Jiu-Jitsu has a long and rich history that dates back centuries. The earliest forms of Jiu-Jitsu can be traced to India, where it was practiced as a form of self-defense by Buddhist monks. From there, the art form spread to Japan, where it was further developed into the martial art we know today. In the late 19th century, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu master Mitsuyo Maeda traveled to Brazil, where he taught the art form to the Gracie family.

BJJ in Brazil during the 1990s

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) first gained mainstream attention in Brazil during the 1990s, when world renowned fighter Royce Gracie showed just how effective BJJ could be in a real fight. However, many people have wondered where this martial art originally came from.

For centuries, people have been practicing Jiu-Jitsu for different purposes in different locations around the world, but it was Carlos Gracie who developed what we now recognize as modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this article we will look into his life, his story, and how he created one of the most popular martial arts styles in the world today.

Judo and The Gracie Family

Beginning Of Judo

Maeda was a master of the Japanese martial art Judo, which had been developed in the late 1800s by Jigoro Kano. Kano had taken elements from various forms of Jiu-Jitsu and combined them to create a more modernized version of the art form. This new style of Jiu-Jitsu was known as Judo.

The Gracie Family

The Gracie family is credited with developing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is a modified version of traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracies made several modifications to the original art form, including adding more ground-fighting techniques and emphasizing leverage over strength . The Gracie family is also credited with popularizing the art form, as they opened the first Jiu-Jitsu academy in Brazil and began teaching their modified version of the martial art.

Who was Carlos Gracie?

Carlos Gracie was the oldest son of Gastão Gracie, who had been taught Judo by Maeda. Carlos was a natural athlete and quickly took to the art form, eventually becoming one of the most influential figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. He opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy in 1925 and began teaching his modified version of Judo to students.

Conclusion

 It was the Gracie brothers who were at the forefront and pioneers in creating what we know today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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