Stephanie Moon Gracie

Stephanie has been involved in athletics for her entire life. Whether it’s as a participant, coach , or sometimes both she is a dedicated athlete. She began synchronized swimming at the age of 7. She enjoyed the sport, and it became more than a hobby as she improved and competed within the highest levels, even participating at the 1984 Olympic Trials. Her love for the sport continued as she became the Head Coach of UC Berkeley during the years of 1989 and 1990, bringing their team to their first ever top 3 placing at the national level. In 1993, Steph started coaching the Walnut Creek Aquanuts synchronized swimming team and did so for 9 years.

After Synchronized swimming came belly dancing. It turned into a way of life for several years. She even competed for belly dancer of the year! She was a member of Troupe Arkadas and the troupe danced around the bay area at several festivals and parties. Stephanie was a regular at El Morocco in Pleasant Hill , dancing professionally under the name Nawar since 1994. This name came from Seleyma, Stephanie’s instructor for many years. Stephanie started sharing her love of dance through teaching for the City of Martinez, as well as City of Dublin and she continues to teach today in Brentwood.

Martial Arts also started as a hobby for Stephanie, and her competitive nature drove her straight into the boxing ring in 1996. Her fist match was at the Concord Pavilion, and she was hooked. Stephanie traveled the world fighting various opponents in boxing and also Muay Thai where she studied under World Champion George Tsu tsui.

There weren't many female competitors in the 90’s and she found as many as she could. She won the Muay Thai Bantam weight belt in 2000. Stephanie competed in several smokers at the Fairtex gym in San Francisco , fought at Casino San Pablo, as well as many events in Los Angeles. One of her best weapons is a heavy right hand.

In 2001, Stephanie was introduced to jiu jitsu through a friend who was already training and needed a sparring partner. Once Stephanie started, she was training as much as she could in between Muay Thai fights and belly dancing shows. Stephanie earned her blue belt in February of 2004 from Crosley Gracie and a few months later won the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Carson, Ca, submitting all of her opponents on the way to the gold.

Early 2006, she was promoted to the ranking of Purple Belt and currently holds four stripes at that belt. She continues to learn and improve her game as a student and as an assistant instructor in the Jiu-Jitsu program at Crosley Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Steph is the head instructor of the Muay Thai classes at the school and is now trying to pass on to her students all her experience and techniques acquired over the years.

Below are some of Steph’s accomplishments:

Synchronized Swimming

* 1984 Olympic Trials Participant
* 1986 National Sports Festival West Team Member

Jiu-Jitsu

* 2001 Gracie Open Champion
* 2002 Gracie Open Champion
* 2003 Gracie Open Champion
* 2003 Pan American Championships - 3rd Place
* 2004 Pan American Champion
* 2004 United Gracie - 2nd Place
* All wins came by the way of submission

Muay Thai/Boxing

* Kick Boxing / Boxing record combined - 20 wins / 4 losses / 3 ko’s
* 2000 Bantam Weight Muay Thai Champion

Belly Dancing

* Former Member of Troupe Arkadas
* 2002 Belly Dancing Instructor for the city of Martinez, Ca
* 2003 Belly Dancing Instructor for the city of Dublin, Ca