Kron Gracie moved from California to Montana during the p*ndemic, and made himself much less available on social media.
Kron Gracie recently shared his perspective on the current generation of mixed martial arts competitors. It appears a member of the renowned Gracie family has come to understand that modern fighters should strive to master different martial arts styles.
On his YouTube channel, Gracie uploaded a series titled “Kron Gracie: Same Same But Different.” The first installment features highlights of his training in various martial arts, footage of other family members practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, clips from his fights in RIZIN and UFC, and matches of his father Rickson and others. No words accompany the footage.
The next video, titled “Kron Gracie: 2024 Same Same But Different Vol 2” focuses on his training. In this one, however, Kron provides commentary on topics like the pressure that comes with being a Gracie as well as the importance of cross-training.
Gracie continues by discussing his family’s legacy and their previous views on the need for diverse training. In his view, the process resembles sculpting one’s own fighting style by incorporating techniques from different disciplines.
“Growing up, it was all about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Everyone used it to fight. Jiu-Jitsu to prove you could beat a boxer or wrestler. You were trying to prove your martial art. Now, success requires mastery of multiple styles at the highest level. My father doesn’t understand that. My grandfather wouldn’t get it either. This generation is completely different. For me, martial arts means Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing and judo. When I say I’m a martial artist, it’s because I’ve built my own formula and appreciate all martial arts styles.”
Gracie followed his family’s tradition of intensive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, winning gold at the 2013 ADCC World Championships in Beijing. He then transitioned to mixed martial arts, making successful debuts in promotions like RIZIN by submitting respected Japanese veterans via submission.
After debuting in the UFC in 2019 with a win, Gracie’s streak ended with back-to-back decision losses where he was criticized, including by his father, for not fully utilizing his grappling skills. In his most recent fight after a long absence, Gracie switched to an exclusively grappling-focused approach but was again defeated by decision.
It seems Kron Gracie has now chosen to embrace the well-rounded nature of MMA and aim to incorporate different disciplines into his fighting approach. Only time will tell if he can re-enter the Octagon and achieve success with this evolved style.
