Development of a Fighting Style
Mitsuyo Maeda
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an offshoot of the original style of grappling and ground fighting founded by Mitsuyo Maeda in Japan at the turn of the 20th Century. Mitsuyo Maeda founded the fighting style on the principle that a smaller person could defeat a person of larger stature with proper technique and holds.
In the early 1910′s Maeda took his style around the world, where he taught others his style of grappling and fighting. His most promising achievement was with Gastão Gracie. The enterprise was successful from the start. Gracie’s sons would begin a dynasty that is one of the most successfully driven martial arts professions in the world.
Maeda would begin training the first Gracie, Carlos, in 1914. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be traced to the moment when Carlos Gracie trained his four brothers in the martial arts. Helio, the younger of the brothers, though sick for most of his childhood, is considered the founder of the dynasty that reigns today.
The early Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was considered a submission sport, but with the advent of competitions the style has evolved to striking and offensive techniques to successfully overcome the opponent. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was brought to the forefront of competition in the early 1990′s with the success of a new generations of Gracies, namely Royce Gracie.
Mitsuyo Maeda with His First Students in Brazil
His early wins in the Ultimate Fighting Championships over opponents larger than himself brought attention to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in such a widespread way that it is now one of the most prominent martial arts styles in the world. The style has been through many changes, but the core principles are still there today. Submission holds and grappling are still key elements in the sport, but now ground fighting and striking have become a staple in competitions where other competitors using Karate, Judo and Tae Kwon Do. Televised Mixed Martial Arts tournaments have gained popularity because of the different styles brought to the ring.
The Gracie family are not the only ones to practice and teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Though they have trademarked their own style of fighting, others such as the Machado Brothers, have also gained success in bringing the sport to the forefront.
Fighters from around the globe use Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as their martial arts style. The sport has evolved to the point where it has its own championship. The World Jiu Jitsu Championships is sponsored by the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation. Several American fighters have won the competition. Two of the most successful Mixed Martial Arts fighters who use Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are B.J. Penn and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu today is not limited to the ring. The Department of Defense who oversees the United States Military now teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to its servicemembers during Basic Training and boot camps. The evolution and continuing growth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ensures the martial arts style remain a staple in MMA, rings and cages across the world.