What is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy?

What is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy?

A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy is often the first place a person looks for to begin training in the latest and fastest growing martial art.  So, what is Jiu Jitsu and how does it differ from other Martial arts, such as, Karate or kick-boxing?  To answer that question we first need to understand the history of where the first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy began.


The History of Jiu JItsu Academies

Brazilian Jiu jitsu’s roots stem from traditional Japanese Judo, specifically from a Japanese master learned in the arts of Judo named Esai Maeda or also commonly known as Conde Koma.  Conde Koma was living in Japan before given the opportunity to travel to Brazil around the year 1914 as part of a large Japanese immigration group.  It was in the Northern Brazilian region of Para where Conde Koma first met and became friends with Gastao Gracie.


Enter the Gracie Clan

Gastao Gracie, being a connected businessman, helped Conde Koma to get situated and established in Brazil, and for his efforts Conde Koman taught his knowledge of martial arts to Gastao’s oldest son Carlos Gracie. Carlos Gracie went on to learn from Conde Koman for a few years before he began to teach what he learned to his other brothers.  Helio Gracie was one of the brothers, the youngest son of Gastao, who would learn by watching his brothers go through the martial arts movements.


Helio Gracie and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy

Helio was born with a weaker and more frail body and would often have fainting spells from too much exercise.  It wasn’t until Helio began to instruct the classes, due to a brothers absence one day, that he began to actually practice martial arts; modifying and tweaking the martial arts movements by discovering the use of leverage points and timing versus strength and speed is what transformed Judo into what is now known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Helio went on to win many matches, often against people much heavier and stronger than him, set new records, and win championships.  His refinement of the martial art is what set the precedent of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy you can find today in your local neighborhood mma gyms.

Originally posted 2016-11-02 22:35:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter