Most people are first exposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) through Mixed Martial Arts, MMA, but that's just the tip of the ice burg. In BJJ this is called Vale Tudo, and can be fought with or without the Gi. The Gi is a traditional garment worn by most in the world of Martial Arts. Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo, wears a much heavier Gi then other fighting form because of its purpose. If a light cotton Gi was worn, as the case is with Tae Kwon Do, it would be rendered useless in a matter of minutes.

The art of Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to Brazil in the early 1900's by Mitsuyo Maeda aka Conde Koma, a Judo (Judoka) expert. The fact that a Judo expert brought a style that now relies more on ground submission, then its parent which focused more on taking the opponent down is not spoken of. Although was no clear distinction between Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu in the past, the current styles could not be more separate. There is no other sport or martial art that I can think of where focus on one aspect is taken, studied, and applied as these two are.

For instance if you watch a Judo match you will see one third of this art, yet it's so effective it has its own belt structure. If you are a black belt in Judo the move to Stand up Jiu-Jitsu you will be a white belt, same thing happens with you move to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, three separate systems from one. Each variation as effective as its sibling; each as difficult to learn; so much so that people spend a life time learning just one of them.

How did Judo transform into the ground Jiu-Jitsu that is commonly known today? The Gracie family took the judo taught to them by Conde Koma, and began developing & evolving the ground portion of Judo during the early to mid 1900's mainly in Vale Tudo matches. The Vale Tudo matches routinely found their way to the ground, where larger opponents fell subject to leverage and technique. It was only a natural progression to focus on this aspect.

A large population will accredit Helio Gracie as the founder, where others will give that title to his older brother Carlos Gracie. Either way you cannot mention one without the other. Helio will credit Carlos with teaching him, but Helio is the one responsible for bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the level we see currently. The debate is: Did the person who made Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu what we now know it as found the art? Or did his teacher found it? That is an answer your research will have to give you.

No matter what the outcome of your investigation is you cannot deny the effectiveness of this system. MMA fighters that have the smallest amount of this style dominate. There have been fights where strikers learn just enough to get off the ground and become a force to reason with. If an example is needed we'll use Chuck Lidell, his punching power alone is enough to stop a great many people, couple that with his ability to get back to his feet and you've got a world class MMA fighter.

In closing, Brazilian Jiut-Jitsu is the fastest growing Martial art because of its overall usefulness. It takes portions of stand up Jiu-Jitsu, as well as Judo, brings them together in a complete package, but does not stop there. As the world of Martial Arts evolves to counter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it evolves to remain dominant, absorbing the best striking, take down, and submissions, while modifying the foundations efficiency.

I hope I was able to share something with you. Please feel free to share with me; I enjoyed writing what little I know.