| Jiu-Jitsu in BrazilEventually, in Japan many different | | | | Jiu-Jitsu and that Helio Gracie did not invent it. The |
| variations of the art (Jiu-Jitsu) took shape, including | | | | Gracie family developed the art of Judo into a |
| Karate, Aikido, and Judo. But these arts were | | | | more effective rules-free style. While in Brazil, I |
| missing essential pieces of what the complete art | | | | learned about a Grand Master named "Fadda," |
| of Jiu-Jitsu originally held. Soon the day of the | | | | who learned Jiu-Jitsu from a man named Luis |
| Samurai came to an end, the gun replaced the | | | | Franca. Like Carlos Gracie, Franca also learned |
| sword, and new sportive ways to practice martial | | | | Jiu-Jitsu (Judo) from Meada. Fadda took the |
| arts were developed. This lack of reality created | | | | Jiu-Jitsu he learned from Franca and started his |
| years of confusion in the martial arts community, | | | | own school of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil. His popularity is not |
| a confusion that legendary Bruce Lee would later | | | | as great as the Gracie family, but nonetheless, he |
| refer to as the 'classical mess'. The 'sport arts', | | | | is an example of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu being refined |
| such as Judo and Kendo were wonderful in the | | | | and practiced outside the Gracie family. His |
| way of offering their practitioners a safe way to | | | | students compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments |
| realistically train the techniques of their system, | | | | and consider their art separate from both Gracie |
| but often limited their practitioners with too many | | | | Jiu-Jitsu and the older styles of Jiu-Jitsu in Japan. |
| rules to maintain effectiveness as a combative | | | | This stands as evidence that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and |
| style. The more traditional combat schools were | | | | Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is not the same thing.In 1967, the |
| simply practicing techniques no longer suitable for | | | | first federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was created |
| modern day combat, and with no way to safely | | | | by Helio Gracie, and the system of belts as we |
| test them, practicing these arts became like | | | | know it was developed (white, blue, purple, |
| swimming without water. It wasn't until the sport | | | | brown, and black). Around the time the Carlson |
| art of Judo and the combat art of Jiu-Jitsu were | | | | Gracie team was born in the early 1970's, the |
| introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil that the | | | | Gracie family made their first split. Carlson Gracie |
| real art of Jiu-Jitsu would be brought to life again. | | | | was the son of Carlos and a very reputable Vale |
| Japanese Jiu-Jitsu (practiced as Judo) was | | | | Tudo fighter. He claimed many victories while |
| introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil (@ 1915) | | | | defending the Gracie family name, including |
| by Esai Maeda, who is also known as Conde | | | | avenging one of Helio's very few losses. There |
| Koma. This name came about when Maeda was | | | | were now two sides of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Family, |
| in Spain (1908). While in Spain, Maeda, having | | | | students under Helio and students under Carlson. |
| some financial troubles, used the Japanese verb | | | | Helio's side would argue that Carlson's style of |
| "komaru", meaning to be in trouble, to describe | | | | Jiu-Jitsu involved too much strength and that it |
| himself. Maeda decided this didn't sound right, so | | | | was Helio who developed the technique further |
| he dropped the last syllable and changed it to | | | | due to the fact that he was much smaller than |
| "koma." The word "conde" comes from the | | | | his brother Carlos, who taught it to him. The fact |
| Spanish language, meaning "Count." Later in his life, | | | | remains that it is basically the same Jiu-Jitsu with a |
| Maeda would be given the Brazilian title of "Conte | | | | few natural variations in teaching methods in the |
| Comte," or Count Combat.Maeda was a champion | | | | actual application of techniques. Robson Gracie |
| of Judo and a direct student of its founder, Jigoro | | | | created a new federation in 1988 and Carlos |
| Kano, at the Kodokan in Japan. He was born in | | | | Gracie Jr. created the Confederacao Brasiliera in |
| 1878, and became a student of Judo in 1897. In | | | | 1993. Carlos Jr.'s federation is the most active one |
| 1904 Maeda was given the opportunity to travel | | | | worldwide and is responsible for the development |
| to the United States with one of his teachers, | | | | of the World Championships. The idea of the |
| Tsunejiro Tomita. While in the U.S. they | | | | Mundial (World's) is to attract foreign competitors |
