Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most widely practised martial arts on earth — a technical, strategic ground-fighting system that has profoundly shaped modern combat sports and self-defence. But how did a Japanese martial art become one of the defining sports of the 21st century? The history of BJJ is one of the great stories in the history of sport.
The Japanese Origins: Judo and Jujutsu
The story of BJJ begins in Japan with the ancient art of Jujutsu — a broad term for Japanese unarmed combat systems that developed among the samurai class over many centuries. Jujutsu encompassed throws, joint locks, chokes, and striking techniques designed for use in battle, often when a warrior was disarmed.
In the late 19th century, Jigoro Kano distilled the most effective elements of classical jujutsu and founded Judo in 1882 — a codified system emphasising throws, sweeps, and ground control, with a pedagogical philosophy based on maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Judo became the first Japanese martial art to spread internationally, and Kano became one of the most influential figures in the history of sport.
One of Kano's most gifted students was Mitsuyo Maeda — a judoka of exceptional ability who became known for challenging fighters from any martial art and winning. Maeda travelled the world demonstrating judo's effectiveness, winning hundreds of challenge matches, and is considered by many the single most influential figure in the global spread of grappling arts. For the full biography, BJJ Heroes has an excellent account.
Maeda and the Gracie Family: BJJ is Born
In 1914, Mitsuyo Maeda arrived in Brazil as part of a Japanese immigration programme. He eventually settled in Belém, in the Amazon region, where he met Gastão Gracie — a local businessman who helped Maeda establish himself in Brazil. In gratitude, Maeda taught his son Carlos Gracie the fundamentals of judo and jujutsu.
Carlos Gracie proved to be an exceptional student and an even more exceptional innovator. He recognised that the standing throws central to judo were less important in the context of real-world fights — which often ended up on the ground — and began developing a system that emphasised ground control, positional dominance, and submission techniques. Carlos opened the first Gracie Jiu Jitsu academy in Rio de Janeiro in 1925.
His younger brother Hélio Gracie took this development further still. Hélio was smaller and physically weaker than Carlos, and found that he could not execute techniques that required significant strength or athleticism. He adapted the system further towards leverage and technique — creating a style of fighting that a smaller, weaker person could use to defeat a larger, stronger opponent. This is the philosophical cornerstone of BJJ, and it remains the most important idea in the art to this day.
Vale Tudo and the Gracie Challenge
The Gracies were not content simply to teach their system — they wanted to prove it. They issued open challenges to fighters of any discipline: boxers, wrestlers, capoeiristas, and practitioners of other martial arts. These challenge matches, known as Vale Tudo (Portuguese for "anything goes"), became the proving ground of BJJ and established the Gracies' reputation throughout Brazil.
Hélio Gracie himself fought numerous such matches well into his 40s, including a notable contest against the professional wrestler Masahiko Kimura in 1951 — a match in which Kimura, considered one of the greatest judoka in history, eventually won by a shoulder joint lock that now bears his name in BJJ (the "Kimura"). Hélio's refusal to tap in that match became legendary.
The Gracie family continued to refine and develop the art across generations, with Carlos's and Hélio's sons becoming some of the most influential practitioners and instructors in the world. The art gradually spread beyond Brazil as family members emigrated and opened academies internationally.
The UFC and the Global Explosion of BJJ
The event that changed everything was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in November 1993. The UFC was conceived as an open tournament to determine the most effective martial art — no rules, no weight classes, bare-knuckle. Representing the Gracie family was Royce Gracie, a lean, unimposing 175lb Brazilian who most observers assumed would be overwhelmed by larger, stronger competitors from striking backgrounds.
Royce Gracie did not just win UFC 1. He dominated it — defeating a boxer, a savate practitioner, and a sumo wrestler in the same night, finishing each fight by submission from the ground. He went on to win UFC 2 and UFC 4 in the same fashion, fighting multiple opponents in a single evening and winning by the ground techniques that most of the martial arts world had not yet seen. The impact was seismic.
Almost overnight, BJJ became recognised globally as one of the most effective martial arts ever developed. Gyms began opening across the United States, Europe, and eventually the world. The demand for BJJ instruction was unprecedented.
For detailed histories of the early UFC events and their impact on BJJ, Gracie Magazine remains one of the most authoritative sources.
BJJ Today: A Global Sport and Community
BJJ has evolved significantly since Royce Gracie's early UFC victories. The sport now has a rich competition ecosystem, from local tournaments to international championships organised by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has adopted BJJ as a foundational element, and no serious MMA fighter competes without a solid grappling base.
The belt system — white, blue, purple, brown, black — provides a clear framework for progression, with black belt typically requiring 10 or more years of dedicated training. Roger Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie and the sport's most decorated competitor, has been instrumental in establishing world-class BJJ instruction in the UK through the Roger Gracie Academy, with an affiliate in Bristol where Samurai Fitness coach Chris Last holds his Brown Belt.
Today, BJJ is practised by millions of people worldwide — from children building confidence and coordination to adults pursuing fitness, self-defence, and competition. It has one of the most welcoming communities in sport, united by the shared experience of the mat.
BJJ in North Somerset
Samurai Fitness BJJ brings this tradition to Yatton, North Somerset. Head Coach Chris Last — Brown Belt under the Chamberlain Brothers at Roger Gracie Academy Bristol — has trained in the USA, Thailand, and Brazil, and carries a direct lineage back through Roger Gracie to the Gracie family itself.
The history of BJJ is a history of ordinary people discovering extraordinary capability through technique, discipline, and the willingness to learn. That story continues every Saturday morning and Wednesday evening at The Studio in Yatton.
If you're curious about what this art can do for you, book your free trial. No experience needed. Everyone who has ever trained BJJ started exactly where you are now.