History of BJJ in Japan

BJJ’s arrival in Japan was, in a way, a “homecoming,” since the art evolved from Japanese judo and jiu-jitsu. In the 1990s, Brazilian fighters such as Rickson Gracie and others competed in Japan’s Vale Tudo and MMA events, reintroducing the modified ground-focused style to its country of origin.

Initially, Japanese martial arts communities were skeptical, viewing BJJ as simply an offshoot of judo. But as MMA exploded through Pride FC and other promotions, interest grew. Japanese academies began adopting BJJ, and by the 2000s, the country developed a competitive scene of its own. Today, Japan has embraced BJJ as both a sport and a complement to its martial traditions.