| Jiu-Jitsu in BrazilEventually, in Japan many | | | | Helio Gracie did not invent it. The Gracie |
| different variations of the art (Jiu-Jitsu) | | | | family developed the art of Judo into a more |
| took shape, including Karate, Aikido, and | | | | effective rules-free style. While in Brazil, |
| Judo. But these arts were missing essential | | | | I learned about a Grand Master named "Fadda," |
| pieces of what the complete art of Jiu-Jitsu | | | | who learned Jiu-Jitsu from a man named Luis |
| originally held. Soon the day of the Samurai | | | | Franca. Like Carlos Gracie, Franca also |
| came to an end, the gun replaced the sword, | | | | learned Jiu-Jitsu (Judo) from Meada. Fadda |
| and new sportive ways to practice martial | | | | took the Jiu-Jitsu he learned from Franca and |
| arts were developed. This lack of reality | | | | started his own school of Jiu-Jitsu in |
| created years of confusion in the martial | | | | Brazil. His popularity is not as great as the |
| arts community, a confusion that legendary | | | | Gracie family, but nonetheless, he is an |
| Bruce Lee would later refer to as the | | | | example of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu being refined |
| 'classical mess'. The 'sport arts', such as | | | | and practiced outside the Gracie family. His |
| Judo and Kendo were wonderful in the way of | | | | students compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| offering their practitioners a safe way to | | | | tournaments and consider their art separate |
| realistically train the techniques of their | | | | from both Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the older |
| system, but often limited their practitioners | | | | styles of Jiu-Jitsu in Japan. This stands as |
| with too many rules to maintain effectiveness | | | | evidence that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Gracie |
| as a combative style. The more traditional | | | | Jiu-Jitsu is not the same thing.In 1967, the |
| combat schools were simply practicing | | | | first federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was |
| techniques no longer suitable for modern day | | | | created by Helio Gracie, and the system of |
| combat, and with no way to safely test them, | | | | belts as we know it was developed (white, |
| practicing these arts became like swimming | | | | blue, purple, brown, and black). Around the |
| without water. It wasn't until the sport art | | | | time the Carlson Gracie team was born in the |
| of Judo and the combat art of Jiu-Jitsu were | | | | early 1970's, the Gracie family made their |
| introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil | | | | first split. Carlson Gracie was the son of |
| that the real art of Jiu-Jitsu would be | | | | Carlos and a very reputable Vale Tudo |
| brought to life again. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu | | | | fighter. He claimed many victories while |
| (practiced as Judo) was introduced to the | | | | defending the Gracie family name, including |
| Gracie family in Brazil (@ 1915) by Esai | | | | avenging one of Helio's very few losses. |
| Maeda, who is also known as Conde Koma. This | | | | There were now two sides of the Gracie |
| name came about when Maeda was in Spain | | | | Jiu-Jitsu Family, students under Helio and |
| (1908). While in Spain, Maeda, having some | | | | students under Carlson. Helio's side would |
| financial troubles, used the Japanese verb | | | | argue that Carlson's style of Jiu-Jitsu |
| "komaru", meaning to be in trouble, to | | | | involved too much strength and that it was |
| describe himself. Maeda decided this didn't | | | | Helio who developed the technique further due |
| sound right, so he dropped the last syllable | | | | to the fact that he was much smaller than his |
| and changed it to "koma." The word "conde" | | | | brother Carlos, who taught it to him. The |
| comes from the Spanish language, meaning | | | | fact remains that it is basically the same |
| "Count." Later in his life, Maeda would be | | | | Jiu-Jitsu with a few natural variations in |
| given the Brazilian title of "Conte Comte," | | | | teaching methods in the actual application of |
| or Count Combat.Maeda was a champion of Judo | | | | techniques. Robson Gracie created a new |
| and a direct student of its founder, Jigoro | | | | federation in 1988 and Carlos Gracie Jr. |
| Kano, at the Kodokan in Japan. He was born in | | | | created the Confederacao Brasiliera in 1993. |
| 1878, and became a student of Judo in 1897. | | | | Carlos Jr.'s federation is the most active |
| In 1904 Maeda was given the opportunity to | | | | one worldwide and is responsible for the |
| travel to the United States with one of his | | | | development of the World Championships. The |
| teachers, Tsunejiro Tomita. While in the U.S. | | | | idea of the Mundial (World's) is to attract |
| they demonstrated the art of Judo for | | | | foreign competitors in hopes of making |
