How jiu-jitsu became a Brazilian art
From Belém to the world: the arrival of Mitsuyo Maeda, the Gracie family and the sport's boom.
Jiu-jitsu came to Brazil with Japan's Mitsuyo Maeda, who settled in Belém, Pará, in the early 20th century. It was there that he taught Carlos Gracie.
The Brazilian adaptation
Carlos and his brothers, most notably Hélio Gracie, adapted the art to prioritize leverage and technique over strength. The ground game and the guard became the identity of the Brazilian style.
From Rio to the world
From Rio de Janeiro, jiu-jitsu spread through academies across the country. In the 1990s, the UFC showed the art's effectiveness to the whole world, and the boom began.
Today the sport is practiced on virtually every continent, but the accent is still Brazilian: oss, raspagem (sweep), passagem (pass) and armlock are heard on any mat.
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