| demonstrated the art of Judo for Theodore | | | | in hopes of making Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu an Olympic |
| Roosevelt at the White House, and for cadets at | | | | sport. This was all done around the time Royce |
| the West Point Military Academy. This is an exert | | | | was winning the first UFC (early 1990's) and giving |
| from Roosevelt's letters to his children on | | | | America its first prominent taste of Brazilian |
| wrestling and Jiu-jitsu (note the spelling is Jiu-jitsu, | | | | Jiu-Jitsu. Members of the Gracie family are not the |
| not Jujutsu due to the fact that it is before | | | | only ones to operate federations and associations |
| 1950):White House, Feb. 24, 1905. | | | | of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who may organize |
| Darling Kermit: | | | | tournaments or give rank within the art. In an |
| "... I still box with Grant, who has now become | | | | interview with Andre Pederneiras, a fifth degree |
| the champion middleweight wrestler of the United | | | | black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and founder of the |
| States. Yesterday afternoon we had Professor | | | | Nova Uniao team, he was asked about his |
| Yamashita (Yamashita was Roosevelt's Jiu-jitsu | | | | involvement in the promotion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| instructor before Meada and Tomita had arrived | | | | and organization of the art's first tournament. He |
| there in the U.S.) up here to wrestle with Grant. It | | | | stated that he had organized the first Brazilian |
| was very interesting, but of course jiu jitsu and | | | | Jiu-Jitsu tournament in 1993, then the following |
| our wrestling are so far apart that it is difficult to | | | | questions were asked:"What is the difference |
| make any comparison between them. Wrestling is | | | | between the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament |
| simply a sport with rules almost as conventional | | | | you created and the BJJ Confederation (Carlos |
| as those of tennis, while jiu jitsu is really meant | | | | Jr.'s) Tournament?""Price for one. In my |
| for practice in killing or disabling our adversary. In | | | | tournament, I charged competitors ten dollars per |
| consequence, Grant did not know what to do | | | | person and Carlos Gracie Jr. charged thirty dollars. |
| except to put Yamashita on his back, and | | | | I only charged ten dollars, but I held the event in |
| Yamashita was perfectly content to be on his | | | | an expensive place called Club Hebraica. At the |
| back. Inside of a minute Yamashita had choked | | | | time his tournament was held as the Clube |
| Grant, and inside of two minutes more he got an | | | | Guanabarra and I know he paid nothing for this |
| elbow hold on him that would have enabled him to | | | | place.""Did you collaborate on this event with the |
| break his arm; so that there is no question but | | | | president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation, |
| that he could have put Grant out. So far this | | | | Mr. Carlos Gracie Jr.?""Of course not. The |
| made it evident that the jiu jitsu man could handle | | | | confederation did not exist yet when I was |
| the ordinary wrestler. But Grant, in the actual | | | | putting this tournament together. After my idea, |
| wrestling and throwing was about as good as the | | | | Carlos Gracie created the Brazilian Confederation |
| Japanese, and he was so much stronger that he | | | | and started to make the other Brazilian |
| evidently hurt and wore out the Japanese. With a | | | | tournaments." |
| little practice in the art I am sure that one of our | | | | "So basically he made a much greater profit than |
| big wrestlers or boxers, simply because of his | | | | you did?""Exactly. I created the tournament so |
| greatly superior strength, would be able to kill any | | | | that all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters could compete |
| of those Japanese, who though very good men | | | | and have a good time, not to get rich. Our |
| for their inches and pounds are altogether too | | | | priorities are were just different."(from interview |
| small to hold their own against big, powerful, quick | | | | for August 2001)JJ Machado on the Gracie |
| men who are as well trained."Theodore Roosevelt | | | | Family's influence: |
| (1858-1919) | | | | "Carlos Gracie Jr. was our teacher from the |
| (Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His Children. | | | | beginning. When you say Jiu-Jitsu you have to link |
| 1919. NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, | | | | it to the Gracie family. That's the family that |
| 1919 NEW YORK: BARTLEBY.COM, 1999)Maeda | | | | started our Jiu-Jitsu style and we're just one part |
