The History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

At BOOTCAMP 619 we are interested in all ways to get in shape. Since the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school moved in next door, I have been inspired by their dedication to fitness and athleticism and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has peaked my interested.

There are conflicting stories about the origins of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation says that the original sport of Jiu Jitsu can be traced back to India where it was practiced by Buddhist monks as a martial art of self-defense where one did not need to rely on strength or weapons. With the spread of Buddhism, it finally arrived in Japan and gained popularity.

By the end of the 19th century, Jiu Jitsu masters were taking their art across the globe. Esai Maeda arrived in Brazil in 1915 where he met Gastao Gracie and his family who took an interest in his skills. The eldest son of Gracie, Carlos, began training with Maeda and at 19 years old began traveling to teach and fight. In 1925 he settled permanently in Rio de Janeiro and opened his first school. Gracie and his family began adapting his fighting skills and combing them with a strict dietary plan to gain strength.

Gracie’s techniques became so unique that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu took on its own form, independent of the original Japanese version. Gracie founded the Brazilian National Confederation for Jiu Jitsu and contributed to the growth of the sport by holding some of the first organized competitions.