Rener Gracie and Ryron Gracie addressed the current BJJ crisis in a public statement that invoked their grandfather’s final words to them.
“Before he left us, our grandfather Helio Gracie made one final request that was simple and powerful: Keep making jiu-jitsu available to those who need it most,” the brothers wrote.
“That charge has guided every step we’ve taken and every school we’ve helped build.”
The statement comes as Brazilian jiu-jitsu faces mounting scrutiny over SA allegations involving high-ranking instructors across multiple major affiliations. Recent revelations have impacted nearly every prominent team in the sport, from Atos Jiu Jitsu and Checkmat to New Wave and B Team, creating what many observers describe as a reckoning for the BJJ community.
“In light of the recent abuse allegations against leaders in the jiu-jitsu community, we are reminded how fragile trust truly is and how devastating it can be when that trust is broken,” the Gracies stated.
“Ours is an art built on proximity, vulnerability, and belief in those who guide us. When standards are not upheld, the consequences reach far beyond the mat.”
The crisis has sparked debate about whether BJJ has a unique problem or simply reflects society’s broader issues.
The scope of recent allegations has been staggering. Andre Galvao experienced backlash within Atos Jiu Jitsu following revelations about his behavior. Leo Vieira of Checkmat publicly distanced himself from his own brother following misconduct allegations. New Wave faces allegations involving a fugitive reportedly connected to assaults on multiple women. B Team suspended Jay Rodriguez over his behavior toward female teammates. The New York Times previously published an investigation into Roberto Cyborg‘s involvement in Marcel Goncalves case.
Gracies are not immune to controversy themselves. Last year Ryron made headlines repeatedly thanks to an unconvential relationship he had with another BJJ black belt while married.
Evandro Nunes, a former Gracie University instructor and black belt with nearly 20 years of experience, has made a series of serious allegations against Rener and Ryron Gracie and the broader BJJ organization. He claims the Gracie organization engages in unethical practices including manipulative contracts, prioritizing profit over integrity, delayed payments, and misleading instructors about compensation and content ownership. Nunes also alleges coercion into uncomfortable “shame rituals” and describes an arrangement involving Ryron, Victoria Gracie, and himself, which he felt pressured to participate in, including encounters and morally troubling social events.
The Gracies acknowledged their own organization has faced difficult moments requiring hard choices.
“We have faced them ourselves. We have made painful realizations that lead to difficult decisions to protect the integrity of our schools and the people inside them,” they wrote.
“Leadership sometimes means choosing what is right over what is comfortable.”
“Students must look out for one another and advocate for your training partners,” the Gracies wrote.
“You must lead with open minds, open hearts, and open ears. Foster clear communication so issues can be addressed immediately and transparently. Your students place immense trust in you, and that trust must be earned daily through humility, vigilance, and action.”
“Setting standards is not enough; they must be consistently upheld across every school. That requires taking concerns seriously, investigating them thoroughly, and acting decisively when those standards are violated.”
By publicly acknowledging the severity of the crisis and calling for concrete action, the Gracies are positioning themselves as voices for reform in a sport facing its most significant credibility challenge.
“Creating safe training environments is not the responsibility of one person or one organization. It is a shared responsibility at every level of our community,” the brothers emphasized.
“Values only matter when they are lived, and standards only matter when they are enforced.”
“We call on every leader in the jiu-jitsu community to rise to this responsibility. Not just to speak about integrity, but to protect it. Not just to declare standards, but to enforce them. Not just to build schools, but to safeguard the people inside them.”
“Jiu-jitsu gives people strength, confidence, and protection,” the Gracies wrote.
“But it can only do that when the environments in which it is taught are worthy of the trust placed in them. In an art where students so willingly and enthusiastically place their faith in their leaders, accountability is not optional, it is essential.”
Whether this statement marks a genuine turning point or simply another moment of concern remains to be seen.
Full statement:
