“They just started” - Marcelo Garcia says his kids are now following in his footsteps in BJJ

Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Marcelo Garcia is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound BJJ players in the history of the sport. But there was a time that his kids didn't really know that.

A proud father to a 9 and 11 year old, Garcia has not competed professionally in jiu-jitsu for over a decade, despite being one of the discipline's most accomplished practitioners.

But now that the 41-year-old veteran has joined the world's largest martial arts organization and is ready to resume his legendary career, he has inspired his children to pick up BJJ like he did when he was young all those years ago.

Speaking to veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani show, Garcia talked about getting his kids into jiu-jitsu.

The Brazilian icon said:

"They just started. I just opened the gym over here and we didn't have a kids program before in New York. Now we have a beautiful kids program over there. So they just started in New York and then we moved to Hawaii, and now since I just opened a gym over here, they just started over here. So they're brand new, white belt."

Needless to say, his kids, and the entire world, cannot wait to see Garcia back in action, which can't come soon enough.

Marcelo Garcia makes ONE Championship debut against Japanese legend Masakazu Imanari at ONE 170

BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia has drawn Japanese grappling legend Masakazu Imanari for his ONE Championship debut.

Garcia will step inside the ONE Championship ring with Imanari in an openweight submission grappling match at ONE 170: Tawanchai vs. Superbon.

The event broadcasts live in Asia primetime from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.

Fans in the United States and Canada should visit ONE Championship's official website for more information on how to watch.