Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that focuses heavily on grappling or “ne waza” (mat techniques) skills. Jiu-Jitsu is the Brazilian spelling of the Japanese “jujutsu” or “jujitsu”.  Shortly before World War I, Mitsuyo Maeda, a student of Jigoro Kano from the Kodokan Institute in Japan, made his way to Brazil. Maeda befriended Gastao Gracie and agreed to teach his system of fighting to Carlos Gracie, Gastao’s oldest son.

Maeda’s system incorporated classical Japanese jujitsu, Kodokan Judo, and his own methods of fighting that he had developed in countless “take-all-comers” challenge matches. Carlos studied under Maeda for close to four years before opening his own school.

Carlos continued the Maeda method of teaching jiu-jitsu and incorporating live randori (free practice) and ne waza.   He brought his brothers into the school and started teaching and training them. The reputation of the Gracie school advanced quickly because they fought so successfully in open-challenge public matches against a variety of other martial arts. Most of these matches had few, if any rules.

The Gracies were able to learn a tremendous amount from these fights and further refine their jiu-jitsu system.  Because their system focused more on real world fighting situations than just competitive grappling, they were able to develop skills that relied more on leverage and technique, than strength and raw power.

Many of the challenge matches they fought in were against bigger, stronger opponents.  Experience taught them that certain positions like on an opponent's back or in the guard (opponent is controlled between the legs) could be very advantageous.  They refined numerous submission techniques that include arm locks, leg locks, wrist locks, and chokes. They demonstrated that an attacker can be subdued with a joint lock without causing great physical damage.

The Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu system has spread throughout the world and is a mainstay in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events. The Brazilian style has developed a heightened level of control on the ground not seen in other Jiu-Jitsu styles and is extremely effective in real fighting situations. 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is especially useful in one-on-one weaponless combat. Unlike some arts that are practiced primarily using kata, or prearranged movements without an uncooperative opponent, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a sport and is practiced competitively.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is exceptionally effective for women since fighting on the ground is exactly the scenario found in the majority of sexual assaults.

Similar to Judo, it is learned in live grappling-sparring sessions with resisting partners.  It is trained with and without gis (uniforms). Practitioners can develop practical skills for subduing an opponent on the ground without risk of injury.