| eventually parted ways with Tomita, and settled | | | | of that clan. I think that everyone today that |
| in Brazil. Maeda was staying in Sao Palo City to | | | | knows Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu learned it, directly or |
| help establish a Japanese Immigration colony. At | | | | indirectly, from a member of the Gracie family. I |
| this time Brazil held the largest population of | | | | think everyone should be grateful to them for |
| Japanese people outside Japan. He was aided in | | | | that."A good example of how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is |
| Brazil by Gastao Gracie, a Brazilian of Scottish | | | | truly a mixed martial art and not developed |
| decent, who's first experience with Jiu-Jitsu was | | | | PURELY by Gracie family members is illustrated in |
| most likely through managing an Italian boxer | | | | a question from an Interview with Romero |
| named Alfredi Leconti, who fought a friend of | | | | "Jacare" Cavalcanti by Kid Pellegro: |
| Maeda in November of 1916.For some time in | | | | "You are one of the few Black Belts from Rolls |
| Japan, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu were almost | | | | Gracie, what was it like learning from him?""It was |
| synonymous. Judo was known as Kano's Jiu-Jitsu. | | | | spectacular, Rolls as the best of his time, besides |
| Regardless, this answers the question, "why do | | | | being a great instructor he was also an incredible |
| they call it Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and not Brazilian Judo?" | | | | person. I trained with him from '74 until '82 when |
| Because they were essentially the same thing at | | | | he died. He died on June 6th, '82 and I had |
| the time, remember, the Gracie family was | | | | received my Black Belt in February. He would |
| learning Jiu-Jitsu and Judo while Kano was still | | | | teach a lot of self defense, stand up, and ground |
| struggling to show the difference between the | | | | fighting, with and without gi. It was a very |
| two and popularize his art. In the early 1900's | | | | complete class. He had started to do wrestling, so |
| there was very little difference between the two. | | | | he added a lot of the wrestling attacks, single leg |
| In fact, Judo was merely a collection of Jiu-jitsu | | | | and double legs takedowns. So Rolls revolutionized |
| styles, whose strongest points were put together | | | | the Jiu-Jitsu with his new positions. As a matter of |
| to make what then became Judo. The Gracie | | | | fact, the "Triangle" was invented by one of his |
| family was introduced to Judo at a time when the | | | | students, Sergio Dorileo, Sergio had been studying |
| Kodokan had recently suffered a great defeat to | | | | a Japanese book of positions and invented the |
| the grappling style of the Fusen Ryu. This can be | | | | Triangle. At that time everybody would pass the |
| compared to the Ultimate Fighting Championship | | | | Guard the traditional way with one hand on the |
| of the early 1990's, when most martial artists | | | | biceps and the other hand between the legs and |
| were attempting to fight Royce Gracie standing. | | | | low, so all of a sudden, if you would try to pass |
| They would all eventually find themselves on the | | | | Dorileo's guard you'd end up in a triangle. What |
| ground, where they were at a loss as to what to | | | | was considered the right way didn't work |
| do. Consequently, grappling became very popular | | | | anymore. Can you imagine!!! Everybody had to go |
| over the next ten years and many styles began | | | | back and rethink a lot. It was an incredible |
| to incorporate grappling techniques into their | | | | experience, I learned so much from Rolls, even |
| curriculum. Royce Gracie was simply doing what | | | | the way he warm up the class was special. It |
| had already been done in the early 1900's by the | | | | was one of the greatest losses in my life and it |
| Fusen Ryu to Judo practitioners of the Kodokan, | | | | took me years to get over. I still get choked up, |
| so we can easily draw the conclusion from the | | | | to this day, when I reminisce."During the mid |
| experience in our own time that when Meada | | | | 1900's while Vale Tudo (free-style fighting) was |
| arrived in Brazil, he was a student of a Kodokan | | | | developing in Brazil, there were experts of Judo, |
| that was adding "new" grappling techniques to its | | | | wrestling, capoeira, and boxing mixing together in |
| system.To show gratitude to Gracie for his help in | | | | these no-rules contests. It is impossible to think |
| the colonization, Maeda taught Gastao's son Carlos | | | | that as these competitions took place, the |
| the basic techniques of Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos Gracie then | | | | participants wouldn't cross-train and "borrow" |
