The Origins of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The early stages of Modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be traced back to Japan. During the Samurai era, Jiu-Jitsu began to form as a way for the Samurai to fight in hand-to-hand combat if they were disarmed or thrown from horseback. Originally Jiu Jitsu, mainly a striking discipline, eventually began to add joint locks and strangles.

By the mid-1800s there were many styles of Jiu-Jitsu practiced throughout Japan, however, they all included hand-to-hand combat and grappling. As Japan became more civilized, the focus of Jiu-Jitsu shifted from the battlefield to personal self-defense applications, and eventually challenge matches with sport-based rules were put into effect. Jigoro Kano, a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner developed his own style of Jiu-Jitsu which laid the foundation for what is called Judo.

In 1914 Mitsuo Maeda, also known as “Count Kama (The Count of Combat), a student of Jigoro Kano emigrated from Japan to Brazil and began teaching Kodokan Judo, which was also called “Kano Jiu Jitsu.” His particular style of Kano Jiu-Jitsu was a mix of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu as well as various ground-based techniques. Carlos Gracie, a student of Maeda, began teaching Jiu-Jitsu as well as prizefighting,

In 1930 Carlos Gracie and his brother George Gracie were hired as Instructor and Asst. Instructor at the “Academia de Jiu-Jitsu” where they grew the popularity of the School, which later became “The Gracie Academy of Jiu Jitsu,” through challenge matches with fighters from various disciplines, mainly foreigners and Japanese Kodokan Judo fighters. These challenge matches laid the foundation for what is known today as “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”

In 1993 Jiu-Jitsu hit the mainstream with Royce Gracie beating many larger opponents through the Gracie style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, becoming the first Ultimate Fighting Champion. Today Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is taught worldwide as one of the most popular styles of Martial Arts.