Jiu Jitsu, or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as it is commonly named outside Brazil, is a grappling orientated martial art/sport that evolved from its Japanese roots in 1920’s Brazil, and continued to evolve for many decades after until its present format. This style though previously established in its native country, became highly popular within the northern hemisphere after a series of performances from BJJ fighter Royce Gracie in the early UFC’s (Ultimate Fighting Championship) where he battled against competitors from many different martial arts backgrounds in the no holds barred tournament, becoming it’s very first champion. This event proved Jiu Jitsu’s efficiency and helped raise awareness all around the world, becoming one of the reasons behind the sport’s growth (but not the only one).
Jiu Jitsu’s Birth in Brazil
The history of Jiu Jitsu in Brazil mainly derives from one man,
Mitsuyo Maeda – known in Brazil as Conde Coma (Count Coma). Maeda was a
student of Jigoro Kano and his Kodokan School of martial arts. Though
Kano is widely recognized as the father of Judo, his style of teaching
was regarded in the early days as a branch of Ju Jitsu and not it’s own
martial style. In fact, Jigoro’s branch of Ju Jitsu has been diluted
from its original format over the years by consistent changes to Judo’s
rules and regulations. Mitsuyo Maeda was one of Jigoto Kano’s star pupils, and as such he
was asked to help spread the word of his master’s style. Maeda travelled
all over the world displaying the art in arenas and circuses,
travelling through the United States, England and many other countries
before landing in Brazil. It was in Brazil that he met Carlos Gracie,
a troubled teenager that Maeda took under his wing and taught his
style, though Carlos wasn’t the only student taught by Count Coma, nor
was he the only one to develop his own Jiu Jitsu School, one other
student of Maeda also spread his seed into Jiu Jitsu’s landscape, Luis
França. There were other Japanese Jiu Jitsu masters teaching Jiu Jitsu
in Brazil who were lesser known, though still relevant to BJJ today,
people like Takeo Iano in the North of Brazil and Kazuo Yoshida in
Bahia.The Importance of the Gracie’s in Jiu Jitsu
Carlos Gracie was taught by Master Maeda in the city of Belém do Pará in Brazil, but due to financial difficulties moved to Rio de Janeiro. Mituyo Maeda also moved away after his spell in B.P. and left the country, never to see his student again. In Rio de Janeiro, 1925 Carlos established his first school of Jiu Jitsu at the Marques de Abrantes Street, number 106. To help out with the school he brought in his brothers and taught them his master’s art. The brothers were: Oswaldo, George, Gastão and Hélio Gracie. Carlos and his brothers would go on to promote their academy through a series of challenges, some with no rules, where they would fight men of any size or weight proving their style’s superiority.
Though Helio became possibly the most famous family member of the Gracie brothers, it was George Gracie the one that held the family’s name highest competitively from that first generation of Gracie combatants. Helio Gracie did compete successfully also, but his two most famous fights were also his worst defeats, to Masahiko Kimura and Waldemar Santana, two fights he lost when he was already reaching his 40’s against bigger and younger men.
As Carlos Gracie got more involved with the business side of the family and George’s wild ways separated him from his brothers chain of thought, it was Helio that took responsibility in keeping the school a tight unit. Helio Gracie was also given the responsibility of raising most of Carlos Gracie’s household, teaching them the family martial arts trade. Since the 1920’s the Gracie family has been able to produce consistent talent through every generation, making it one of the strongest martial arts lineages in the world and the strongest amongst Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Important Figures in Jiu Jitsu’s History
Jiu Jitsu has not lacked charismatic and meaningful people people in it’s history, here is a small capture of some important figures in chronological order:1920’s BJJ
Carlos Gracie: The founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Carlos was the visionary behind the movement that became the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Carlos opened the first Gracie Jiu Jitsu school and taught Jiu Jitsu to all his brothers.
George Gracie: The Gracie family’s first champion, George fought in several different styles (Jiu Jitsu – with kimono), Luta Livre (grappling), Wrestling and Vale Tudo (no holds barred). He fought for over two decades; he would also break his bond with his brothers and even compete against them in the end of his career.
