Developed in Brazil during the mid-20th century, Brazilian jujitsu is based on the Japanese martial art of judo but has since evolved into a relatively distinct martial art.

History and Philosophy

Brazilian jujitsu was developed by brothers Carlos and Hélio Gracie during the mid-20th century. Their father Gastão had helped a Japanese judo master who immigrated to Brazil in the early 1900s, and in gratitude he had taught the brothers the martial art of jujitsu. Through further study the Gracie brothers then developed Brazilian jujitsu (also known as Gracie jujitsu), a brand of jujitsu distinct from the original.

Brazilian jujitsu is a martial art which inherited jujitsu’s emphasis on leverage, off-balancing and using an opponent’s power against them, and strongly features ground fighting and grappling. It became internationally prominent in the martial arts community in the 1990s, when Brazilian jujitsu expert Royce Gracie won several Ultimate Fighting Championships – a prominent martial arts tournament – sometimes against much larger opponents using other styles.

Brazilian Jujitsu Training

Brazilian jujitsu emphasizes the domination of an opponent through skilful application of technique and forcing them into surrender. Ground fighting and submission holds are vital parts of Brazilian jujitsu – even opponents with superior reach and more powerful strikes can have their advantage negated if wrestling on the ground, and a variety of joint locks and choke holds are then applied to control and force them to submit. This system of ground based manoeuvring and struggle between experienced practitioners can look like a martial form of the game Twister!