What is jiu-Jitsu?
Jiu-Jitsu is closer to wrestling then karate. Jiu-Jitsu uses ground control and series of chokes and joint locks to control opponents. The number one principal of jiu-jitsu is that using timing , technique and leverage anyone even a smaller weaker person can defeat a much larger opponent. Making Jiu-Jitsu the choice for military and law enforcement.
No one knows for sure the origins of jiu-jitsu, but it is widely known that all ancient cultures have, as part of their history and culture, participated in some form of grappling. One of the earliest forms of jiu-jitsu, Jiandidi, can be traced back to the Native Americans and Mongolians, and the roots of modern jiu-jitsu can be traced back to pankration. It is believed that circa 320 BC, Roman conquers brought pankration to India, and pankration made its way to China in the form of Wushu; and then Wushu started to be gradually developed into jiu-jitsu around the fall of the Ming dynasty. Around the same time, during Japan’s feudal period, jiu-jitsu was being refined and mastered by Japan; however, Japan would later take judo, itself nation’s martial art.
Over the course of time in Japan Jiu-Jitsu was evolving. The Japanese shaped, molded and created many different variations of the art (Jiu-Jitsu) including: Karate, Aikido, and Judo. Jiu-Jitsu being the choice of the Samurai for its combative format and reality technquics.But when the day of the Samurai came to an end, the gun replaced the sword and new sportive ways to practice martial arts were developed, Judo replacing Jiu-Jitsu.
Jiu-Jitsu as the world now knows it real, true, genuine Jiu-Jitsu lay dormant for many years, and what is now known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had not yet been created: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had yet to be established by the Gracies. It wasn't until the sportive art of Judo and the combat art of Jiu-Jitsu were introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil that the real, true, genuine art of Jiu-Jitsu was brought back to life. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, which was practiced as Judo, was introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil in 1915, by Esai Maeda, who is also known as Conde Koma.
Through the last fifty years, many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools have opened and broken away from the original members of the Gracie family. Each school created slight changes to suit their needs, each change created subtle differences in styles within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There are many different schools that follow this same art, such as: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Machado Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracie family itself has hundreds of members who practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and who do not all associate with one another.
Then along came 1990 when America was introduced to Brazilin or Gracie jujitsu. Americans watched a 170 lb man defeat fighters twice his size. The man was Royce Gracie, and he practiced BJJ. Americans flocked to Brazilin jujitsu. Twenty years later, Americans have adapted what they learned, what they deemed effective, and created their own jujitsu. American jiu-jitsu.
