Origins

Japanese jiu jitsu was originally introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil by Esai Maeda in 1915. Maeda was a Judo champion who first traveled to the United States in 1904 to demonstrate his art for Theodore Roosevelt at the White House, and for cadets at West Point Military Academy. The formal teaching of jiu jitsu to Brazilians by the Gracie family began in 1940, when Helio Gracie opened his first academy in Rio de Janeiro. Over the next 18 years, the Gracie family opened three more jiu jitsu academies in Rio, and developed the art into a more effective rules-free style.

Evolution and development

Since the days of Maeda and Gracie, Brazilian jiu jitsu has continued to evolve both as an art and as a fighting strategy. The Gracie influence in free fighting events led to the development of unique rules for BJJ sport competition. Brazilian jiu jitsu was eventually divided into three broad categories, each complementing the other; self defense (which includes striking techniques and unarmed techniques against armed opponents); free fighting competition (commonly referred to as MMA today), and sport grappling (submission matches that do not include striking). The rules of modern sport grappling matches are designed to mimic street fights, and have been proven to be the most effective in real life confrontations.  

BJJ philosophy and technique

Brazilian jiu jitsu is designed, more than anything else, to equip a physically smaller individual with an effective method of defending against a larger and stronger opponent. When applying jiu jitsu techniques, leverage is the secret to the amplification and most effective use of force. Additionally, BJJ has the most advanced methods of fighting while on one’s back, a position smaller and weaker fighters will often find themselves in when attacked. The innovations of the Gracie family, combined with the perpetual testing and refinement from fighters from around the world, has resulted in the unique style of Brazilian jiu jitsu used today.  

Worldwide exposure

In 1993, Royce Gracie brought Brazilian jiu jitsu to the world by entering the first Ultimate Fighting Championship and dominating against fighters who were two to three times his size. Gracie repeated the feat in UFC 2 and 4, which opened the door for a massive influx of Brazilians to come to America to fight against competitors from all over the world. Brazilian jiu jitsu suddenly underwent a huge surge in popularity that continues on through today, as more and more people come to understand that BJJ is one of the most effective styles of martial arts to come along in years.