During the Feudalism period in Japan, warriors were taught jiu-jitsu as a form of combat, which included throws, ground grappling and strikes. There were many schools that taught jiu-jitsu in Japan but as sociological changes took place, the art of Jiu-Jitsu began to decline.
Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), founder of the Martial Art known as Judo began his Martial Arts career studying Jiu-Jitsu. During his studies, Kano concluded that there were many problems with classical jiu-jitsu. One of these problems included unrealistic training methods where students learned by memorizing choreographed movements called kata. This method of training does not allow for testing your techniques with a resisting opponent, hence introducing his own Martial Art - Judo.
Judo allowed students to train using full force in their technique. These techniques included throws and submission holds. It became very popular in a short period of time. In his quest to spread the art of Judo, Kano sent representatives to the United States in hopes of the art becoming an Olympic Sport. One of the representatives was Mitsuyo Maeda (1878-1941).
Mitsuyo Maeda traveled to North, Central and South America and even Europe.
In the Early 1920's, Maeda traveled to Brazil to start a colony in the North. It is here where Maeda would meet Gastao Gracie who was involved with politics. Gracie would use his political contacts to aid Maeda and in return, Maeda would teach Jiu-Jitsu to Gastao Gracie's sons.
Carlos Gracie (1902-1994), the oldest Gracie brother learned from Maeda for approximately 2-4 years. This left the Gracie family to learn among themselves refining their technique to the highest degree. They eliminated the useless and added or refined effective techniques. Carlos Gracie, who was interested in street fighting and was also a boxer, quickly modified the classical techniques he learned from Count Koma to meet the demands of real, ’Äúno-holds-barred’Äù fighting in the streets of Brazil.
The young Carlos Gracie then tested and refined his system through constant matches, open to all comers, constantly working to make it more effective. At one point, he even advertised in newspapers and on the street corners for new opponents upon whom to practice and further refine his art. He fought anyone and everyone who was willing, regardless of size, weight or fighting style. Even though he was a mere 135 pounds, his style was so effective that Carlos Gracie was never defeated and became a legend in Brazil.
This tradition of open challenge is a part of the heritage of the Gracie style of Jiu-Jitsu. To his four younger brothers (Oswaldo, Gastˆ£o, Jorge, and Helio) and to his older sons (including Carlson and Carley), and they in turn taught their brothers, sons, nephews and cousins. After Carlos retired from the ring, he managed the fight careers of his brothers and sons, continuing to challenge fighters of all styles throughout the world. This tradition of open challenge has been continued by his sons, grandsons, brothers, nephews and students, who have consistently demonstrated the superiority of the Gracie style in real fights and minimum-rule matches in rings throughout the world.
Carlos Gracie had 21 children and his youngest brother, Helio, had 7 sons, creating a virtual dynasty of Gracie fighters and instructors who dominate the world of ’Äúno holds-barred’Äù fight contests today. In these events, Gracie representatives have consistently demonstrated, in open competition against title holders from other martial arts styles, that the Gracie style of Jiu-Jitsu is the most effective fighting art in the world today. No small wonder that the Gracie version of Jiu-Jitsu is the hottest style in martial arts today.
Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has proven to be the most effective form of unarmed combat available. The current generations of the Gracie family have proven this in today's Mixed Martial Art events and open challenge matches.
