Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is synonymous with the Gracie Family, however its origins lay in Japanese Judo.
Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo, sent his top experts overseas to promote the art to the world. One of these experts was Mitsuyo Maeda. After visiting many countries and giving demonstrations all over the world, Maeda arrived in Brazil in 1914.
Maeda was a highly skilled practitioner and a chance meeting with a man named Gastao Gracie was to lay the foundations for the development of the art which came to be known as Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Gracie helped establish Maeda in Brazil and his son Carlos became Maeda’s student. Carlos became a very skilled exponent of the art and passed his knowledge to brothers Osvaldo, Gastao Junior, Jorge and Helios, who was sickly at the time so had to absorb the teachings by observation, forbidden to participate due to ill health.
Eventually it was Helios, after recovering, who became successful in various tournaments, becoming a powerhouse of the art, and is credited with the creation of BJJ alongside Carlos.
Believing that most fights end up on the ground, BJJ concentrates its efforts on grappling and ground fighting. Just like Judo, its principle is that smaller, weaker people should be able to defend themselves against larger opponents by using proper leverage and techniques including joint locks or chokeholds to gain a dominant position.
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