Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport which concentrates on ground fighting. Its path over the past eight decades has been curious indeed.fedor emelianenko vs andrei arlovski Almost all the MMA fighters are trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu due to its success in MMA and UFC.

The history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu goes back to the original teacher of the Gracie family, Mitsuyo Maeda. He received training in Kodokan, Japan, the birthplace of Judo.

Kodokan Judo which originated in Japan, reigned supreme for many years, this judo techniques were composed of stand up throwing methods. A man named Mataemon Tanabe challenged the Kodokan around the Nineteenth Century. He was the headmaster of classical Jiu Jitsu, the Fusen Ryu. The Fusen Ryu fighters were experts in one thing that the Kodokan lacked: fighting on the ground. The Kodokan-Fusen Ryu matches highlighted the importance of ground fighting techniques in a dramatic fashion. Hence the Judo founder, Jigoro Kano invited Tanabe to teach ground grappling. All the students started practicing the ground grappling techniques and the technique became very famous at the Kodokan.

Around the same time, Mitsuyo Maeda was trained in Judo and became a martial arts prodigy. He was the member Kodokan. Maeda was one of the members selected by Kano to send overseas to spread his art to the world. Maeda was sent to U.S.A. to put the word out about Kodokan Judo in 1904. He traveled the world. There he would compete against various fighters from different disciplines. Maeda decided to settle in Brazil in November 1914. Maeda had fought over 1000 fights without losing to anyone.