The Origins and History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The rich and intricate story of this wonderful grappling art traces its roots back to Japanese Judo and Jiu Jitsu. Before there were Gracies, there was one man who imparted his knowledge of combat with that famous clan or grappling warriors back in the early 20th century. That man was none other than Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as Count Koma, a Japanese expert Judoka and martial artist.

Maeda went to Brazil and due to business dealings he met and began teaching Carlos Gracie and his brothers the art of Judo. The Gracies then began to adapt and refine the techniques and develop a unique style of grappling with a focus on leverage, ground fighting, and submissions. This new ground fighting style started to grow in popularity across Brazil as the Gracie family was able to establish more and more BJJ academies, where they taught and promoted their innovative new style.

As with all good and innovative things, BJJ started to expand across nations and eventually the Gracies and their fighting style made their way to North America, and eventually the challenges evolved from the old school “Gracie Challenges” to an event that changed professional combat forever. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), debuted in November 12th, 1993, was the Gracies opportunity to showcase their dominance to the world. Royce Gracie was honored with the chance to represent his family, and he certainly did not disappoint.

His victories in the early years of the UFC proved to the world that with proper technique and application a generally smaller fighter could be extremely effective against practitioners of various martial arts, cementing BJJ’s place in the world of combat sports.

Over the years BJJ has continued to evolve and gain even more popularity amongst those who train any martial art. Since it’s inception we’ve seen not only the development of the art, but we have witnessed major academies become established (like Alliance Jiu Jitsu, Gracie Barra, B-Team, etc.), the adoption of a “no-gi” style without the traditional uniform (“gi”), and the development of international competitions (like IBJJF Worlds or ADCC).

And it still feels like the popularity of the sport is only starting to pick up steam…

How Adults Can Benefit from Regular Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training

How many of us really can say we train like we did when we were part of organized sports way back when? After graduating from college I sure as shit didn’t workout much, if at all. Until I became so fat that I had to do something… that something was getting back to BJJ.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offers a comprehensive workout that enhances various aspects of fitness. It demands and develops strength, as practitioners must execute and resist powerful techniques. Flexibility is equally crucial, as many maneuvers require a broad range of motion. And I had none of that when I decided to go back to it in my 30s.

From the high intensity drills and exercises, to surviving grueling sparring sessions, BJJ provides us with a great cardiovascular workout that can lead to overall better heart health. The series of movements and body control allows practitioners to grow their understanding of their own bodies work and encourages practitioners to improve any aspect that’s not up to par (i.e., flexibility, balance, strength, etc.).

Do you have a hard time making friends as an adult? Don’t worry weirdo, we got you! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has to have the most diverse set or practitioners on the planet. The camaraderie that begins to develop between teammates is palpable in most good schools. You’ll see people training together, people on the sidelines talking and coaching, injured people still showing up to not “miss out” on anything happening in class (BJJ related OR shenanigans). It becomes a place to train, socialize, laugh, talk shit, beat up your friends, celebrate your friends, and anything else you can imagine really. It is one of the ONLY places in life where I have seen people from all walks of life work together towards getting better, no matter who they are outside the school’s walls.

How Kids Can Benefit from Regular Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training

Jiu Jitsu is not only an exceptional choice of physical activity for kids, but it is a great place for personal development. The amount of general life skills that are mimicked through our sport really makes this an amazing sport to get kids of all ages involved. Through regular training, kids learn discipline, respect, and perseverance. These values are ingrained in the practice of BJJ, where adherence to rules, respect for instructors and peers, and consistent effort are key components. Children who practice BJJ often exhibit enhanced self-discipline in other areas of their lives, such as academics and household responsibilities.

We build tough kids. Tough kids but NOT bullies, since the more time anyone spends on the mats, the more humbled everyone seems to become. Mental health is another aspect that can benefit from consistent training. Doing difficult tasks will boost self-confidence by teaching kids to handle themselves appropriately in challenging situations. Problem-solving skills are honed as children learn to think strategically and stay calm under pressure.

“But MY kid can’t pay attention and is such a troublemaker in school.. I don’t know what to do with him…” Get him into Jiu Jitsu! BJJ will give your kids a constructive outlet for energy and aggression, which tends to be beneficial for kids with hyperactivity or stress. Not only will they be spent after training, but most kids start looking forward to spend time fighting around with their new friends.

Is your kid so timid you sometimes forget they are in the car with you, only to catch a glimpse of them as you park the car at work? Been there done that (and had to drive all the way back to drop her off at daycare). I’ve seen kids that I was convinced were completely mute begin to gain so much self confidence and self-esteem that they were the first ones to shoot their hands in the air eager to be picked to lead our warmups. All because we build them up to be able to take that charge!

Last but not least, even though BJJ is an individual sport when it comes to matches, the social aspect of being part of a team with your friends is just awesome (Cobra Kai anyone?). Good schools foster a supportive community where children can make new friends and learn teamwork.

Through the belt promotion system children gain a sense of accomplishment from their progress in BJJ, which can translate to a more positive attitude towards other challenges in life.

I’ve heard from many parents and coaches share success stories of children who have thrived through BJJ training, noting improvements in behavior, academic performance, and social interactions. This art truly is for everyone!

My journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (so far…)

My first exposure to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was not something I experienced myself, but to my uncle while I was growing up in Brazil. When I was about 6 or 7, my uncle who was in his early 20s at the time, begin training. His first week I remember just how beat up and bruised he seemed to come home after practices and that unfortunately kept me away from the sport for a while.

It wasn’t until I was in college, and after a brief stint in middle school wrestling, that I was properly introduced to this art. It was more of a right place right time situation that led me to join our BJJ Club and start to get some exposure to ground fighting. After college though, the regular routine of “adulting” put my BJJ training not only on the back burner, but actually entirely out of the kitchen. With a life of meetings, flights, and client dinners, I ballooned up to just over 300 pounds and decided it was time to do something fun, get some aggression out, lose the fat, and hopefully live long enough to watch my kids grow up. So I found a school and my daughter and I begin our journey (well I resumed mine).

That school was ok and it allowed me to meet many great people who would eventually become my core group of training partners. I spent about six years training there and growing my game with my friends and eventually achieved my current purple belt rank. Through constant training and competition I was able to drop the weight pretty fast as I became more mobile, flexible, and able to break things.

Unfortunately, as with many things, a few people REALLY ruined that school and many of my training partners started to leave for other schools (some stopped training entirely, which is a huge disservice… YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!). At this time I was helping run the kids program and had many people I cared for at the school, but things became VERY weird and cult-ish, so instead of drinking the Kool-Aid, I packed my things and my family and GTFO!

Thankfully, I made many connections and many great friends in my time training, so I had plenty of places to try out right after getting myself out of that school and away from that instructor (unfortunately there are shitty people in every field). My first call after leaving that building after what was to be my last class was to one of my best friends in BJJ. He’s a Relson Gracie Black Belt so I knew my family and I would be getting great training, and more importantly he was always very honest with me (even when it had to be shitty conversations).

I now help my friend run all his classes at his school, train with people I hang out with outside the gym, get to train with my daughters (and eventually my son), and I cannot wait to be in the gym every chance I get.

Jiu Jitsu should be something you look forward to everyday, if it’s not, find your clan… we’re out here I promise. Just don’t give up!