History of Jiu Jitsu

In 1914, a Japanese Jiu Jitsu expert named Mitsuyo Maeda arrived in Brazil in order to establish a Japanese immigrant community. While there, Maeda’s work was aided by a Brazilian businessman of Scottish descent named Gastao Gracie. In exchange for his friendship and hospitality, Maeda offered to teach Gracie’s son Carlos the Japanese martial art of Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos then taught the art to his brothers and in 1925 they opened their own Jiu-Jitsu academy in Brazil. Over the years, the Gracie family refined the art of Jiu-Jitsu, modifying it through countless challenge matches and street fights, and decided to call their art “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu” (also called “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”, or “BJJ”, today). The emphasis was on taking the opponent to the ground where the techniques of the art, with its efficient use of leverage, could be applied. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on the use of positional hierarchy on the ground, as well as the use of joint locks and chokes.