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 the concept of 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 then evolved in the mid-1800s to the martial art as we know it today, Judo. Judo then became the most widely practiced sport in the world.
In 1914 a Japanese Judoka (Judo expert) by the name of Mitsuyo Maeda, and 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 then further develop the skill to what we know it as 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, 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 un-known 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 then evolved in the mid-1800s to the martial art as we know it today, Judo. Judo then became the most widely practiced sport in the world.
In 1914 a Japanese Judoka (Judo expert) by the name of Mitsuyo Maeda, and 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 then further develop the skill to what we know it as 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, 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 un-known 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.