What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is best known as the system of groundfighting and submission techniques that Royce Gracie used to dominate the first four Ultimate Fighting Championship events. It originated in the early 20th century when Japanese judo expert Mitsuyo Maeda travelled to Brazil and introduced judo to the Gracie family, who modified the art to suit Rio’s rough streets. Almost a century later, Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission techniques have become indispensable tools for all mixed martial artists and the BJJ fighters who continue to dominate submission grappling competitions all over the world.

Finding a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and Instructor

Because Brazilian jiu-jitsu lacks a governing body, there is a huge quality variation among Brazilian jiu jitsu academies and instructors and finding the right one can take a few tries. A Brazilian jiu jitsu academy will usually offer at least one introductory class, which gives a chance to interact with other students, get a feel for the school, and talk to the instructor about their background. Be wary of Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors who get defensive when asked what their qualifications are, who they learned from, which Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy or team they are affiliated with, etc.