Japanese old style jujutsu, or Nihon Koryu Jujutsu, dates back to the Muromachi period in Japan between 1333 and 1573. This old style of martial arts training was focused on teaching the unarmed or very lightly armed warrior to fight a heavily armed warrior. This eventually led to the teaching of a significant amount of grappling, throwing, restraining and weaponry skills to Samurai.
The term jujutsu began to take hold in the 17th century. At the time, it described all of the grappling-related disciplines in Japan that were used and taught by the Samurai. The name "jujutsu" means the "art of softness", ''the gentle art'' or "way of yielding."
Eventually, jujutsu evolved, changing with the times to the Nihon jujutsu seen today.
Generally, this more contemporary style is termed Edo jūjutsu, since it was founded during the Edo period. The striking in these styles is not designed to be effective against armor since no one really wears armor anymore. However, it would be effective against a plain-clothed person.
Japanese Jiu-Jitsu (practiced as Judo) was introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil around 1914 by Mitsuyo Maeda, who was also known as Conde Koma. Maeda was a champion and a direct student of Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo at the Kodokan in Japan. In 1914, Maeda was given the opportunity to travel to Brazil as part of a large Japanese immigration colony. In Brazil, in the northern state of Para, he befriended Gastão Gracie, an influential businessman, who helped Maeda get established. To show his gratitude, Maeda offered to teach traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu to Gastão’s oldest son, Carlos Gracie. Carlos learned for a few years and eventually passed his knowledge to his brothers, including his youngest brother, Helio.
THE BIRTH OF GRACIE JIU-JITSU
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was born in Brazil in the 1920s when Carlos Gracie learned Japanese Judo/Jujutsu from Mitsuyo Maeda and adapted it for self-defense. Frail brother Hélio Gracie modified the techniques to rely on leverage rather than strength, allowing smaller people to defeat larger opponents. The first academy opened in 1925 in Rio de Janeiro.
THE GRACIE CHALLENGES 1920s- 1990s
The family used these challenges to refine their system through trial and error in real fights.
The Original Offer: Carlos Gracie first issued the challenge in Rio de Janeiro, inviting anyone regardless of size or style to fight a Gracie representative.
Vale Tudo Roots: These fights were often "Vale Tudo" (Portuguese for "anything goes"), featuring no rounds, no time limits, and victory only by knockout or submission.
Gracies in Action: Rorion Gracie later moved to the U.S. and filmed "Gracie Challenge" matches in his garage, selling them on VHS tapes titled Gracies in Action to promote the art.
A Scientific Test: The family viewed these bouts not just as sport, but as a "scientific validation" that technique and leverage could overcome brute strength.
UFC 1: The Ultimate Proof (1993)
Rorion Gracie co-founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) specifically as a massive, televised Gracie Challenge to determine which martial art was superior.
The Representative: The family chose Royce Gracie, the slight and unassuming younger brother, to show that you didn't need to be a giant to win.
The Tournament: In a single night, Royce defeated three opponents from different martial arts backgrounds.
The Impact: Royce's victory proved that most traditional martial arts had no answer for ground fighting. It revolutionized combat sports, making Jiu-Jitsu an essential component of what would become Modern MMA.
RICKSON GRACIE: The "Family Champion"
Rickson was Hélio Gracie's third son and was groomed from childhood to be the family's primary defender.
The Best in the Family: Royce himself famously stated that while he was a great fighter, Rickson was at an entirely different level.
Rickson Gracie is an 8th-degree coral belt and retired mixed martial artist widely considered the greatest practitioner of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ). While his brother Royce represented the family in the early UFC, Rickson was their internal champion, renowned for his undefeated record and "modern samurai" persona.
His teaching philosophy, often called "Invisible Jiu-Jitsu," shifts the focus from learning hundreds of "flashy" sport techniques to mastering a small set of refined, pressure-based concepts.
The Jiu-Jitsu Global Federation (JJGF)
In 2012, Rickson founded the Jiu Jitsu Global Federation to preserve the art's original self-defense roots. Through the JJGF, he promotes a standardized curriculum that prioritizes technical effectiveness and the "warrior's way" over winning medals in point-based competitions.