The idea of combining different fighting styles to determine which would be the most effective is not new in history. However, modern MMA as we know it today began to take shape in the early 1990s, mainly in Brazil and the United States. In Brazil, events like "Vale Tudo" (Anything Goes) already promoted confrontations between fighters from various modalities with very few rules.

The Gracie family, pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), played a fundamental role in the genesis and popularization of MMA. The Gracie family's history in MMA began with the challenge issued by family members, such as Royce Gracie, to practitioners of other martial arts to prove the superiority of BJJ, especially in real combat.

At the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in 1993, Royce Gracie, representing Jiu-Jitsu, surprised the world by defeating larger opponents specialized in other disciplines, such as boxing, kickboxing, and savate. Using the strategy of taking the fight to the ground and applying submissions, Royce demonstrated the effectiveness of BJJ against styles focused on striking. This remarkable participation of the Gracie family not only put Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on the world map of martial arts but also sowed the seed for what would become modern MMA. From then on, fighters from various backgrounds began to realize the need to train different modalities to become complete competitors.

Today, MMA is one of the most popular combat sports in the world, with events from major organizations attracting millions of viewers and generating a significant economic impact.

The tradition and expertise of the Gracie family in the world of martial arts continue to live on through various academies, including those affiliated with Rilion Gracie. Rilion Gracie Academy, following the principles and philosophy of its founder, generally offers MMA classes that are accessible to people of all experience levels, from beginners to more advanced athletes. In these academies, the focus is not only on training competitive fighters but also on providing a safe and effective learning environment for those seeking to improve physical fitness, learn self-defense, and develop discipline through the practice of MMA.

In MMA classes at Rilion Gracie Academy, people can expect: