There are several categories under the martial arts heading; below are different styles. The four types of martial art are Brazilian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, with Taekwondo, Karate, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu being some of the styles that make up each category.
However, when we talk about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we talk about a form of martial arts that focuses on grappling”. It has gained popularity in many parts of the world, and fans can add it to their list as they engage in sports betting online.
This form of martial arts is where every fighter’s goal is to seize the close range of their opponent by pinning them to the mat through complex techniques and strategies. Continue reading our article below for more details and facts about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
History and Origins of BJJ
To detail the whole history and origin of BJJ, we must go back to Japan because the earliest form was founded, used, and developed by Japanese samurai as a last method of defense in battle.
Back then, in the late 1800s, Judo expert Jigoro Kano founded a school that is called the Kodokan. It is where a group of pupils were taught different valuable tactics to use in their fighting.
However, only when one of the school’s students (Mitsuyo Maeda) decided to go on a trip to Brazil did BJJ begin to take shape. Maeda took his knowledge of judo and made refinements and adjustments. Eventually, BJJ was birthed out of the revolutions that this Japanese-born fighter created.
Maeda left Japan in 1904 and visited several countries, not only Brazil, giving “jiu-do” demonstrations. He accepted challenges from boxers, wrestlers, savage fighters, and other martial artists before he arrived in Brazil on the 14th of November, 1914.
Many people claimed the fight was developed after the end of World War 2, which was around September 1945 and the Summer of 1946.
The Samurai Years and its Influence on BJJ
The story of BJJ begins in Japan, where an early form of Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Ju-Jitsu, was established for use in the field of battle by Japanese samurai. These warriors engaged in armed battles on horseback and developed Jiu-Jitsu as the last line of defense when they were disarmed and stirring.
However, the heavy armor the samurai wore restricted their mobility, joint locks, making chokes, and throws preferable to striking techniques. As time passed, Japanese jiu-jitsu branched into several different styles, shifting gradually from armed combat to general self-defense.
While each style is for certain aspects, the focus on throws, joint locks, and strangles remains a constant theme.
The Gracie Family and Their Influence on BJJ
The Gracie family is known to be the main family to promote Brazilian jiu-jitsu as it is known today. Another prominent lineage was obtained from Maeda via another Brazilian disciple, Luiz Franca.
Gasto Gracie was the American Circus business partner in Belem and had many sons.
In 1917, Carlos Gracie, the eldest son of Gastao Gracie, watched the ‘Kano Jiu-Jitsu’ demonstration by Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre, and he decided to learn.
However, Maeda accepted Carlos as one of his students. He taught him for several years and eventually passed his knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu to his younger brothers.
Gracie’s account of the events is that one of his younger siblings, Helio Gracie developed Gracie’s account gradually as a softer, pragmatic adaptation focusing more on ground fighting and leveraging aspects of Jiu-Jitsu.
The Importance of Proper Breathing Technique
Breath control is everything in martial arts, but when it comes to BJJ breathing techniques, you will run into different ones. One of the techniques that come to your mind is Rickson Gracie in the documentary “Choke.” He sits on a beach doing all these groovy things with his abdomen, reminiscent of a scene from “Alien.”
He is controlling his breath and going to very specific breaths in sequence. In Rickson’s scenario, it is a breathing method borrowed from Yoga, and its contribution to BJJ is far more outstanding in the breathing domain than in the physical ones. So you can apply two main ways to practice BJJ breathing techniques.
One of the ways is using a specific BJJ breathing system to roll and compete. Another way is practicing your breath outside of rolling. For example, you can practice somewhere in nature or in a calm spot at home. Proper breathing techniques help you lower blood pressure, expand lung capacity, and increase clarity and focus.
Purpose of BJJ
The primary purpose of BJJ is survival. More than beating your opponents or learning a proper technique, Jiu-jitsu is a form of self-defense that teaches professionals how to survive a fight. It could be a street fight or during an MMA match.
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