| Theodore Roosevelt at the White House, and | | | | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu an Olympic sport. This |
| for cadets at the West Point Military | | | | was all done around the time Royce was |
| Academy. This is an exert from Roosevelt's | | | | winning the first UFC (early 1990's) and |
| letters to his children on wrestling and | | | | giving America its first prominent taste of |
| Jiu-jitsu (note the spelling is Jiu-jitsu, | | | | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Members of the Gracie |
| not Jujutsu due to the fact that it is before | | | | family are not the only ones to operate |
| 1950):White House, Feb. 24, 1905. | | | | federations and associations of Brazilian |
| | | | Jiu-Jitsu who may organize tournaments or |
| Darling Kermit: | | | | give rank within the art. In an interview |
| | | | with Andre Pederneiras, a fifth degree black |
| "... I still box with Grant, who has now | | | | belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and founder of |
| become the champion middleweight wrestler of | | | | the Nova Uniao team, he was asked about his |
| the United States. Yesterday afternoon we had | | | | involvement in the promotion of Brazilian |
| Professor Yamashita (Yamashita was | | | | Jiu-Jitsu and organization of the art's first |
| Roosevelt's Jiu-jitsu instructor before Meada | | | | tournament. He stated that he had organized |
| and Tomita had arrived there in the U.S.) up | | | | the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in |
| here to wrestle with Grant. It was very | | | | 1993, then the following questions were |
| interesting, but of course jiu jitsu and our | | | | asked:"What is the difference between the |
| wrestling are so far apart that it is | | | | first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament you |
| difficult to make any comparison between | | | | created and the BJJ Confederation (Carlos |
| them. Wrestling is simply a sport with rules | | | | Jr.'s) Tournament?""Price for one. In my |
| almost as conventional as those of tennis, | | | | tournament, I charged competitors ten dollars |
| while jiu jitsu is really meant for practice | | | | per person and Carlos Gracie Jr. charged |
| in killing or disabling our adversary. In | | | | thirty dollars. I only charged ten dollars, |
| consequence, Grant did not know what to do | | | | but I held the event in an expensive place |
| except to put Yamashita on his back, and | | | | called Club Hebraica. At the time his |
| Yamashita was perfectly content to be on his | | | | tournament was held as the Clube Guanabarra |
| back. Inside of a minute Yamashita had choked | | | | and I know he paid nothing for this |
| Grant, and inside of two minutes more he got | | | | place.""Did you collaborate on this event |
| an elbow hold on him that would have enabled | | | | with the president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| him to break his arm; so that there is no | | | | Confederation, Mr. Carlos Gracie Jr.?""Of |
| question but that he could have put Grant | | | | course not. The confederation did not exist |
| out. So far this made it evident that the jiu | | | | yet when I was putting this tournament |
| jitsu man could handle the ordinary wrestler. | | | | together. After my idea, Carlos Gracie |
| But Grant, in the actual wrestling and | | | | created the Brazilian Confederation and |
| throwing was about as good as the Japanese, | | | | started to make the other Brazilian |
| and he was so much stronger that he evidently | | | | tournaments." |
| hurt and wore out the Japanese. With a little | | | | |
| practice in the art I am sure that one of our | | | | "So basically he made a much greater profit |
| big wrestlers or boxers, simply because of | | | | than you did?""Exactly. I created the |
| his greatly superior strength, would be able | | | | tournament so that all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| to kill any of those Japanese, who though | | | | fighters could compete and have a good time, |
| very good men for their inches and pounds are | | | | not to get rich. Our priorities are were just |
| altogether too small to hold their own | | | | different."(from interview for August |
| against big, powerful, quick men who are as | | | | 2001)JJ Machado on the Gracie Family's |
| well trained."Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) | | | | influence: |
| | | | |
| (Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His | | | | "Carlos Gracie Jr. was our teacher from the |
| Children. 1919. NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S | | | | beginning. When you say Jiu-Jitsu you have to |
| SONS, 1919 NEW YORK: BARTLEBY.COM, 1999)Maeda | | | | link it to the Gracie family. That's the |
| eventually parted ways with Tomita, and | | | | family that started our Jiu-Jitsu style and |
