Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art of Japanese origin in which one essentially uses levers, torsions, and pressure for throws, strangles, and joint locks in order to neutralize one’s opponent.

Within roughly a hundred years, this martial art style has gained unprecedented popularity throughout the world. From movie stars to elite MMA fighters, people from all classes, ages, and weights seem to embrace it with open arms!

But why does Jiu Jitsu, a Japanese art, have a prefix: Brazilian with it? The answer is within the fascinating history of BJJ. The history of BJJ is not just about the styles and forms and how they have changed, but it’s more about the complex socio-economic conditions of Japan and Brazil.

The Origin and History of BJJ 

For the sake of simplicity of explanation, The origin and development of BJJ can be divided into four important parts:

• Inception of Jiu Jitsu in Japan:
• Jigoro Kano, Judo, and Changing Japan
• Brazil, Mitsyuo Maeda’s Exploration
• Gracie Family and BJJ

 Inception of Jiu Jitsu in Japan:

Japan, from 1158 to 1868 AD, was ruled by military rulers with the title “Shogun”. The military consisted of Samurai or fighters. Samurais were known for their superior fighting technique with their primary weapon, Long swords (katana). Samurais also used short swords (wakizashi) and knives (Tanto).

While samurais have been feared for their extraordinary fighting skills with swords, they also had a prominent weak point in their defense. Samurais used to wear heavy armor to save themselves from the blade of their opponent. But this made them slow to move and ineffective against faster opponents. To counter this loophole, masters of martial arts in Japan had come up with the idea of using the weight and energy of the rivals to disarm and neutralize the threat. This martial art was called jiu jitsu.

Jiu Jitsu (if translated into English, it means yielding way) basically focuses on the use of strangles, joint locks, throws, and pins on attackers in close and unarmed combat. This art can be used in both offensive and defensive ways, making it a great addition to the samurai’s arsenals.

Jigoro Kano, Judo, and Changing Japan

   In 1867, the enlightened rule or Meiji era had begun in Japan. After centuries of feudal rule followed by mass killings, war, and clan clashes, Japan finally decided to change its regime and opened the door to the world.

This new era gave people of Japan hope and freedom to live a life with prosperity and without war and bloodshed. The government banned the use of weapons like katanas, and the military was modernized with guns and other firearms.

As the samurai class was abolished in Japan, so were their martial arts at that time. People used to practice martial arts under senseis in the nighttime, and the practice of martial arts was frowned upon by most of the elite class.

Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) was a member of an elite family in Japan. He was sent to a prestigious language school to learn languages but because of his small size, he was bullied in the school.

Kano’s family thought that if he learned martial arts, it might help him build muscles and even make him taller. From 1868, Kano trained with various masters and trained at many schools (Ryu’s). Among all those styles, he liked jiu jitsu the most.

Kano saw that jiu jitsu had the potential to be a full-fledged martial art. He modified many techniques and named it Judo, which means the gentle way. Kano made the training more articulated by dividing Judo into two parts: Nage-Waza of throwing techniques and Katame-Waza or Grappling techniques.

To spread his style, Jigoro Kano founded a school named Kodokan Judo in 1882. This school played a pivotal role for both judo and BJJ. Many students trained under Jigoro Kano and learned the secret of the gentle way.

Jigoro Kano was not only a great master but also a great visionary. To make Judo a worldwide known martial art, Jigoro sent his students to different parts of the world. Because of his vision, within a hundred years, judo started taking root in different places in the world. Like other arts, Judo started evolving; for example, Judo became sambo in Russia and BJJ in Brazil.

Brazil, Mitsyuo Maeda’s Exploration

   Before 1908, Brazil’s sports entertainment was largely of Circus, wrestling, and “Capoeira”. Brazilian folks loved wrestling, and there is historic evidence that wrestling was the most popular form of public entertainment in the big cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belém.

