Jiu-Jitsu is one of the oldest forms of martial arts known to man. It
is said to have originated over 2,000 years ago by Buddhist monks from
northern India, a few miles north of Bernares, where a man, known
today as Buddha, the "Enlightened One," lived a peaceful life. The
monks who followed the Buddha’s teachings wandered the countryside
divulging Buddhism. In these journeys, they were often robbed and
murdered. In response to this, they created a system of fighting
techniques designed to defend themselves against their oppressors and
attackers. Because it was against their religious principals to harm
others, they developed a system without the use of any weapons and
violent techniques.
These grappling
techniques came to Japan between the late 17th and mid-19th century.
The method of unarmed grappling and self-defense came to Japan and
evolved to what is known today as jujutsu or jiu-jitsu. The term
jiu-jitsu is translated as "art of gentleness." This "art of
gentleness" was practiced and perfected by the Japanese over
centuries, kept hidden from other nations.
In the 1800s, the
Japanese opened their ports and began commerce with the English and
other nations. The foreigners visiting Japan were amazed with
jiu-jitsu, which to the foreigners was a new strategy of fighting. It
was a fighting style where weaker and smaller were capable of
defeating bigger and stronger opponents. Jiu-jitsu continued to
flourish and develop, helping give birth to many other styles of
martial arts, including judo - an art developed by Jigoro Kano
(1860-1938).
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
was born in the early 1900s in the same manner. It was planted in
fertile ground in a family of Scottish immigrants. In 1914, Mitsyuo
Maeda (1878-1941), a man representing the Japanese government, arrived
in the city of Pará, Brazil. He befriended the Gracie family,
particularly the family’s patriarch, Gastão Gracie.
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Carlos Gracie soon relocated to Rio de Janeiro, and there he began to
teach jiu-jitsu. Just as it was taught to him, Carlos passed along the
techniques and principles of jiu-jitsu to all of his brothers -- most
notably, to the smallest of his brothers, Hélio Gracie.
Hélio was, as a child, small and physically frail. Kept away from
physical activity at a doctor’s recommendation, Hélio spent years
limited to only watching Carlos and his brothers teach and train.
One day
when Hélio was 16 years old, a student arrived for class and Carlos
was nowhere to be found. Helio, who had memorized the words and
techniques of his older brother, offered to start the class. Soon
after the class ended, Carlos arrived and apologized for his delay.
The student answered, "No problem. I enjoyed the class with Hélio very
much and if you don't mind, I'd like to continue with him." Carlos
agreed and it was then that Hélio became an instructor.
Gastão
was a "Carioca" (person from Rio de Janeiro) and a descendant of
Scottish immigrants. He had eight children: Carlos, Gastão, Osvaldo,
Jorge, Lika, Helena, Mary, and Hélio Gracie. Gastão Gracie helped
Maeda, also known as "Conde Koma", prosper in his business in Belém.
To show his gratitude, Maeda taught Carlos Gracie, Gastão’s eldest
son, the techniques of Japanese jiu-jitsu. Carlos, in turn, passed
along those teachings to his brothers.
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Hélio soon realized that some of the
techniques he had memorized from watching Carlos teach were difficult,
owing to his small size and lack of strength, for him to execute. It
was at this time that Hélio began to adapt those moves to his frail
body's abilities, improving the leverage in the execution of some of
those techniques. Daring to break away from the traditional Japanese
style, he began experimenting, modifying and perfecting simple
techniques that would be effective regardless of stature. Many of the
traditional facets of the art that depended on physical prowess and
strength were removed and replaced with flowing techniques. Through
trial and error, techniques were modified and perfected, emphasizing
efficient technique and strategy over brute strength and force. It was
through this process that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (or BJJ) was born.
Hélio and his brothers
continued to modify and perfect the techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
through years of training and countless challenges matches. The
Gracies would take on all comers, of any size and from any art, in
order to perfect the art. For seventy years, represented by the family
champions (including Hélio, Carlson, Rolls and Rickson), the family
remained undefeated and in doing so, left an indelible mark on the
world of martial arts and fighting. In more recent times, through
events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Pride Fighting
Championships, K-1 Mixed Martial Arts, Deep, Abu Dhabi Submission
Wrestling Championships and the Campeonato Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu, the
Gracie family and other reps of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continue to prove
the devastating effectiveness of this beautifully efficient art.
Today, this tradition
of flawless technique is carried on by Hélio’s sons - Rorion, Relson,
Rickson, Rolker, Royler, Royce and Robin, as well as thousands across
the world. |