| taught his brothers Oswaldo, Jorge, Gastao, and | | | | techniques from their competition. This interview, |
| Helio. In 1925 the brothers opened their first | | | | taken from Black Belt magazine, illustrates this |
| school, and Jiu-Jitsu was cultivated into a more | | | | point:Black Belt Magazine: "At what point in your |
| effective martial art and sport known as Brazilian | | | | jujutsu training did you decide that the art's |
| Jiu-Jitsu. What made this version of Jiu-Jitsu more | | | | techniques needed modification?"Helio Gracie: "I |
| effective was the constant exposure of its | | | | didn't invent the martial art. I adapted it to my |
| practitioners to real situations. Between their own | | | | necessity-what I needed for my weight and lack |
| schools, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players would compete in | | | | of strength. I learned jujutsu, but some of the |
| a sportive way to keep the techniques of their | | | | moves required a lot of strength, so I could not |
| art sharp. The Gracie family would issue a | | | | use them. I couldn't get out from some of the |
| challenge to all others to fight without rules. In | | | | positions I learned from my brother because of |
| these no rules or 'vale tudo' fights, the Gracie | | | | my lack of strength and weight. So I developed |
| family and their students would evaluate the | | | | other ways out."Black Belt Magazine: "Why didn't |
| techniques of their fighting art."If you want to get | | | | anyone before you refine the techniques of |
| your face beaten and well smashed, your ___ | | | | traditional jujutsu into a more effective |
| kicked, and your arms broken, Contact Carlos | | | | style?"Helio Gracie: "Because most people who |
| Gracie at this address..." | | | | practice the martial arts already have physical |
| -- Brazilian newspaper ad, circa 1920sThrough the | | | | strength and ability that I didn't have. I needed to |
| last fifty years, many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools | | | | create those [techniques]. This was the only way |
| have opened and broken away from the original | | | | I had to compensate for my lack of strength."No |
| members of the Gracie family, making subtle | | | | matter where you live or what style of Jiu-Jitsu |
| differences in styles within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie | | | | you practice, we all owe some degree of respect |
| Jiu-Jitsu, Machado Jiu-Jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are | | | | to the Gracie Family for introducing us to Brazilian |
| all different schools of the same art. The Gracie | | | | Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracie family is responsible for a |
| family itself has hundreds of members who do | | | | large part of the modern advancement or |
| not all associate with one another.The formal | | | | improvement of Jiu-Jitsu. The term Gracie Jiu-Jitsu |
| teaching of Jiu-Jitsu to Brazilians by the Gracie | | | | is used to describe the difference between the |
| family began in 1940 when Helio opened an | | | | 'old' Jiu-Jitsu (jujutsu/jujitsu), and the Gracie |
| academy in Rio. Over the next 18 years, if you | | | | family's advancement of the art through the |
| wanted to learn Jiu-Jitsu from the Gracie family in | | | | 1900's. Now that 'Gracie Jiu-Jitsu' has spread all |
| Brazil, you had a choice of four academies, all of | | | | over Brazil and to the United States, many |
| which were located in Rio. The Gracie's were not | | | | champions of the art are being born that are not |
| the only one's teaching Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, | | | | Gracie Family members. These champions are |
| but they were certainly the most popular, | | | | contributing to the art's progression by improving |
| teaching over 2000 students in that 18 year | | | | on techniques and developing new ones. The bulk |
| period. A good example of this is Mehdi, a Judo | | | | of basic movements may still be Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, |
| master who came to Brazil from France in 1949, | | | | but as the art develops, the term 'Brazilian |
| and still teaches there now. There have been Judo | | | | Jiu-Jitsu' becomes more appropriate. As more and |
| schools in Brazil since the early 1900's and Sao | | | | more innovators contribute to the art outside of |
| Paulo still has a very large Japanese population. | | | | Brazil, it eventually may be appropriate to simply |
| Mehdi's list of students include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | | | | call the art 'Jiu-Jitsu'.For more on this subject, visit |
| Black Belts Mario Sperry, Rickson Gracie, and | | | | Simco is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt and author |
| Sylvio Behring, just to name a few. This is | | | | of several books on the subject. |
| another example of Judo's influence on Brazilian | | | | |