History of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/5/4/14545608/3178763.jpg?0)
Literally translated, jiu-jitsu means “gentle art.” It is believed to have originated in India over 2000 years ago where it spread into China, and eventually Japan. It was here that Japanese samurai adopted the martial art as their form of empty-hand combat. In the early 1900’s, a master of Japanese jiu-jitsu, Mitsuyo Maeda, moved to Brazil and was taken in by Gastao Gracie.
As token of his appreciation, Maeda passed on the art of jiu-jitsu to Gastao’s eldest son, Carlos. From there, Carlos taught his brothers, including Helio, the youngest and weakest. In order to compensate for his stature, Helio refined and restructured the techniques to utilize leverage and skill to overcome much larger and stronger opponents. His development of this new technique revolutionized the martial arts world. Now Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is studied and taught all over the world today and has become one of the most popular martial arts systems for self-defense.
As token of his appreciation, Maeda passed on the art of jiu-jitsu to Gastao’s eldest son, Carlos. From there, Carlos taught his brothers, including Helio, the youngest and weakest. In order to compensate for his stature, Helio refined and restructured the techniques to utilize leverage and skill to overcome much larger and stronger opponents. His development of this new technique revolutionized the martial arts world. Now Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is studied and taught all over the world today and has become one of the most popular martial arts systems for self-defense.
The Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brothers
The Gracie Family was the clan that introduced and developed the art of
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in modern times. Carlos Gracie turned from a troubled youth
into a dynamic and balanced person. Besides an instructor and fighter, he also
was a famous dietician. He fathered 21 children after 4 marriages. Among his
nephews were the Machado Brothers (Carlos, Roger, Rigan, Jean-Jacques and
John), members of the fourth generation of the family. Among Carlos
Gracie’s sons, Carlos Gracie Jr. (eldest son of his father’s 4th marriage) was
the main instructor and also cousin to the Machado Brothers. His guidance and
teaching contributed to their training and upbringing in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in modern times. Carlos Gracie turned from a troubled youth
into a dynamic and balanced person. Besides an instructor and fighter, he also
was a famous dietician. He fathered 21 children after 4 marriages. Among his
nephews were the Machado Brothers (Carlos, Roger, Rigan, Jean-Jacques and
John), members of the fourth generation of the family. Among Carlos
Gracie’s sons, Carlos Gracie Jr. (eldest son of his father’s 4th marriage) was
the main instructor and also cousin to the Machado Brothers. His guidance and
teaching contributed to their training and upbringing in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.