A group of Japanese martial artists, the Kodokan, is the original source of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Kano Jigoro, one of the members of the Kodokan, sent out his followers to different parts of the world to spread the knowledge of his teachings. Mitsuyo Maeda was sent to Brazil and he began to share the art of what would become known as jiu-jitsu to the citizens there. Though the martial art was actually closer to judo, the name was not as important as the actions.
Among the individuals that Maeda was in contact with was a man with the surname Gracie. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is exceedingly linked to the Gracie name and this is where it started. Carlos Gracie began being taught by Maeda and subsequently in 1921, passed on his lessons to his brothers, including the youngest, Helio. Helio tailored the teachings so that he, as a smaller man, could overpower much bigger foes. This became a primary aspect of jiu-jitsu and it would be demonstrated time and again in competitions that size really doesn't matter in combat.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu got its name when the Gracies came to America. In 1978, Helio's son, Rorion Gracie, moved to California and began teaching jiu-jitsu out of his garage. Eventually, he was able to open a proper jiu-jitsu academy as word spread about his abilities and people learned more about the history of this fighting style. The Gracie Challenge was issued to any fighter in order to prove just how superior this fighting style was. Rorion and his fighters defeated many others from different fighting styles and the reputation of this form of jiu-jitsu continued to grow.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu took off across the world in the early 1990s, with the establishment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. These were mixed martial arts fights that were largely no-holds-barred bouts that paired fighters of assorted disciplines. Royce Gracie jumped to prominence and success by winning three of the first four contests, mainly by beating opponents considerably bigger than he and by way of submission holds on the ground. It became apparent that his martial art methods were far superior to those of other disciplines and Brazilian jiu jitsu schools sprang up throughout North America.
Nowadays, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a huge business and continues to grow with the popularity of mixed martial arts in both competitions and in the movies. The Brazilian jiu jitsu technique is considered by many to be one of the most effective forms of combat, and there are different styles that focus on competitions and on practical uses for defense. Gracie jiu jitsu is a trademarked form of jiu-jitsu and a very effective form of the original discipline. If you are interested in the martial arts, then this is a great place to begin.
One of the best forms of martial arts to study if you are interested in MMA fighting is Brazilian jiu jitsu. With its grappling holds and close combat style, the jiu-jitsu technique is a favorite among UFC contenders.