Mitsuyo Maeda and the Gracie Family

The story of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu cannot be told without Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judoka and prizefighter who traveled the world in the early 1900s demonstrating judo and testing his skills in challenge matches. Arriving in Brazil in 1914, Maeda began teaching his methods to a number of students, among them Carlos Gracie. Carlos, and later his younger brother Hélio Gracie, absorbed Maeda’s lessons and began adapting them into a style that emphasized practical effectiveness for smaller, physically weaker practitioners.

The Gracie family played a pivotal role in transforming Maeda’s judo into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hélio, in particular, refined the art by focusing on leverage, timing, and efficient use of energy rather than strength. The Gracies promoted their art through “vale tudo” (anything goes) challenge matches, establishing a reputation for their system’s effectiveness. Over generations, the Gracie family became synonymous with BJJ, founding academies, producing champions, and spreading the art worldwide.