Rener Gracie

Rener has spent over twenty-five years at the Gracie Academy studying under Rorion and Helio Gracie. Rener and his brother, Ryron Gracie created Gracie University, an online martial arts learning center, and developed distance learning packages for their proprietary courses. He is also the founder and CEO of Quikflip Apparel, a clothing company that specializes in garments that convert into backpacks. Quikflip was featured on ABC's Shark Tank and Time Magazine listed it as one of the "Best Inventions of 2019."

Gracie is the founder of Quikflip Apparel. Time Magazine selected Quikflip as one of the "Best Inventions of 2019."

Rener married his longtime partner, Eve Torres, in Santa Barbara, California, on April 13, 2014. Eve is a purple belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and currently works as a spokeswoman and head instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered Self-defense program. They live in Torrance, California with their dog, Tioki (pronounced "cho-kee"). Their first son, Raeven Gracie, was born on September 28, 2015. Their second son, Renson Gracie, was born on August 28, 2018.

In the second phase of the new curriculum, Rener and Ryron developed a structured path from blue belt to black belt by aligning the remaining Gracie jiu-jitsu techniques to progressively more complex courses collectively called The Master Cycle. The Master Cycle includes over 1,000 techniques arranged in seven chapters focused on each of the six major positions in the art – mount, side mount, guard, half-guard, back mount, and standing – with a separate chapter for leg locks.

Rener is best known for his abilities as a Gracie jiu-jitsu instructor and his role in popularizing jiu-jitsu using web-based distance learning programs. He started teaching Gracie jiu-jitsu when he was 13 years old and six years later assumed head instructor duty at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy with his brother, Ryron. He and his brother oversaw all aspects of training and program development within an enterprise consisting of resident training at the World Headquarters in Torrance, California along with an additional location in Beverly Hills, California, which opened its doors on June 4, 2012. They also have a global network of Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Centers, extension training through the web-based Gracie University and DVDs, and on-site training for law enforcement and military personnel. The brothers completely revamped pre-existing Gracie Academy programs developed by their father and created several new ones to facilitate the export of their instruction through distance education and cadre training. In 2017, they moved to a larger facility in Torrance to accommodate the worldwide expansion of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and rebranded as “Gracie University” to reflect the shift from a single academy to a global organization.

The brothers use YouTube to popularize Gracie jiu-jitsu through segments such as “The Gracie Way” and “The Gracie Breakdown”, which are commentaries on mixed martial arts bouts and real-life self-defense situations in which the brothers explain the techniques and strategies employed, or what could have been done better. Ryron and Rener's video analysis of a match between Fabrício Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko was one of YouTube's top viewed videos on June 28, 2010 with over 100,000 views in 24 hours. Gracie breakdowns are now featured on UFC's weekly show 'UFC Ultimate Insider.

In 2008, Ryron and Rener developed the Instructor Certification Program to meet their father's stringent requirements for instructor certification. Requiring the passing of the blue belt test with a minimum score of 95 points, completion of 60-hours of online instructions, and a two-day live evaluation in Torrance. The University places candidates who pass the assessment on one-year probation during which they must complete the remaining requirements for certification. Certified instructors are eligible to operate Certified Training Centers.

The creation of Gracie University, an interactive martial arts instructional website designed for distance learning, is the brothers' most significant accomplishment as instructors and the backbone of the distance education division of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Gracie University had over 60,000 students from 196 countries registered for instruction through the website within three years of its launch in 2008. As of 2011, the Gracie University offers online instruction for all of its courses. Some jiu-jitsu practitioners have criticized the University for awarding belts through online instruction believing that a physical test is the only valid assessment of a student's ability. The brothers acknowledge that hands-on instruction is superior to distance learning, but believe that the rigor and fidelity of their video evaluation system sustain a sufficiently high standard to justify the program – especially for students who lack access to resident instruction. Furthermore, a blue belt awarded by video evaluation is called "technical blue belt" (which is white, with a blue stripe running the full length of the belt) indicating that the student has mastered the required techniques. An "official" Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belt and all higher belts can only be awarded by a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu certified instructor following an extended, in-person evaluation of the student. In 2017, the brothers moved to a larger facility and renamed the school Gracie University to reflect the global expansion through online training and proliferation of Certified Training Centers.

Rener received his black belt in 2002 from Grand Master Helio Gracie. He competed in the 2003 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship and took 3rd place. Later that year, Rener participated in the first Southern California Pro-Am Invitational, a 16-man single elimination tournament with no time limits. Rener was the only one of 16 competitors to wear a gi. He won first place submitting all four of his opponents. His opponents were Joe Stevenson (UFC Fighter), Cassio Werneck (BJJ World Champion), Jason "Mayhem" Miller (UFC Fighter), and Tyrone Glover. In 2004, Rener retired from point-based sport jiu-jitsu competition to focus on the street self-defense aspect of jiu-jitsu.

Rener Gracie (born November 10, 1983) is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, a chief instructor at the Gracie University (formerly Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy), and co-creator of the Gracie University online curriculum. A member of the Gracie family, he is the grandson of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, and the second-eldest son of Grandmaster Rorion Gracie, who was among some of the first family members to bring Gracie jiu-jitsu to the United States along with Carley Gracie, and Carlson Gracie. Rener is the husband of actress, model and former pro-wrestler Eve Torres.

Rener was born on November 10, 1983, to Rorion and Suzanne Gracie. He has one older brother, Ryron Gracie, and two younger brothers, Ralek Gracie and Reylan, as well as one younger sister, Segina. He also has two half-sisters, Rose and Riane Gracie, from his father's first marriage, and three half-brothers, Roran, Renon, and Ricon, from his father's third marriage.