Carlos Elias

Historical Achievements & Legacy Milestones

• Elite Lineage Placement — Earned his black belt directly from Grand Master Hélio Gracie, cementing his status in an extraordinarily rare circle of practitioners.
• Gracie Torrance Anchor — Hand-selected by Hélio Gracie in the mid-1990s to relocate to California and run the coaching curriculum at the original U.S. Gracie Academy headquarters.
• Coral Belt Rank — Awarded his 7th-degree red-and-black belt in 2009 by the legendary Master Rickson Gracie.

Overview

Carlos Henrique Elias, universally recognized in the martial arts world by his nickname “Caique,” is a 7th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu red-and-black coral belt. As one of the exceptionally few individuals to receive a black belt directly from Grand Master Hélio Gracie, Master Caique is a monumental figure in the global proliferation of BJJ, serving as an instrumental head coach during the initial American martial arts boom.

Early Life and Introduction to the Mats

Carlos Henrique Elias was born on October 30, 1957, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a teenager, he spent his free time surfing the local beaches of Rio. It was during these beach days that he frequently witnessed his surfing friend, Relson Gracie, effortlessly handle and defuse various physical altercations using a unique, ground-based martial art. Intrigued by how easily Relson controlled larger opponents, Carlos decided to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for himself.

He began his journey at the historic, original Gracie Academy in downtown Rio de Janeiro. At the time, the academy’s classes were spearheaded by Rickson Gracie under the direct, watchful eye of Grand Master Hélio Gracie.

Loyalty to the Lineage

Because of his close friendship with Relson, when the “Campeão” opened his own specialized academy in Rio, Caique moved with him to support the new venture. He trained alongside Relson for a substantial period before ultimately returning to the main flagship academy. There, he resumed his rigorous work under Rickson Gracie, eventually earning his black belt directly from the hands of Grand Master Hélio Gracie. This achievement cemented his place in history as one of only eight non-Gracie men to receive a black belt from the late Grand Master.

For many years, Jiu-Jitsu remained a passionate hobby for Caique. After finishing his formal academic education, he worked a regular job during the day and dedicated his evenings to training and coaching at a local gym.

The Move to America and Independent Legacy

In the mid-1990s, while Caique was navigating a turbulent period in his personal life in Brazil, he received a phone call from Grand Master Hélio Gracie. The Gracie family had successfully migrated their operations to the United States and needed elite, trustworthy instructors to support the rapid growth of the headquarters in Southern California.

Hélio offered him a coaching position at the legendary Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. Caique accepted the offer, packed his bags, and moved to the United States. He spent five highly successful years teaching alongside the family in Torrance, helping to anchor the growth of American BJJ.

After his five-year tenure at the Torrance academy, Caique decided it was time to branch out on his own terms. He established the Caique Jiu Jitsu Academy in Southern California, turning it into a premier hub for traditional, self-defense-oriented martial arts. In 2009, his lifelong dedication and technical mastery were recognized when he was awarded his 7th-degree red-and-black coral belt by Master Rickson Gracie. Today, Master Caique continues to oversee his academy and has successfully passed the family tradition down to the next generation, producing numerous world-class black belts—including his own son, Pedro Elias.