One of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s most iconic families celebrated a special milestone this week as Roger Gracie promoted his son, Tristan Gracie, to blue belt during the Roger Gracie Academy’s 2026 Summer Grading in London. Commenters also noticed that Tristan is considerably taller than his father, who already towered over most BJJ competitors at 6ft 4 himself.
The promotion carried far more significance than a typical belt ceremony. Standing alongside Roger was his father, Mauricio Gomes, making it a rare moment that brought together three generations of one of jiu-jitsu’s most influential family lineages.
The ceremony saw Roger personally tie the blue belt around Tristan’s waist while Mauricio Gomes looked on, symbolizing the passing of knowledge from grandfather to father to son.
A Family Legacy Spanning Three Generations
Few families have left as profound an impact on Brazilian jiu-jitsu as the Gracie-Gomes lineage.
Mauricio Gomes is widely regarded as one of the pioneers responsible for bringing Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the United Kingdom. As one of the original “Blue Basement” generation under Rolls Gracie, he played a crucial role in establishing the sport in Europe and later passed that knowledge to his son, Roger.
Roger Gracie would go on to become one of the greatest competitors in the history of the sport. With multiple IBJJF World Championship titles, ADCC gold medals, and a legendary submission-heavy style, he cemented himself as one of the defining figures of modern jiu-jitsu.
Now, the family’s next generation has reached its first major milestone on the colored belt journey.
Roger Gracie Presents Tristan’s Blue Belt
The Roger Gracie Association shared the moment on social media, describing it as more than simply a promotion.
“Moments like this represent more than just a belt promotion. They are a celebration of the legacy, values, and traditions of Jiu-Jitsu being passed from one generation to the next.”
The academy also emphasized that earning a blue belt reflects years of dedication, consistency, and hard work on the mats before congratulating Tristan on the achievement.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
