Mauricio Motta Gomes was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As many other BJJ Legends he started training while bery young at the age of four. He started training at João Alberto Barreto’s training academy. His father was also a BJJ practitioner who had great impact on his knowledge.
After some time Mauricio stopped training at João Alberto Barreto’s academy, for unknown reasons, and switched to the Rolls Gracie academy. He was workiung with Rolls for 5 years and in 1981 he was awarded with a black belt. With his black belt he became one of the “The Famous Five”, a nickname to Rolls Gracie’s black belt students, even though there were six of them.
As he was spending years near Gracie Family he felt in love with Carlos Gracie’s daughter, Reila Gracie. They married in 1979 and two years after future multiple world champion Roger Gracie was Born. Unfortunately their marriage did not last.
After His mentor passed away Mauricio moved to Japan but came back to Brazil because of language barrier. He continued training with Rolls Gracie’s brother, Carlinhos Gracie and was waiting for new teaching opportunity to came. This time he went to United Kingdom. He started an academy called Gracie Barra UK in Birmingham, England. He also brought Felipe Souza, Braulio Estima, and his son Roger Gracie. As this buisness went very well Mauricio set up other academies in London, Edinburgh, and Belfast.
Right now Mauricio is teaching in Brazil and at his son’s Roger Gracie academy in London, UK.