The emergence of BJJ in Brazil was initiated by two people:

• Sada Miyako
• Mitsyuo Maeda

Sada Miyako:

The first person who claimed to be a Jiu Jitsu trained fighter in Brazil was Sada Miyako. Miyako came to Brazil in 1908 and started working with the local circus. He started fighting with the local wrestlers and often announced generous prizes for those who could beat him.

To make himself different from other wrestlers in Rio, Miyako used to wear a white Kimono/ Judo gi. Although Miyako’s fighting and announcement of prize gained popularity, his credentials, however, as a Judo fighter were questionable. He was not a student of the Kodokan school of Jigoro Kano, and there is no written evidence that shows him as a formidable fighter. In 1909, Miyako was defeated by a Capoeira master in Rio.

Sada Miyako might not have had a great influence on the History of BJJ, but he paved the path for Mitsuyo Maeda’s presence.

Mitsyuo Maeda (1878-1941):

Mitsyuo Maeda first landed in Rio in 1930. He was the first person to step into Brazil with the knowledge of the Kodokan Judo school.

Maeda started his training with the Kodokan judo school in 1895. As a direct student of Jigoro Kano, Maeda was one of the best students in the school at that time. Maeda’s specialty was his Katame-Waza or ground fighting. With his exceptional talent, Kano selected him as one of the torchbearers of judo.

Maeda started his journey in 1904. He traveled to the USA, Russia, Portugal, Spain, and other parts of Europe and demonstrated his skill. He fought with various local fighters and renowned boxers during his journey and defeated them. This gave him the nickname “Conde Koma” or “Count Koma”.

Maeda demonstrated his technique in front of the audience in Rio. Fighters with experience in Capoeira and wrestling stood no chance against the great Conde Koma. Maeda’s skill was so superior that he went to São Paulo and declared a prize money of 5000 francs if anyone could defeat him and 500 francs if any fighter could stay 15 min in the ring with him.

Maeda’s technique mesmerized the Brazilians, and they were eager to learn the art of jiu-jitsu under Maeda. In his last years, Maeda moved to Belém and started his own school where he taught students about the art.

Mitsyuo Maeda’s demonstration of Judo quickly became popular in Rio and São Paulo. His entrance into Brazil shaped the History of BJJ greatly.

Gracie Family and BJJ:

Like many other Brazilians, Carlos Gracie started practicing jiu-jitsu. Carlos Gracie had four brothers: Oswald, George Jr., Gustavo, and Helio. There was a debate whether Carlos Gracie was a direct student of Maeda or not. Carlos in many events claimed that he was a direct student of Maeda. But many historians like Roberto Pedreira believe that Carlos was a student of Dos Reis – a direct student of Maeda.

Whether Carlos was a direct student of Maeda or not, he changed the landscape of jiu-jitsu in Brazil. Under his tactical marketing and ads, Jiu Jitsu, a Japanese art, became Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Carlos’s brother Helio was smaller among them, and yet he developed new techniques to neutralize bigger opponents. Among all the brothers, he was the best ground fighter of all.

In 1931, the Gracie family started their first dojo in Rio and started teaching their techniques to others. In the early years, they usually practiced with gis, and with the years, no-gi styles of grappling took place in Brazil.

The Gracie brothers traveled to almost all major towns to show their skills and fought with opponents. They were formidable and announced prizes if anyone could defeat them. This fighting with other fighters initiated the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993 by Rorion Gracie, son of Helio Gracie.

In conclusion,The origin of BJJ started from the early ages of Japan and evolved with time and places. If you look at the history of BJJ carefully, you will find out some extraordinary facts. Had Maeda specialized in throwing rather than ground technique, would Brazilians take the style? And what if Helio Gracie were like other Brazilian wrestlers with height and weight? Would that make BJJ as popular as it is now?

As I have stated earlier, the History of BJJ is not a linear path, rather a path full of ups and downs and some surprising twists and turns. Hope this article helps you with your urge to know about the History of BJJ.