Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu History: Is It Brazilian or Japanese?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history: a shared story

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is Brazilian in the form most people train today. Its roots, however, include Japanese jujutsu and Kodokan judo.

That is why a simple “Brazilian or Japanese?” answer misses the point. BJJ is a Brazilian martial art with a Japanese technical heritage. Its history is about travel, teaching, practice and change over time.

Where the Japanese roots begin

In the late nineteenth century, Jigoro Kano established Kodokan judo in Japan. He drew on earlier jujutsu schools and developed a method of training built around repeated practice, controlled resistance and education.

The words used at the time did not always mean exactly what they mean now. In the early twentieth century, “judo”, “jujutsu” and “Kano jujutsu” could overlap in how people described the same family of skills. It is more useful to recognise the connection than to force modern labels onto every historical moment.

The International Judo Federation records that Mitsuyo Maeda was a Kodokan 4th dan who travelled internationally and reached Brazil in 1914. His journey is an important part of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. Read the IJF’s account of Maeda’s travels.

How the art developed in Brazil

Maeda’s teaching helped introduce Japanese grappling methods in Brazil. Carlos Gracie and other early Brazilian teachers then taught, tested and developed those methods in their own setting.

Over decades, academies in Brazil built a distinct culture around positional control, guard work, submissions and regular sparring. Different families, coaches and teams all contributed to that development. That is why BJJ should not be reduced to one person or one simple story.

Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is now practiced around the world. It has its own competition rules, teaching systems and technical language, while still sharing many ideas with judo and other grappling arts.

What beginners can take from the history

You do not need a history lesson before your first class. But knowing the background can make training more interesting.

The art has always changed through careful practice. Good training is not about copying a move from a video. It is about learning a position, trying it with a partner, receiving feedback and improving over time.

At The Kodokan, that means building the basics properly:

• learn how to move safely and look after your training partners;

• understand positions before chasing submissions;

• use control and timing instead of rushing; and

• stay curious when a technique does not work immediately.

Those habits are more useful than trying to settle every argument about who invented what.

Judo and BJJ today

Judo and BJJ are different sports and different training experiences. Judo generally gives more attention to stand-up exchanges and throws under its competition rules. BJJ competition commonly gives more time to ground positions, guard work and submissions.

Both can teach balance, control, discipline and respect for a partner. Neither is “better” in every situation. The right choice depends on what you enjoy, what is available locally and how you want to train.

Many people enjoy understanding both. A strong stand-up base can help a BJJ student. Careful ground training can help a judoka develop confidence in longer grappling exchanges. The important thing is to train in a club where people practise responsibly.

A living tradition

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history is not finished. Every good class adds another small part to it: a coach explaining a detail, partners helping each other improve, and students learning to train with patience.

If you would like to see how BJJ is taught at The Kodokan, you can request a complimentary Introduction. We will talk through the right first step before you book.