Founder · Private lessons
Master Carlos “Caique” Elias
Founder of Caique Jiu Jitsu, now teaching private lessons. 8th-degree black belt who received his black belt from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie in 1982.
Carlos “Caique” Elias's first contact with jiu-jitsu was in 1972, at a Judo Academy located at Rua Toneleros in Copacabana, RJ. The Judo academy where he trained was in a shared building with the Carlson Gracie academy. Master Caique met Relson and Rickson Gracie in his teenage years surfing in Rio de Janeiro. Because the surf culture back then was pretty rough and fights happened often, Caique quickly saw the value of Jiu-Jitsu and began training Jiu-Jitsu at 16 years old in 1974.
His hard work quickly set him apart, and Grandmaster Hélio Gracie named him the best student of his original academy. In 1996, Master Caique moved to the US at Hélio's invitation to teach at the Gracie Academy. In 2000, he founded Caique Jiu Jitsu. Caique trained with Relson until the end of his blue belt, then under Rickson Gracie until his black belt.
In his words
“I met Hélio Gracie at his house when I was training with Relson. The funny thing is that Relson with a big heart always took me to eat the Gracie diet at his father's house and Hélio Gracie was like looking at that and asking why am I feeding this other child that is not mine? Lol but he was always courteous to me as I was a student. As time passed I earned his trust and became closer to him. I used to go to the fruit market with him and sometimes with Carlos Gracie also. I remember I got injured and Hélio took care of the treatment for me.”
“I became his admirer and was willing to listen to him, learn and reflect about his lifestyle. A unique human being that lived for Jiu Jitsu above all. He started to show me some techniques and with time more and more. As I was getting good he was watching my training and many times chose to show what's up to some visitors. Once I moved for good to his academy and Rickson was the head instructor my Jiu Jitsu was taken to another level.”
“Hélio was a short-tempered person. Probably the most brave person I met. He got mad at me a couple times and made himself clear that he was ready to hit me. Ha! Guess what?! I backed off. I had so much respect for him.”
Highlights
- Teaches private lessons at Caique Jiu Jitsu
- 8th-degree black belt
- Received his black belt from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie in 1982
- Began training Jiu-Jitsu in 1974 in Rio de Janeiro
- Named the best student of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie's original academy
- Invited by Grandmaster Hélio Gracie to teach at the Gracie Academy in the US in 1996
- Trained under Rickson Gracie until black belt
Train with Caique in our private lessons program.
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