[4][5] He advocated for a "warrior style", which emphasized physical prowess, aggressiveness, heavy top pressure, takedowns and cross-training to disciplines such as Judo and Wrestling to better one's game.

[6] Gracie also believed in the a philosophy the only way to move forward was to test yourself and to do so you needed to open your knowledge to the public, rather than keep jiu-jitsu a secret.

The difference in styles and coaching methods led to a rivalry with Hélio Gracie's branch of more orthodox jiu-jitsu.

[4] Carlson was an early pioneer in mixed martial arts, founding one of the most successful teams of the era, which spawned many champions.

[9] Carlson Gracie trained Stephan Bonnar, a finalist in the UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter 1.

He is the author of a book on the subject of Jiu Jitsu titled Brazilian jiu-jitsu: For Experts Only, which includes his student Julio "Foca" Fernandez.

While Helio's brand of jiu-jitsu emphasized defensive techniques aiming to allow the smaller and weaker to defeat the stronger opponent,[12] Carlson and his brothers Carley Gracie and Rolls Gracie favored a much more active, 'warrior style' of jiu-jitsu that encouraged physical prowess and barraging your opponent with a series of attacks.

Carlson Gracie died on February 1, 2006, in Chicago, Illinois, of heart failure, apparently the result of complications of kidney stones (and possibly his pre-existing diabetes), following a hospitalization of several days.