Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a revolutionary martial art and self-defense system developed by the Gracie family in Brazil in the 1920s. Gracie / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was made famous in the U.S. after the success of Royce Gracie in the early days of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), when there were virtually no rules, weight classes, time limits, or points. The system’s effectiveness is based in the technical application of superior positioning, leverage, energy efficiency, and natural body movements. BJJ focuses on grappling, throws, takedowns, chokes, joint manipulation, escaping dangerous positions, and distance control. Through the last century, BJJ has continued to evolve and grow as it spreads to different parts of the world.
There are three common applications of the art: