History of BJJ

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) traces its roots to early 20th-century Japan, when Judo and traditional Japanese jujutsu were introduced to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda, a skilled judoka and world traveler. Maeda began teaching the Gracie family, most notably Carlos and Hélio Gracie, who adapted and expanded the techniques to create a new style built on leverage, timing, and efficient body mechanics.

Unlike traditional jujutsu and judo of the era, the Gracie approach emphasized ground fighting and submissions, allowing a smaller, weaker individual to overcome a larger opponent through technique rather than strength. This evolution became known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Throughout the 20th century, the Gracie family and other pioneers—such as Oswaldo Fadda—helped spread BJJ across Brazil through academies, open challenges, and competition. The art gained international recognition in the 1990s when Royce Gracie used BJJ to dominate early UFC events, proving its effectiveness in real-world and mixed-martial-arts settings.

Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the fastest-growing martial arts in the world. It is a foundational discipline for modern MMA, a key component of military and law-enforcement combatives training, and a powerful tool for building discipline, resilience, camaraderie, and mental strength.

At its core, BJJ remains true to its mission: empowering individuals through technique, humility, and continuous learning—on and off the mats.