HISTORY OF TEAM CREZIO
Crezio Chaves
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After losing his parents at just two years old, Crezio Chaves lived on the streets. At the age of eight, he joined a traveling circus, becoming a trapeze artist, a profession he pursued for several years. During his teenage years, Crezio discovered Capoeira, where his exceptional physical abilities and body control quickly set him apart. He eventually earned the rank of instructor in Capoeira.
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Crezio also served in the Brazilian Navy, where he met Master Helio Gracie during a military training session. Impressed by Crezio’s athleticism, Helio invited him to train at the Gracie Academy. After only six months of training, Crezio fought in his first vale-tudo (no-rules) match, successfully defending the Gracie Academy.
He was awarded his black belt by both Carlos and Helio Gracie. As a competitor in the 1950s, Helio nicknamed him “Cabritinho” (Little Goat) for his speed, agility, and precise technique.
Crezio Chaves became a significant figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, standing out as one of the first to teach Jiu-Jitsu to people outside the Gracie family, at a time when instruction was typically limited to self-defense training within the family circle.
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During his career, Crezio fought 72 times for the Gracie Academy in the 1950s in vale-tudo (early MMA) matches, defending Jiu-Jitsu against practitioners of other martial arts. He retired undefeated and eventually earned the 9th and final degree of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the red belt.
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Beyond martial arts, Crezio also had a brief stint as a professional soccer player, playing for the Botafogo club.
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Chaves was a key ambassador of BJJ in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro, opening the first academy in the Petrópolis region in 1958. For decades, he dedicated himself to teaching Jiu-Jitsu to underprivileged children. At 92 years old, Crezio remains active, continuing to teach Jiu-Jitsu to this day.
Crezio de Souza
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Crezio de Souza - He started practicing Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 5 and won his first competition in 1968, when he was 6 years old. He was awarded a black belt by his father (Crezio Chaves) in the early 80s. Focused on becoming the best fighter he could be, he sought out Carlson Gracie, who had the strongest jiu-jitsu team in the country. Crezio lived at the academy for a long period, with Master Carlson as his second father, but when he started training with Master Carlson Gracie, he asked to return to blue belt, studying the colored belts again and graduating black belt at the hands of the master. Carlson who affectionately called him “Crezinho” (little Crezio).
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Crezio began practicing and competing in different martial arts such as Judo, Brazilian Luta Livre, Boxing and Wrestling, where he won a place in the Brazilian team to fight in the Pan-American Games in Havana (1991). Today, a 7th degree coral belt and one of the main figures of the legendary Carlson Gracie team of the 1980s/90s, Crezio de Souza was considered by many to be the most technical fighter of his time, remaining undefeated for 10 years in Jiu-Jitsu championships.
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Crezio de Souza was also one of the pioneers of MMA (Vale Tudo at the time), having faced iconic fighters such as Dan Henderson and Johil de Oliveira. In 2002, partially blind due to an accident in training,, Crezio de Souza became the first (and only) man over 40 to win a medal in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship (adult black belt division). Crezio de Souza developed techniques based on mastery, control and submission of the opponent which became the hallmark and differential of his methodology. Same after the split of the Carlson Gracie team, where many athletes left the team, Crezio de Souza remained loyal and part of the team until 2006, when Carlson Gracie came to die.