| settled in Brazil. Maeda was staying in Sao | | | | we're just one part of that clan. I think |
| Palo City to help establish a Japanese | | | | that everyone today that knows Brazilian |
| Immigration colony. At this time Brazil held | | | | Jiu-Jitsu learned it, directly or indirectly, |
| the largest population of Japanese people | | | | from a member of the Gracie family. I think |
| outside Japan. He was aided in Brazil by | | | | everyone should be grateful to them for |
| Gastao Gracie, a Brazilian of Scottish | | | | that."A good example of how Brazilian |
| decent, who's first experience with Jiu-Jitsu | | | | Jiu-Jitsu is truly a mixed martial art and |
| was most likely through managing an Italian | | | | not developed PURELY by Gracie family members |
| boxer named Alfredi Leconti, who fought a | | | | is illustrated in a question from an |
| friend of Maeda in November of 1916.For some | | | | Interview with Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti by |
| time in Japan, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu were almost | | | | Kid Pellegro: |
| synonymous. Judo was known as Kano's | | | | |
| Jiu-Jitsu. Regardless, this answers the | | | | "You are one of the few Black Belts from |
| question, "why do they call it Brazilian | | | | Rolls Gracie, what was it like learning from |
| Jiu-Jitsu and not Brazilian Judo?" Because | | | | him?""It was spectacular, Rolls as the best |
| they were essentially the same thing at the | | | | of his time, besides being a great instructor |
| time, remember, the Gracie family was | | | | he was also an incredible person. I trained |
| learning Jiu-Jitsu and Judo while Kano was | | | | with him from '74 until '82 when he died. He |
| still struggling to show the difference | | | | died on June 6th, '82 and I had received my |
| between the two and popularize his art. In | | | | Black Belt in February. He would teach a lot |
| the early 1900's there was very little | | | | of self defense, stand up, and ground |
| difference between the two. In fact, Judo was | | | | fighting, with and without gi. It was a very |
| merely a collection of Jiu-jitsu styles, | | | | complete class. He had started to do |
| whose strongest points were put together to | | | | wrestling, so he added a lot of the wrestling |
| make what then became Judo. The Gracie family | | | | attacks, single leg and double legs |
| was introduced to Judo at a time when the | | | | takedowns. So Rolls revolutionized the |
| Kodokan had recently suffered a great defeat | | | | Jiu-Jitsu with his new positions. As a matter |
| to the grappling style of the Fusen Ryu. This | | | | of fact, the "Triangle" was invented by one |
| can be compared to the Ultimate Fighting | | | | of his students, Sergio Dorileo, Sergio had |
| Championship of the early 1990's, when most | | | | been studying a Japanese book of positions |
| martial artists were attempting to fight | | | | and invented the Triangle. At that time |
| Royce Gracie standing. They would all | | | | everybody would pass the Guard the |
| eventually find themselves on the ground, | | | | traditional way with one hand on the biceps |
| where they were at a loss as to what to do. | | | | and the other hand between the legs and low, |
| Consequently, grappling became very popular | | | | so all of a sudden, if you would try to pass |
| over the next ten years and many styles began | | | | Dorileo's guard you'd end up in a triangle. |
| to incorporate grappling techniques into | | | | What was considered the right way didn't work |
| their curriculum. Royce Gracie was simply | | | | anymore. Can you imagine!!! Everybody had to |
| doing what had already been done in the early | | | | go back and rethink a lot. It was an |
| 1900's by the Fusen Ryu to Judo practitioners | | | | incredible experience, I learned so much from |
| of the Kodokan, so we can easily draw the | | | | Rolls, even the way he warm up the class was |
| conclusion from the experience in our own | | | | special. It was one of the greatest losses in |
| time that when Meada arrived in Brazil, he | | | | my life and it took me years to get over. I |
| was a student of a Kodokan that was adding | | | | still get choked up, to this day, when I |
| "new" grappling techniques to its system.To | | | | reminisce."During the mid 1900's while Vale |
| show gratitude to Gracie for his help in the | | | | Tudo (free-style fighting) was developing in |
| colonization, Maeda taught Gastao's son | | | | Brazil, there were experts of Judo, |
| Carlos the basic techniques of Jiu-Jitsu. | | | | wrestling, capoeira, and boxing mixing |
| Carlos Gracie then taught his brothers | | | | together in these no-rules contests. It is |
| Oswaldo, Jorge, Gastao, and Helio. In 1925 | | | | impossible to think that as these |
| the brothers opened their first school, and | | | | competitions took place, the participants |
| Jiu-Jitsu was cultivated into a more | | | | wouldn't cross-train and "borrow" techniques |
