Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) traces its roots back to the early 20th century in Japan, where Judo, a martial art emphasizing throws and ground control, was developed. Mitsuyo Maeda, a Judo master, migrated to Brazil in the early 20th century and became acquainted with Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian businessman. In gratitude for Gracie's assistance, Maeda taught Gracie's son, Carlos Gracie, the art of Judo.

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Carlos, along with his brothers, adapted and refined the techniques they learned from Maeda, emphasizing leverage and technique over strength. In the 1920s, they opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy in Rio de Janeiro, offering classes and challenging practitioners of various martial arts to test their techniques.

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One of Carlos Gracie's younger brothers, Hélio Gracie, played a pivotal role in the evolution of BJJ. Due to his smaller stature and limited physical strength, Hélio adapted the techniques to favor leverage and positional control, creating a system suitable for practitioners of all sizes. This approach laid the foundation for what we now recognize as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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The Gracie family continued to refine and promote their martial art, organizing competitions and challenges to prove the effectiveness of BJJ against other styles. In the 1990s, BJJ gained international recognition as members of the Gracie family, such as Royce Gracie, demonstrated its effectiveness in the early mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions, most notably the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

As BJJ spread globally, it underwent further evolution, incorporating techniques from various grappling arts.

 

Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is practiced worldwide, with a strong focus on ground fighting, submissions, and positional control. It has become a cornerstone of MMA training and is popular for its emphasis on technique, strategy, and the principle that a smaller, technically proficient individual can overcome a larger, stronger opponent.