Ralek Gracie and Metamoris



Ryron and Rener Gracie Sever Business Ties With Brother Ralek

We feel obligated to caution anyone who is considering doing business with [Ralek] or Metamoris on any level.

Ryron and Rener Gracie sent an internal email last week cautioning Gracie Certified Training Center owners not to do business with their brother, Ralek Gracie.In a leaked email seen by FloGrappling, Ryron and Rener issued a statement distancing themselves from their younger brother's business practices following his increasingly controversial handling of the professional jiu-jitsu event Metamoris.Following an affirmation that they have no involvement or stake in Metamoris, the email contains a strongly worded warning for Gracie Certified Training Center instructors not to engage with Ralek or the event."We have no stake in Metamoris, but we have always supported our brother, Ralek," the email reads."Although we haven't always agreed with the Metamoris business practices, we never felt it was our place to publicly express our concerns with the operation... until now."Ralek Gracie is the founder and president of Metamoris, a submission-only jiu-jitsu event founded in 2012.The event was initially considered to be successful and featured marquee matches including Roger Gracie vs. Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida, Eddie Bravo vs. Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie vs. Sakuraba, and Chael Sonnen vs. Andre Galvao.Ralek came under attack earlier this year following public revelations from multiple athletes and business associates that he had not paid promised purses, salaries, or reimbursed those involved with the Metamoris Challenger series of events.Metamoris also came under criticism for issuing multiple charges against stored credit cards following pay-per-view purchases and using insecure handling of customers' private information.Ralek issued statements promising that the problems would be resolved, and Metamoris' website was subsequently updated to protect customer information.Metamoris announced recently that it would host a number of international qualifying tournaments under the Metamoris Challenger banner, even though parties who had hosted the previous series of Metamoris Challenger events claimed to be awaiting payment.In response to whether Ralek would settle his debts with those out of pocket, he said publicly that Metamoris "does not exist to pay debts".Rener and Ryron sent the email to Gracie Certified Training Centers on Wednesday, October 19. In the message, they state that they have severed their business relationship with their brother."Ralek has engaged in dishonest and fraudulent activity, and continues to do so despite our repeated efforts to guide him," the email reads. "We have decided to terminate all business relations with Ralek and Metamoris."The email was confirmed as authentic to FloGrappling by Rener Gracie via text message on Sunday, October 23.The email concludes:Ryron and Rener Gracie are head instructors of the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. There are over 100 Gracie Certified Training Centers on six continents around the globe.The Gracie Academy was founded by Rorion Gracie -- father to Ryron, Rener, and Ralek -- and is considered one of the foremost places in the world to learn jiu-jitsu.