WHAT IS BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ)
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and self-defense fighting system that, in its most basic form, centers around a smaller person using superior leverage, technique, and positional control to protect themselves against a bigger aggressor.
Its origins come from the ancient battlefields of the Japanese Samurai, which evolved in the mid-1800s into the martial art we know today, Judo. Judo then became the most widely practiced sport in the world.
In 1914, a Japanese Judoka (Judo expert) named Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as Conde Koma, emigrated to Brazil, where it is said that he taught Carlos Gracie the art of Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos and his brother Helio would further develop the skill to what we know today, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, before opening Brazil’s first Jiu-Jitsu school in 1925.
Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is practiced as a global martial art and competitive sport and is widely used in combat, namely mixed martial arts. The largest MMA organization (UFC) experienced the effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu when an unknown Brazilian fighter by the name of Royce Gracie entered the Octagon in the early 1990s, completely dominating the competition. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, from that point on, cemented itself as one of the most effective martial arts in the world.
Its origins come from the ancient battlefields of the Japanese Samurai, which evolved in the mid-1800s into the martial art we know today, Judo. Judo then became the most widely practiced sport in the world.
In 1914, a Japanese Judoka (Judo expert) named Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as Conde Koma, emigrated to Brazil, where it is said that he taught Carlos Gracie the art of Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos and his brother Helio would further develop the skill to what we know today, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, before opening Brazil’s first Jiu-Jitsu school in 1925.
Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is practiced as a global martial art and competitive sport and is widely used in combat, namely mixed martial arts. The largest MMA organization (UFC) experienced the effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu when an unknown Brazilian fighter by the name of Royce Gracie entered the Octagon in the early 1990s, completely dominating the competition. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, from that point on, cemented itself as one of the most effective martial arts in the world.