The History of the Brazilian Art: Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian jiu- jitsu is a martial art and a combat sport that focuses on grappling and ground fighting, the goal is to get a dominant position to submit the opponent. Jiu- jitsu is is bit modified from judo with some techniques in Japanese jiu- jitsu. Jiu- jitsu can prove that a smaller, weaker person, with the proper technique, leverage, can defend themselves against a bigger and stronger person. Sparring and drilling techniques are a major role in practicing jiu-jitsu.
It all started when a man named, Mitsuo Maeda also known as count koma, came to brazil from japan in 1914. He went with a man named George Gracie, who was a politician at the time. Maeda taught jiu-jitsu to George’s son, Carlos Gracie. He then showed what he learned with his brothers, which carlos Gracie opened the first jiu-jitsu academy in Brazil in 1925. As the years went by, the gracies, more notably Carlos and Helio, and their students made the art brutal with no rules within the fights. Their attention was focused on submission ground fighting, allowing a smaller individual to defeat someone who is bigger than them.
When the early 1990’s approached, another member from the gracie family, Rorion, moved to Los Angeles, hoping to introduce the art in America. Mixed martial arts contests
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Today there are numerous academies across the whole world. The sport now has now grown massively, it has a founding governing body, The International Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu Foundation. Sticking to its roots, jiu-jitsu remains to be effective in mixed martial arts competition. Every competitor in MMA requires at least some skill in jiu-jitsu besides their primary art. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is growing and evolving every single day by the individuals who practice the art. New techniques are being created everyday, a testament to dynamic and “ live “ nature of the