1930’s BJJ
Helio Gracie: he had his first no holds barred fight in 1932 when he was 18 years old – win by choke within a minute. Helio would put a 12 year break in his career in 1938 at his prime due to personal reasons. He returned to run the Gracie school and also to compete, having two of his toughest career defeats in this second career turn (Santana and Kimura), but also one of his proudest wins (against Kato).
1940’s BJJ
Pedro Hemeterio: One of Carlos Gracie’s most prolific students, the man from the Ceará region of Brazil fought and defeated numerous competitors in the name of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He would also help develop the sport in the state of Sao Paulo in the 1950’s.
1950’s BJJ
Carlson Gracie: The son of Carlos Gracie was indeed one of the sports greatest icons both competitively and as a coach. He raised the bar of Jiu Jitsu competing for several decades. He was also a visionary coach, being the first instructor to have group classes rather then the one-on-one style of coaching utilized by his predecessors. His team would become one of the strongest in both MMA and BJJ in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s.
Oswaldo Fadda: Was one of the first coaches outside Rio de Janeiro leaving behind one of the strongest non Gracie Jiu Jitsu lineages in the country with links in teams such as Nova Uniao, GF Team and many others.
1960’s BJJ
Osvaldo Alves: He had a strong Judo pedigree which helped raise awareness of this aspect of grappling amongst the Gracies. His technical knowledge was of great importance, and his close contact with Reyson and Rolls Gracie in the 60’s and 70s’ would help further develop the sport. He has also taught several BJJ world champions.
Ivan Gomes: Though from a different lineage from the Gracies, Ivan was a great competitor that helped elevate the Jiu Jitsu name. He was considered Carlson Gracie’s toughest opponent by Carlson himself. The two would open a BJJ academy together years after their bout.
1970’s BJJ
Rolls Gracie: The big name of the decade and one of the biggest names in the sport, period. His ideas on cross training in Judo, Wrestling and Sambo were visionary at the time, and they helped set the pace of the sport in the right direction while also developing it technically. He was a tremendous competitor and the family’s champion during the 70s and his BJJ lineage has left its mark and is one of the strongest in the world with Alliance, Gracie Barra, Checkmat and Brasa medalling consistently in tournaments around the world. His death came very prematurely and his relevance could have been even bigger if he had lived until today an age.
1980’s BJJ
Carlos Gracie Junior: After the death of Rolls Gracie, Carlinhos took the helm of his academy; he would later launch a Gracie Academy in what were the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro (today a famous and trendy neighbourhood of Barra da Tijuca). This team would become one of the juggernauts of BJJ from the 1990s onwards. Carlos Gracie Jr also became the president of Jiu Jitsu’s federation and really put Jiu Jitsu’s name on the map at an international level.
Rickson Gracie: The Gracie family stud in the 1980’s and for the most of the 1990’s, Rickson is famed for his invincible record. After the disappearing of Rolls Gracie left a big whole in the family and the sport, Rickson was of tremendous influence, keeping the flame alive while bringing the sport’s awareness in other parts of the world such as Japan and the United States.
Marcelo Behring: The legendary Rickson Gracie disciple was a tremendous student of the game, being considered throughout his career as the number 2 ranked fighter in the world (pound for pound), second only to Rickson Gracie. Though his death was a tragedy to the sport, his legacy lived on and the wealth of knowledge he brought to Sao Paulo helped develop the sport in that region (which is today arguably the strongest in the world when it comes to BJJ).
Ricardo De La Riva: A creator and developer of positions, De La Riva was one of the strongest competitors of his generation having also contributed to the technical development of BJJ.
1990’s BJJ
Fabio Gurgel: The leader of the Alliance team was one of the strongest competitors of his generation; he was also of great importance to BJJ with his win over Denilson Maia at the Jiu Jitsu vs Luta Livre challenge. In the 1990’s he went from fierce competitor, to defender of Jiu Jitsu’s pride and founding member of one of BJJ’s most important schools.
Royler Gracie: Already an important figure of Jiu Jitsu in the 1980’s, Royler a Gracie champion of his own merit, setting the record for World Jiu Jitsu Championships and ADCC gold medals. Royler was the first king of the featherweight division and the first truly dominant BJJ’er in the new CBJJ/IBJJF era.
Royce Gracie: Royce probably brought more awareness to Jiu Jitsu then anyone on the planet. His wins at the early UFC’s put Jiu Jitsu on the cover of most martial arts magazines in the world.