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The explosion of online video content in the 2000s transformed how BJJ was learned and shared. Before the internet, knowledge often spread slowly through in-person instruction and the occasional instructional VHS tape or book. YouTube changed that completely, ...

The belt system in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has undergone significant evolution since its adoption from judo. Early on, promotions were informal and varied widely, with some students training for decades before achieving higher ranks. As BJJ academies grew and the ...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s global reputation was cemented in the early UFC events of the 1990s. Royce Gracie, representing his family’s art, shocked the martial arts world by defeating larger and stronger opponents with submissions and positional control. His victo...

While no-gi grappling had always existed, the early 2000s saw an unprecedented surge in its popularity. Factors fueling this included the rise of MMA, where fighters trained without gis to better simulate cage conditions, and the global prestige of the ADCC Su...

For decades, leg locks were viewed with suspicion in traditional BJJ, often dismissed as “cheap moves” or dangerous techniques reserved for lower belts. That perception changed dramatically in the 2010s, when a wave of competitors—particularly from teams like ...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has found an important role in law enforcement and military training worldwide. Unlike many striking arts, BJJ emphasizes control, restraint, and submissions without relying on strikes that can cause lasting injury. This makes it especially...

Few topics spark as much heated debate in the BJJ community as gi versus no-gi training. Advocates of gi argue that it builds better fundamentals, slows down the pace for deeper technical learning, and connects practitioners to the art’s traditions. No-gi prop...

Russian sambo, a martial art developed in the Soviet Union, has influenced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in subtle but important ways. Known for its dynamic takedowns and extensive leg lock arsenal, sambo brought tools that were once underdeveloped or underutilized in t...

The rise of professional BJJ leagues marked a turning point in the sport’s evolution. While traditional tournaments like the IBJJF Worlds were prestigious, they offered little to no financial reward for athletes. Leagues such as ACBJJ (Absolute Championship Be...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has steadily seeped into popular culture, largely thanks to its association with MMA and celebrity practitioners. Films and TV shows often depict BJJ-inspired techniques, from chokes to joint locks, as realistic combat methods. Actors such ...

Although BJJ began as a primarily adult-focused practice, children’s programs developed as the art became more structured in the late 20th century. Early Gracie academies included lessons for kids, emphasizing discipline, self-defense, and confidence building....

The first official Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1952 by Hélio and Carlos Gracie. While the family had been teaching informally for decades, the establishment of a dedicated academy marked a milestone in formalizing the art. The aca...

Rolls Gracie is often remembered as one of the most innovative and influential members of the Gracie family. Unlike some of his contemporaries who held firmly to tradition, Rolls embraced cross-training and hybrid approaches. He incorporated techniques from wr...

The inaugural IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, also known as the Mundials, was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1996. Organized by Carlos Gracie Jr. and the IBJJF, the event brought together the best competitors from across Brazil and marked the first truly global...

The Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu, often referred to as the “Brasileiro,” is Brazil’s premier national BJJ tournament. Established before the Mundials, it provided a platform for the country’s top competitors to face off and test themselves. Winning a Bra...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been widely adopted by military organizations around the world as part of their combatives training. The U.S. Army’s Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP), for example, incorporates BJJ principles for close-quarters combat, emphasizing ...

Rickson Gracie is one of the most celebrated figures in BJJ, often described as the embodiment of technical mastery and mental discipline. Renowned for his undefeated record in competition and vale tudo, Rickson became a living legend within the martial arts c...

The first major international BJJ tournament outside Brazil was held in the United States in the mid-1990s. Events such as the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship (established in 1995) brought Brazilian athletes abroad to face a growing pool of international c...

Gracie Barra was founded in 1986 by Carlos Gracie Jr. in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. What began as a single academy quickly became one of the most influential teams in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Under Carlos Jr.’s leadership, Gracie Barra emphasized both techni...

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu was founded in 1993 by Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti along with Fabio Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva, and Fernando Gurgel. From the start, Alliance built a reputation as a technical, disciplined, and highly competitive team. Its focus on teamwork and ...