Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport which concentrates on grappling and especially ground fighting. It has followed an unusual course in the last 80 years. Almost all the MMA fighters are trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu due to its success in MMA and UFC.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has a very long history, it goes back through the Gracie family to their original teacher, Mitsuyo Maeda and his training in the Kodokan which was the home of Judo.
Kodokan Judo which originated in Japan, reigned supreme for many years, this judo techniques were composed of stand up throwing methods. A man named Mataemon Tanabe challenged the Kodokan around the Nineteenth Century. He was the headmaster of classical Jiu Jitsu, the Fusen Ryu. Fusen ryu fighters were expert in fighting on ground, which the Kodokan lacked. The Kodokan-Fusen Ryu matches highlighted the importance of ground fighting techniques in a dramatic fashion. Hence the Judo founder, Jigoro Kano invited Tanabe to teach ground grappling. The Ground fighting technique became very famous at the Kodokan, all the students started practicing the ground grappling techniques.
Mitsuyo Maeda got trained in Judo around the same time and became a martial arts prodigy. He was the member Kodokan. Maeda was one of the members selected by Kano to send overseas to spread his art to the world. Maeda was sent to U.S.A. in 1904 to spread the message of Kodokan Judo. He visited number of countries like Great Britain, continental Europe, Cuba, and Mexico. He fought different matches with many wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters and various other martial artists. Maeda arrived in Brazil around November 1914 and settled in Brazil. Maeda had fought over 1000 fights as a professional fighter without losing anyone.
Mitsuyo Maeda opened an academy of Jiu Jitsu. Carlos Gracie was one of his student, and after studying under Maeda, Carlos opened his own academy in 1920’s. Carlos and his brothers established a good reputation with the “Gracie Challenge”. The Gracies developed strategy and technique for real fighting. Helio Gracie favored leverage over brute strength and developed the formula for fighting from one’s back on the ground. This Jiu Jitsu which Helio refined is called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Gracies were very successful in MMA events around the U.S. Most of the fighters in MMA now train in BJJ(Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) to some extend.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is divided into three categories, each mutually supportive of the others. They include self-defense, free fighting competition also called as "vale tudo" or popularly called MMA, and sport grappling with and without the gi - matches which include a wide range of submission holds, but without striking. Generally the fighting strategy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is considered to prepare a physically smaller or weaker individual with an efficient method of defending against a larger and stronger attacker.
