100 Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu History

Certainly, the roots of this sport we all love – Brazilian jiu-jitsu – are far deeper than 100 years, as many others have already written extensively about. However, it was a hundred years ago, in 1925, that the first Brazilian academy dedicated to the evolving new style of martial art was born. Since then, BJJ has experienced growth unlike any other sport or martial art in history.

In all the excitement of the current state of the sport, it’s easy to forget its history. On this, the centennial anniversary of the first BJJ academy, we decided it was a good time to give a refresher course on jiu-jitsu’s evolution.

The Birthplace of BJJ

Before we get to 1925, we need to step back another decade, when a world-renowned judoka stepped foot in Brazil for the first time. In 1914, Mitsuyo Maeda, known as “Conde Koma,” embarked on a multi-country tour, showcasing his mastery in judo, particularly the style of “Kodokan jiu jitsu.” Maeda would later settle in Belem do Para, a city in the north of Brazil, near the terminus of the Amazon river. It was there that he met a prominent businessman and politician, Gastão Gracie, who convinced him to teach his headstrong young teenage son, Carlos, the martial art.

With time, Carlos taught his younger brothers, including the youngest, Hélio Gracie, who would become of the most important figures in BJJ history. As a child, Hélio suffered from health problems, which led him to adapt many of the techniques. He started modifying them, making them more effective for a smaller, weaker practitioner against a larger, stronger opponent. 

In 1921, the Gracie family moved from Belem to Rio de Janeiro. Four years later, Carlos launched his dream: the very first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. It was there that Hélio and his brothers worked toward developing a new legacy.

Worldwide Expansion

As Brazilian jiu-jitsu grew, evolving even further away from its Japanese origins, some of the new generations of Gracies began to turn their sights abroad. In the 1960s, Rolls, a son of Carlos, began traveling to New York to visit his mother. In 1970, another of Carlos’ sons, Carley, was invited to teach jiu-jitsu at the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Quantico, VA. Then in 1978, Hélio’s eldest son, Rorion, made the move to Southern California, where he began teaching in his garage while he worked as an extra in the film industry. In 1989, he opened the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in the U.S.

It wasn’t until the 1990s, however, that Brazilian jiu-jitsu hit the world stage in a big way. Co-founded by Rorion Gracie, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held its very first event in Denver, Colorado in 1993. The event was created to showcase martial artists from many different backgrounds fighting against each other in a “vale tudo” (“anything goes” or “no holds barred”) style environment. At the inaugural event, Royce Gracie, another of Hélio’s sons, submitted all three of his opponents, finishing each within minutes in the first rounds.

Outside of the cage, competitive BJJ also found its global footing. In 1994, the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation was created. Two years later, the organization held its first “Mundials” in Rio de Janeiro. Each subsequent year saw IBJJF events held in more and more cities around the world. Then in 2007, the IBJJF World Championships relocated to the United States, where it remains today.

The Evolution of Competition

Around the same time, across the globe, another competitive powerhouse was stirring. Inspired by the 1993 UFC event, Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was studying in the United States at the time, started training jiu-jitsu. Five years later, in 1998, he founded the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) to promote martial arts in his home country, the United Arab Emeritus. The following year, the very first ADCC World Championship event was held, featuring some of the biggest names in grappling. The ADCC has since transformed into, arguably, the most prestigious no-gi event in the world.

The ADCC’s diversion from the standard ruleset established by the IBJJF set an important precedent. In 2012, the short-lived Metamoris introduced the idea of “sub-only” events. Two years later, the Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) was launched by 10th Planet founder Eddie Bravo, who had made a name for himself via his 2003 ADCC performance and his rubber guard. The EBI played off the sub-only style, and added innovative overtime rules. More recently, the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has completely shaken up the jiu-jitsu world, adding a more 3-dimensional playing ground with its “pit,” as well as making strong statements about competitor compensation.

A century is a relatively short amount of time for a sport to develop, and each year we see it evolving even further. There is no telling where Brazilian jiu-jitsu will be – and what it looks like – in another 100 years.