Jiu jitsu was very popular in Japan, however many historians find India as the country where it first appeared. Many centuries before Christ, the Indian monks lived under a lot of pressure of crooks that surrounded the monasteries and attacked itineraru groups. Because of their religion convictions and beliefs, they did not use physical force to defend themselves. Besides that, praying all day long did not give them a privileged strong body. The only solution was to use a fighting technique that was based in base and crank movements. The new martial arts worked so well that the monks were able to stop extermination and passed their knowledge on to their neighbors, China.

Jiu Jitsu was easily accepted by the Chinese and its techniques were used in the army of Emperor Chin Shih Huang Ti, the commander that ruled the Chinese reign between 221 to 206 B.C. According to an old oriental legend, the religious Chinese Chen Gen Pin taught the warriors technique to three samurai. Each one learned a different feature: immobilization, twisting and projection which was passed on to the Japanese. According to different records, Jiu Jitsu arrived in Japan during the Second Century A.C. Initially, the learning process of this style was only allowed among Nobles and samurais, but the acceptance of this martial arts by the Japanese was immediate.

Very soon Jiu Jitsu was the most practiced fight in the country and further studies of this martial arts have caused the appearance of new moves and strokes. Punches and kicks were used when more than 700 different Jiu jitsu styles coexisted. In the end of the nineteenth century, Judo was an official sport in Japan and Jiu jitsu was a banned practice. The government suppressed this fight as may have happened to Capoeira during colonial Brazil. The style was kept in secret, by the rich and the poor. Mitsu Maeda, Known as Count Koma, was a Judô and Jiu Jtsu master and he was the one responsible for creating the great relationship between martial arts. In 1914, a diplomatic mission brought Maeda to Belém, in Brazil, where he met Gastão Gracie. This Brazilian was very interested in Martial Arts and Maeda placed his trust in him. He, then became his son’s instructor and Carlos Gracie was the first Brazilian to directly experiment Jiu Jitsu.

Soon, the apprentice became a master and moved to Rio de Janeiro. In Rio de Janeiro, Hélio Gracie who was Carlos’ brother learned this martial art that old Count Koma had taught Carlos. And it was through Helio that this Martial art went around India, China and Japan and found its most definite and complete version. Helio went back to the essence of the Hindi Monks, in which he regained defense, focusing on the victory of the weaker and making it possible for people of any physical characteristic to practice it.

The old Chinese warriors and samurai combat situations were also inserted by the Japanese. Never had a fight been so refined during such a short period. If Helio Gracie had had the American marketing strategies, he would have shared world popularity with Bruce Lee at the time. Well it was just a matter of time… It looked like a movie script, but it was not one. During the first half of the 90’s a huge event gathered different practioners of many martial arts styles for a championship with no weight categories or any type of rule. The news was that this championship happened in the U.S and this news was spread around the world. So the first Ultimate Fighting Championship was a big event with lights and special effects and with the works Americans love.

The lights were turned to the American fighters, specially the anabolic Ken Shamrock. No one payed much attention to a young Brazilian in his 20’s that wore a white kimono. He was not as strong and his style was not well known. However, Helio’s son, Royce Gracie won this championship with no sweat. He defeated Shamrock in 57 seconds. It was then, the beginning of a revolution. His brothers, Rickson, Rorion, Renzo, Royler, and Rolker went around all prize rings of the world establishing a new concept in the world of martial arts. The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not choreographed, and it does not inspire movies with “Kiais”, but it is the most perfect and efficient way of self defense ever created.