son of 9th Dan BJJ black belt Robson Gracie, brother to Ralph and Ryan Gracie. Like most men in the Gracie family, Renzo started training Jiu-Jitsu as an infant. He had formal instruction from many of the Gracie patriarchs, but two of his biggest influences were the legendary Rolls Gracie and Carlos Gracie Jr (the man who later awarded him his black belt).
GAMMA USA President, Justin Brown said Renzo would be “a monumental addition to the GAMMA USA leadership team with his experience and insights on building programs to help athletes and coaches excel. The passion he has for combat sports is in his blood and that passion is passed on to everyone around him. I look forward to working with Renzo and the rest of our Board of Directors in the future to continue our push toward Olympic Recognition!”
“We are delighted that GAMMA USA has brought Renzo Gracie on board. Renzo comes with years of leadership and coaching experience in combat sports,” said Alexander Engelhardt, President of GAMMA. “We are super excited to have Renzo on board and look forward to the grassroots development programmes in the United States reaching new heights under his leadership.”
