Evandro Nunes’ previous marathon three-hour livestream featuring Rener Gracie launched a barrage of allegations. Evandro Nunes is a former Gracie University instructor, who has publicly denounced both Rener Gracie and the broader BJJ community. Nunes, a black belt with nearly two decades of experience, detailed incidents he claims highlight systemic issues within the Gracie organization, including manipulative contracts, double standards in enforcing rules, and prioritizing profitability over integrity.
Additionally, Nunes referenced an alleged s*x-themed party and accused the organization of engaging in “shame rituals,” though Gracie vehemently denied such claims.
The debate also touched on disagreements over Nunes’ compensation and ownership in the Gracie Survival Tactics program. While Nunes criticized Gracie’s leadership and ethics, Gracie characterized the accusations as attempts to promote Nunes’ new coaching business. The livestream, riddled with personal and professional disputes, revealed the deepening fractures within the Gracie family and the broader BJJ community, leaving many questions unresolved.
But this wasn’t the end of the drama. Nunes subsequently released a 3-hour series called Gracie University’s Secrets Revealed.
“As you might know, on January 4th, 2024, I hosted a live ‘Zoom meeting’ to discuss the mountain lion video I was part of, which involves Rener Gracie and Gracie University.
During the meeting, Rener Gracie unexpectedly joined with a prepared PowerPoint presentation to share his side of the story.
When I asked him directly, Rener admitted that he had invited people to join the live with him, referring to these people he invited as ‘my friends.’
You will hear the evidence in the next few seconds…”
“In his presentation, Rener displayed screenshots and text messages, which he referred to as ‘receipts.’ Since I was not expecting him to join the live, I am now creating this video to share my side of the story.
For context, the live meeting lasted 3 hours and 16 minutes. If you need any references for what I am about to discuss, you can watch that debate at:
“This video has 3 parts:
- Share the unspoken stories we alluded to during the last live. Stories I alluded to as ‘dark secrets.’
- Address misunderstandings, false accusations, and omissions made by Rener during the last live Zoom meeting by presenting my ‘receipts.’
- Present new information supporting my claims of unethical behavior at Gracie University that I witnessed personally.”
Notes on the video, in case you don’t have the time to watch it:
- GU is a lifestyle brand.
- Not all BJJ is bad, and Nunes regrets coming across like that.
- Nunes shares his background story to demonstrate personal values.
- Nunes met Ryron Gracie when he competed at Metamoris and was invited to become an instructor at their school.
- Nunes became friends with Ryron and his wife and was allegedly subsequently invited to have relations with Victoria Gracie. They’re allegedly polyamorous.
- Nunes was asked to keep it a secret due to the Gracie family’s public profile.
- After engaging in relations with Victoria, Nunes alleges he was invited to have relations with the couple. He’s very adamant that he has no attraction towards men. Allegedly this was to feature ties, and Ryron even allegedly pulled out a knife which both him and Nunes used to cut his wife’s underwear.
- Following that experience, Nunes alleges he said no to encounters involving Ryron in future but still engaged with Victoria.
- Nunes alleges Ryron Gracie intended to go on Joe Rogan Experience to go public about his alleged polyamourous lifestyle
- Nunes wasn’t comfortable with being private and tried to break up the relationship.
- Nunes alleges he was to meet a VIP client for a private but was instead greeted by Victoria Gracie in the lobby of the hotel.
- Nunes alleges Victoria Gracie was controlling when he wanted to see other women. Nunes meets current wife in 2019 in a Gracie jiu-jitsu class.
- Nunes alleges Ryron Gracie became interested in a female student at a large GST class in September of 2019.
- Nunes alleges he was asked to invite said student to a private get together with Ryron and his wife.
- Nunes was allegedly living with Ryron and Victoria at the time so it wouldn’t be suspicious he was inviting her. The dinner was awkward and Nunes alleges he drove the student home and nothing happened between them.
- Nunes introduces his wife (Ariel) to keep telling his side of the story. Nunes wanted to come clean about polyamory to Ariel and both Gracies were at dinner with them when they did. Ariel was uncomfortable and wanted to distance from Nunes considering the dishonesty.
- After a year, Ryron Gracie and wife allagedly agreed to come out to several close friends including Rener Gracie and his wife Eve Torres Gracie.
- Nunes, Ryron and Victoria allegedly saw a couples therapist who specialized in polyamory.
- Nunes alleges the throuple was looking to buy land in Costa Rica and went there with that purpose in mind.
- Ryron allegedly met another student there he was interested in. Victoria had mixed feelings about it.
- Evandro allegedly went back to Costa Rica on his own at a later date and was allegedly told there that Ryron was bad mouthing a local instructor and had picked a school he wanted to become a CTC. Evandro was adamant this was not true. Ryron allegedly told him later it was.
