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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) traces its roots to the early 20th century, when Japanese martial arts such as judo and traditional jiu-jitsu were spreading beyond Japan. Unlike striking-based systems, these arts emphasized throws, joint locks, and grappling techniq...

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...

Once planted in Brazil, jiu-jitsu flourished. Throughout the mid-20th century, BJJ spread across major cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, primarily through the efforts of the Gracie family and other pioneering instructors. Challenge matches played a ...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reached the United States in the 1980s, largely through seminars conducted by members of the Gracie family, most notably Rorion Gracie. Early adopters were captivated by the effectiveness of the techniques, which offered practical answers t...

No-gi grappling represents a major evolution in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By removing the traditional gi (kimono), practitioners are forced to rely less on fabric grips and more on body control, speed, and athleticism. This style emphasizes underhooks, overhooks, c...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu revolutionized mixed martial arts. Early UFC events revealed that grappling was indispensable in real combat, as Royce Gracie defeated strikers and wrestlers alike with his submission skills. From that point on, every MMA fighter needed at ...

The rules of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition have changed dramatically over time. Early matches often had no time limits and few restrictions, resembling the open-ended challenge bouts of the art’s early days. As tournaments became more structured, rules were ...

Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is both a martial art and a global spectator sport. Professional athletes compete in high-profile tournaments like the IBJJF World Championships, ADCC, and Polaris, as well as in one-off superfights streamed to audiences worldwide. T...

The origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lie in classical Japanese jiu-jitsu, a collection of martial traditions dating back centuries. Originally developed by samurai, jiu-jitsu (meaning “gentle art”) emphasized techniques for defeating armed and armored opponents ...

The roots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be traced back to Kodokan Judo, the school founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882. Kano’s philosophy emphasized efficiency, maximum use of leverage, and the concept of seiryoku zenyo—“maximum efficiency with minimum effort.” These ...

Before settling in Brazil, Mitsuyo Maeda embarked on a remarkable journey that took him across the globe. Leaving Japan in 1904, Maeda traveled to the United States, Cuba, Mexico, and much of Europe, demonstrating judo and engaging in challenge matches. His tr...

One of the defining traditions in the early development of BJJ was the Gracie Challenge. Throughout the mid-20th century, the Gracie family issued open invitations to fighters from any background—karate, boxing, wrestling, capoeira, or street fighting—to test ...

Carlson Gracie, the son of Carlos Gracie, was a pivotal figure in shaping modern competitive BJJ. Unlike some of his uncles who emphasized self-defense and tradition, Carlson focused heavily on competition, athleticism, and innovation. In the 1950s and 60s, he...

While the Gracie family dominates the popular history of BJJ, other important lineages developed outside their influence. Chief among these was Oswaldo Fadda, a student of Luiz França, who had trained under Mitsuyo Maeda but outside the Gracie circle. Fadda’s ...

Vale tudo, meaning “anything goes,” was a Brazilian combat sport that predated modern MMA and served as a crucial testing ground for BJJ. With minimal rules and often no gloves, these fights pitted practitioners of different styles against each other, creating...

The earliest BJJ academies were established by the Gracie family in the 1920s and 30s. Carlos and Hélio Gracie began teaching students in Rio de Janeiro, first in modest locations and later in more formal training spaces. These early schools emphasized private...

While the United States became the first major hub outside Brazil, BJJ quickly spread to other regions. In the 1990s and 2000s, Brazilian instructors relocated to Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, often opening academies that became focal points fo...

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) was founded in 1994 by Carlos Gracie Jr. as a governing body to regulate competitions and standardize rules worldwide. Prior to the IBJJF, BJJ competitions varied widely in format and scoring, which made...

The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling World Championship was founded in 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, a passionate BJJ practitioner. Unlike IBJJF tournaments, ADCC focused exclusively on no-gi submissio...

For much of its early history, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was a male-dominated practice. That began to shift in the late 20th century as more women entered the sport, often overcoming cultural barriers and limited training opportunities. Pioneers like Yvone Duarte, t...