The IBJJF Masters Worlds starts just over a week from now, and the tournament will see the long-awaited return of a man with jiu-jitsu in his blood. 

Carlson Gracie Jr. is the only son of the legendary Carlson Gracie, an integral figure in the history of jiu-jitsu and MMA. 

The fifth degree black belt's last match was 18 years ago, but he recently dedicated himself to training and signed up to compete at the Masters Worlds. 

Photo: Michael Sears
"It's because of the 10th year anniversary [of his father's passing]. I thought it would be nice to honor my father by competing. This is also about the team coming together to forget about the past and focus on the future." 

47 years old and head of the Carlson Gracie HQ gym in Chicago, 'Junior' put his name forward and will compete in the Master 4 medium heavyweight division. 

I am very excited to be there but not expecting any results. I know these other guys have been competing a lot and it will be tough. I'm just doing it because I want to do it.

 "Masters Worlds is the tournament that fits my profile -- of course I can't come back at the adult Worlds," says Gracie Jr. But I am feeling good, and maybe I will do more tournaments after this." 

He has lost around 40lb (18kg+) in the last year and has been preparing for the tournament by rolling with his students and doing strength and conditioning with Tony Williams, one of his black belts. 



As part of the tribute to Carlson Gracie, many affiliated teams with links to the Carlson Gracie Team will sign up under the same banner in the hope of winning the team trophy. 

The Carlson Gracie Team took first place team trophies in both gi and no-gi at the recent Chicago Open. 

About Carlson Gracie 

Carlson Gracie, eldest son of Gracie jiu-jitsu co-founder Carlos Gracie, fought jiu-jitsu and MMA contests in the 1950s and 60s, and would later go on to train some of the most influential figures over the last 40 years of jiu-jitsu, including past world champions such as Mario Sperry and Ricardo Liborio, and innovative teachers such as Ricardo de la Riva, among many more.