Most of the core techniques you see in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (or Gracie Jiu Jitsu) have origins in Judo and wrestling. So how did the Brazilians get involved? 

Over 100 years ago (1913), the founder of Judo sent Mitsuyo Maeda to Brazil. Maeda was a Judo expert with a very strong base in Newaza (ground work). Maeda's mission was to share Judo with Brazil and grow the base of Judo practitioners worldwide. Maeda had a greater impact than anyone could have ever guessed.

Maeda successfully grew Judo into a thriving sport in Brazil. The country has produced many Olympic medalists in the last hundred years. More importantly, to those of us that practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Maeda's mission in Brazil lead to the creation of our beloved art.

Maeda shared his knowledge of Judo (known then as Kano Jiu Jitsu) with the Gracie family during his time in Brazil. Members of the Gracie family took the art and focused heavily on the groundwork portion. One of the central ideas is that a fight is not over once it hits the ground. In fact, ground fighting is one of the most important portions of fighting. On the ground, a trained and knowledgeable fighter can use technique and leverage to overcome a bigger, stronger, faster opponent.

The Gracie's rebranded Kano's Jiu Jitsu as "Gracie Jiu Jitsu". They went on to frequently test their new art against other martial arts. These tests happened in dojos, stadiums, the streets, and even on the beaches. The tests allowed practitioners to pressure test their art in a no-rules scenario. These tests demonstrated the efficiency of the art. They also served as a test bed; effective techniques were identified and improved upon, and ineffective techniques were discarded.

This new martial art grew much larger than the Gracie's. It spread across the country and eventually became known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Gracie family can easily be credited with marketing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the rest of the world. In the early 1990's a Gracie family member created the UFC as a way to showcase Jiu Jitsu to the entire world. Since that time, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has exploded in popularity. Jiu Jitsu is now practiced by tens of thousands of people across the globe. It is a martial art, a sport, and a way of life for many.