| effective martial art and sport known as | | | | from their competition. This interview, taken |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. What made this version | | | | from Black Belt magazine, illustrates this |
| of Jiu-Jitsu more effective was the constant | | | | point:Black Belt Magazine: "At what point in |
| exposure of its practitioners to real | | | | your jujutsu training did you decide that the |
| situations. Between their own schools, | | | | art's techniques needed modification?"Helio |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players would compete in | | | | Gracie: "I didn't invent the martial art. I |
| a sportive way to keep the techniques of | | | | adapted it to my necessity-what I needed for |
| their art sharp. The Gracie family would | | | | my weight and lack of strength. I learned |
| issue a challenge to all others to fight | | | | jujutsu, but some of the moves required a lot |
| without rules. In these no rules or 'vale | | | | of strength, so I could not use them. I |
| tudo' fights, the Gracie family and their | | | | couldn't get out from some of the positions I |
| students would evaluate the techniques of | | | | learned from my brother because of my lack of |
| their fighting art."If you want to get your | | | | strength and weight. So I developed other |
| face beaten and well smashed, your ___ | | | | ways out."Black Belt Magazine: "Why didn't |
| kicked, and your arms broken, Contact Carlos | | | | anyone before you refine the techniques of |
| Gracie at this address..." | | | | traditional jujutsu into a more effective |
| | | | style?"Helio Gracie: "Because most people who |
| -- Brazilian newspaper ad, circa | | | | practice the martial arts already have |
| 1920sThrough the last fifty years, many | | | | physical strength and ability that I didn't |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools have opened and | | | | have. I needed to create those [techniques]. |
| broken away from the original members of the | | | | This was the only way I had to compensate for |
| Gracie family, making subtle differences in | | | | my lack of strength."No matter where you live |
| styles within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie | | | | or what style of Jiu-Jitsu you practice, we |
| Jiu-Jitsu, Machado Jiu-Jitsu, and Brazilian | | | | all owe some degree of respect to the Gracie |
| Jiu-Jitsu are all different schools of the | | | | Family for introducing us to Brazilian |
| same art. The Gracie family itself has | | | | Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracie family is responsible |
| hundreds of members who do not all associate | | | | for a large part of the modern advancement or |
| with one another.The formal teaching of | | | | improvement of Jiu-Jitsu. The term Gracie |
| Jiu-Jitsu to Brazilians by the Gracie family | | | | Jiu-Jitsu is used to describe the difference |
| began in 1940 when Helio opened an academy in | | | | between the 'old' Jiu-Jitsu (jujutsu |
| Rio. Over the next 18 years, if you wanted to | | | | jujitsu), and the Gracie family's advancement |
| learn Jiu-Jitsu from the Gracie family in | | | | of the art through the 1900's. Now that |
| Brazil, you had a choice of four academies, | | | | 'Gracie Jiu-Jitsu' has spread all over Brazil |
| all of which were located in Rio. The | | | | and to the United States, many champions of |
| Gracie's were not the only one's teaching | | | | the art are being born that are not Gracie |
| Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, but they were | | | | Family members. These champions are |
| certainly the most popular, teaching over | | | | contributing to the art's progression by |
| 2000 students in that 18 year period. A good | | | | improving on techniques and developing new |
| example of this is Mehdi, a Judo master who | | | | ones. The bulk of basic movements may still |
| came to Brazil from France in 1949, and still | | | | be Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, but as the art develops, |
| teaches there now. There have been Judo | | | | the term 'Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu' becomes more |
| schools in Brazil since the early 1900's and | | | | appropriate. As more and more innovators |
| Sao Paulo still has a very large Japanese | | | | contribute to the art outside of Brazil, it |
| population. Mehdi's list of students include | | | | eventually may be appropriate to simply call |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts Mario Sperry, | | | | the art 'Jiu-Jitsu'.For more on this subject, |
| Rickson Gracie, and Sylvio Behring, just to | | | | visit Simco is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black |
| name a few. This is another example of Judo's | | | | Belt and author of several books on the |
| influence on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and that | | | | subject. |