Brasilian Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is an advanced fighting style which was first pioneered by the Jiu-Jitsu techniques developed by the Gracie family in Brazil. This popular and effective martial art utilizes a combination of standing techniques as well as ground fighting moves to help the prepare the practitioner for any hand-to hand combat situation.
The motive for developing the art of BJJ was to enable small statured people to be competent at defeating larger opponents. They key is to best your opponent by gaining a superior position and then applying an array of chokes, holds, joint manipulations, and locks to disarm and disable them. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a fun and fulfilling martial art which builds discipline and ability.
 BJJ was first created when a Japanese colony was founded in brazil in the early 20th century. An ambassador named Esai Maeda (aka Count Koma) was sent over to help lead the colony. Gastao Gracie was a local Brazilian politician who became friends with Maeda and assisted him in politics.
Maeda showed his appreciation by teaching Gastao`s oldest son Carlos, the art of Japanese Jiu Jitsu. He was able to teach him well, because Maeda had been a champion in the art back in Japan. Carlos studied under Maeda for several years and became increasingly skilled, but then Maeda was required to return to Japan. This left Carlos without an instructor.
He now needed a sparring partner so he turned to his younger brother Helio. He had been teaching Helio Jiu-Jitsu for awhile so the two made a good match. Carlos and Helio worked to together to transform what they had learned into a new and revolutionary martial art.
Both the brothers were small and frail, so they learned to adapt classic  Jiu- Jitsu moves into a form that utilized leverage and position more than brute strength. This led to a fighting style which would empower even a smaller weaker man to beat a much larger combatant.
Brazil was a rough and violent place, and so the brothers had many opportunities to test out their fighting abilities in the streets. They began to enter many organized fighting matches as well. These were no holds barred (Vale Tudo) style fights and the brothers way of fighting proved to be very powerful.
The brothers came to understand that most street fights will end up in a ground fight, so they focused on creating grappling moves. These techniques are today part of the most effective grappling art in the world.
Now 70 years later, descendants of the Gracie brothers continue to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and compete and dominate tournaments around the world. Even Helio himself, at 90 years old continues to teach the art and even enters matches with much younger fighters. Today there are many fine BJJ schools around the world where you can study and master the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Find professional boxing gloves for Ju-Jitsu, Boxing, and other professional sports for less.
Copyright 2009-2012 brasilian-jiu-jitsu.com | 