THE HISTORY OF BJJ

BJJ is based on Judo and was developed in Brazil by the Gracie family during the mid-20th century. The Gracies constantly tested and adjusted their fighting style by participating in many Vale Tudo (MMA) events in Brazil. BJJ gained mainstream attention back in 1993 when the first Ultimate Fighting Championship was held. The UFC was originally a one-night tournament that placed 2 men of different martial arts backgrounds inside a cage to fight. There were only 2 rules: no biting and no eye gouging. The event was bare-knuckle, offered no time limits and the only way to win was by knockout or submission. Many misconceptions were proven wrong when masters of traditional martial arts were unable to use their striking to finish a fight in seconds. What surprised everyone was that a man named Royce Gracie easily beat opponents twice his size by clinching and bringing them to the ground. He would then control his opponents, gain positional advantage and ultimately force them to submit by using arm bars and chokes. This opened the eyes of the martial arts world and proved that grappling was one of the most neglected parts of combat and also a highly effective way to finish a fight.