The Jiu-Jitsu, or "Gentle Art" was perfected by Buddhist monks in India for over 3500 years ago.

 

According to some historians Jiu-jitsu or "gentle art" was born in India and was practiced by Buddhist monks. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques based upon principles of balance, the body pivot system and levers, avoiding the use of force and weapons. With the expansion of Buddhism, Jiu-Jitsu spread from Southeast Asia to China, finally arriving in Japan where he developed and gained further popularity. From the late nineteenth century, some jiu-jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents, living martial art education and fights and competitions.

 

 Esai Maeda Koma, also known as Count Koma, was one of them. After traveling with a troupe which fought in various countries in Europe and the Americas, arrived in Brazil in 1915 and settled in Belem do Para the next year, where he met Gastao Gracie. The father of eight children, five boys and three girls, Gastao became a jiu-jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos, to learn to fight with the Japanese.For a naturally frail at 15, Carlos Gracie, jiu-jitsu a means of personal fulfillment.

 

At 19, he moved to Rio de Janeiro with family and adopted the profession of fighter and teacher of this martial art.Traveled to Belo Horizonte and then to Sao Paulo, teaching classes and overcome much stronger opponents physically. In 1925, he returned to Rio and opened the first Gracie Academy of Jiu-Jitsu. He invited his brothers Oswaldo and Gastao to advise him and took the creation of smaller George, aged 14, and Hélio, with 12.

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 Since then, Carlos started to share his knowledge to his brothers, adapting and refining the technique to slight physique characteristic of his family.

 

Also taught them his philosophy of life and natural food concepts, being a pioneer in creating a special diet for athletes, the Gracie Diet, transforming the jiu-jitsu synonymous with health.

 

 Having created an efficient self defense system, Carlos Gracie saw in jiu-jitsu a means to become a man more tolerant, respectful and confident. Imbued to prove the superiority of jiu-jitsu and form a family tradition, Carlos challenged the greatest fighters of the era and went on to manage the careers of his brothers.

 

With some changes introduced by Helio Gracie, it was the birth of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu style, also called Jiu-Jitsu Brasileiro (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)

 

 Facing opponents 20, 30 kilos heavier, the Gracies quickly gained recognition and prestige. Attracted to the new market which was opened around Jiu-Jitsu, many Japanese practitioners came to Rio, but none of them formed such a solid school and the Gracie Academy as jiu-jitsu who practiced favored the falls and the Gracie the improvement of the fight on the ground and finishing blows.

 

To modify the international rules of Japanese jiu-jitsu in the fights that he and his brothers performed, Carlos Gracie started the first case of change of nationality of a fight, or sport in world sporting history. Years later, the Japanese martial art became known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, being exported worldwide, including to Japan.

 

 It should be noted that there were other lineagens Jiu-Jitsu with other schools. So were Luis França, Master Fadda, Geo Omori, Ivan Gomes, Takeo Yano, etc.