Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: The History Of This "Deadly" Martial Arts
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial arts based on ground fighting and grappling. Similar to Judo, it is a system of jacketed and belted wrestling. It involves teaching of takedowns, takedown defense, ground control and submissions. It has sport and combat forms; professional, amateur and recreational divisions.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can be traced back to Japanese Jiu-jitsu which was introduced by Mitsuyo Maeda (also known as Conde Coma) to Brazil around 1914. Maeda was a student of Jigoro Kano and his Kodokan School of martial arts. He was asked by his master to spread the word of his style. Maeda travelled all over the world, until he landed in Brazil where he befriended Gastão Gracie, an influential businessman. To show his gratitude, Maeda offered to teach Gracie's eldest son, Carlos, the traditional Japanese Jiu-jitsu. Carlos then established his first school of jiu-jitsu in 1925, in Rio de Janeiro. He brought his brothers with him and taught them his master's art.
However, the creation of the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can be attributed to Helio, the youngest of the Gracies. He moved in with his brothers at 14 but was only limited to watching his brothers teach due to physical frailty. He only became an instructor at 16 due to his brother's absence one day. He taught a student the techniques he learned from watching his brothers. The student enjoyed learning from Helio, and thus, he became an instructor.
Some techniques, however, proved to be hard to execute for Helio due to his physical frailty. He virtually modified all of the techniques, emphasizing the use of leverage and timing over speed and strength. This then led to the birth of Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. To prove the effectiveness of his new system, he openly challenged all the reputable martial artists in Brazil. He had his first no holds barred fight at 18, in 1932, winning by a choke within a minute.
As Carlos got busy with the family business, it became Helio's responsibility to raise Carlos' family in learning the family martial arts trade. Since the 1920's the Gracies have been able to produce talents in every generation, making them one of the strongest martial arts lineages in the world and in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Helio is considered as one of the sports heroes in Brazilian history. Until his death, he was the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Today, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is popular among mixed martial artists, due to its success with past practitioners and also because proficiency in grappling and ground fighting has become a prerequisite to MMA fighters. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has also attracted interest from police officers, security guards and similar professionals because of hand to hand combat. It is also used for self defense, as it allows small and weak people to defeat bigger opponents, especially those that do not have knowledge in ground fighting.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can be traced back to Japanese Jiu-jitsu which was introduced by Mitsuyo Maeda (also known as Conde Coma) to Brazil around 1914. Maeda was a student of Jigoro Kano and his Kodokan School of martial arts. He was asked by his master to spread the word of his style. Maeda travelled all over the world, until he landed in Brazil where he befriended Gastão Gracie, an influential businessman. To show his gratitude, Maeda offered to teach Gracie's eldest son, Carlos, the traditional Japanese Jiu-jitsu. Carlos then established his first school of jiu-jitsu in 1925, in Rio de Janeiro. He brought his brothers with him and taught them his master's art.
However, the creation of the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can be attributed to Helio, the youngest of the Gracies. He moved in with his brothers at 14 but was only limited to watching his brothers teach due to physical frailty. He only became an instructor at 16 due to his brother's absence one day. He taught a student the techniques he learned from watching his brothers. The student enjoyed learning from Helio, and thus, he became an instructor.
Some techniques, however, proved to be hard to execute for Helio due to his physical frailty. He virtually modified all of the techniques, emphasizing the use of leverage and timing over speed and strength. This then led to the birth of Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. To prove the effectiveness of his new system, he openly challenged all the reputable martial artists in Brazil. He had his first no holds barred fight at 18, in 1932, winning by a choke within a minute.
As Carlos got busy with the family business, it became Helio's responsibility to raise Carlos' family in learning the family martial arts trade. Since the 1920's the Gracies have been able to produce talents in every generation, making them one of the strongest martial arts lineages in the world and in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Helio is considered as one of the sports heroes in Brazilian history. Until his death, he was the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Today, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is popular among mixed martial artists, due to its success with past practitioners and also because proficiency in grappling and ground fighting has become a prerequisite to MMA fighters. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has also attracted interest from police officers, security guards and similar professionals because of hand to hand combat. It is also used for self defense, as it allows small and weak people to defeat bigger opponents, especially those that do not have knowledge in ground fighting.
Source...