Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, also known as BJJ, is a martial art that has its roots in traditional Japanese Jujutsu. BJJ was developed in Brazil in the early 20th century by the Gracie family, specifically Carlos Gracie and his brother Hélio Gracie.
The story of BJJ's creation begins with Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judoka (practitioner of Judo) who was sent to Brazil in 1914 by the Japanese government as part of a diplomatic mission. While in Brazil, Maeda taught Judo to the Gracie brothers, who were both interested in martial arts.
Carlos Gracie, the older of the two brothers, took the principles of Judo and adapted them to create a new martial art that focused on ground fighting and submission holds. He opened the first BJJ academy in Brazil in 1925 and began teaching the art to students.
Hélio Gracie, who was smaller and weaker than his brother, took the techniques that Carlos developed and modified them to suit his own size and strength. He focused on using leverage and technique to overcome larger and stronger opponents, rather than relying on brute force.
The Gracie family continued to develop and refine BJJ over the years, and it eventually gained widespread popularity in Brazil and around the world. Today, BJJ is practiced by millions of people and is a staple of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition.
In summary, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was developed in Brazil in the early 20th century by the Gracie family, who adapted the principles of Japanese Judo to create a new martial art that focused on ground fighting and submission holds. It has since gained widespread popularity and is practiced by millions of people around the world.
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