- Nunes tells a lot of side stories so it’s hard to take him seriously although he does look more composed in this video than in any of the other videos we’ve seen him in.
- Nunes alleges he called Rener because he was distraught about being in this relationship while he was in Costa Rica alone.
- The three all moved from Torrance, California to Hermosa beach. Costa rica plans were abandoned.
- Evandro Nunes claims he wanted to break up once again, but allegedly Gracies offered to tell their small children about it.
- Several days later allegedly Rener came to help Evandro Nunes move out of the Ryron Gracie/Victoria Gracie home. Allegedly Rener Gracie suggested to Nunes to stay quiet and enjoy the charmed life in the couple’s home.
- Allegedly Evandro Nunes went to sleep at their Torrance house and the split becomes official.
- Â Nunes allegedly texts now-wife to tell her about his relationship status
- Nunes finally moved out in early 2020. Short while after Nunes was invited over and asked if he had gone out of their throuple because Victoria Gracie had an ‘incurable’ s*xually transmitted disease and Ryron didn’t. Nunes allegedly also tested negative.
- Nunes alleges the couple blocked him from instagram when he proposed to his now wife. They still allegedly talk on whatsapp.
- He focused on creating a Jiu-Jitsu social project in Brazil.
- Nunes got married and had a child, but says his relationship with Ryron became strained, with Ryron telling him not to contact him anymore. This caused a lot of turmoil and uncertainty
- Rener allegedly suggested Nunes only teach GSTs on the East Coast in the US.
- Nunes’ Jiu-Jitsu social project in Brazil had Gracie University pull back support for it because it was allegedly ‘not profitable enough’
Part 2:
- Evandro describes feeling coerced into filming an uncomfortable “shame ritual” video for Gracie University, where he was pressured to dress up and perform acts he was not comfortable with.
- Evandro provides examples of Rener avoiding or dismissing Evandro’s challenges to his statements during the Zoom meeting.
- Evandro discusses how Rener claimed much of the content Evandro wrote for the GST manual was based on Rener ‘s prior teachings, with Evandro estimating only about 10% was his own original content.
- Evandro accuses Rener of omitting facts and creating a false narrative around Evandro moving to Michigan.
- Evandro feels his gratitude was “weaponized” against him at times by Rener.
- Evandro provides examples of Rener making false statements and then deflecting when Evandro challenged them.
- Evandro discusses the delayed payments and financial difficulties he experienced working with Gracie University.
- Evandro refutes Rener ‘s claim that Evandro was not showing up or performing, providing evidence that he was fulfilling his contractual obligations.
- Evandro explains how he felt Rener ‘s “bonus” payment was not purely out of gratitude, but rather to manage a difficult situation.
- Evandro disputes Rener s characterization of their relationship as a “solid brotherhood.”
- Evandro addresses accusations of his own underperformance, providing counterevidence.
- Evandro calls out Rener for exaggerating and misrepresenting Evandro’s statements about Gracie University.
- Evandro challenges Rener ‘s claims about why he quit, arguing it was not due to a fabricated story but rather ethical concerns.
- Evandro disputes Rener’s claim that he was “confused” about why Evandro quit.
- Evandro rebuts Rener’s assertion that he created a false narrative to sell a course.
- Evandro critiques Rener’s “10-step program” as minimizing and belittling his own contributions and achievements.
- Evandro provides more details about the sketchy party he attended with Rener, Ryron and their wives. The party allegedly had sushi served on women sans clothing as well as an area designated for relations.
- Evandro calls out Rener’s alleged use of double standards and moral ambiguity in his leadership.
Allegations from Part 3:
1. Verbal Promises:
– Gracie University was secretly built without Rorion Gracie’s knowledge.
– The instructors were promised higher pay and a percentage of student tuition, but these promises were not fully delivered.
2. Tax Evasion Practices:
– Gracie University instructors were told to only accept cash payments for Gracie Gear to avoid properly reporting taxes.
– Instructors were uncomfortable carrying large sums of cash but were instructed not to question it.
3. Fake Testing Standards:
– Combative tests were intentionally scored below 100% even for perfect performances.
– Blue and purple belt tests were often just formalities, with students automatically passed.
– ICP (Instructor Certification Program) tests were more focused on personality than demonstrating skills.
– GST (Gracie Survival Tactics) written tests allowed unlimited retakes and cheating.
– Trusted Gracie University employees admitted to being instructed to pass everyone on GST tests, regardless of performance.
Longtime member of BJJ community, BJJ Black belt Dan Lukehart was one of the rare few to comment on the development:
“So let me get this straight: According to one of the main instructors (and participant in the thing), Gracie University was using their Instructor Certification Program and student base as recruiting grounds for female students to be inducted into a polygamous s*x cult lead by Ryron Graice and his wife?”
You can watch the entire 3 hour video here.
