The sport and martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on fighting on the ground and on holds and grapples.mixed martial arts It has followed an unusual course in the last 80 years. Almost all the MMA fighters are trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu due to its success in MMA and UFC.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has a very long history, it goes back through the Gracie family to their original teacher, Mitsuyo Maeda and his training in the Kodokan

Kodokan Judo which originated in Japan, reigned supreme for many years, this judo techniques were composed of stand up throwing methods. Mataemon Tanabe challenged the Kodokan in the 19th century. He was the leader and master of the beginning Jiu Jitsu, called Fusen Ryu. Fusen ryu fighters were expert in fighting on ground, which the Kodokan lacked. The importances of dramatic ground fighting techniques are best exemplified by the Kodokan-Fusen Ryu matches. For this reason, Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, invited Tanabe to teach ground grappling. The Ground fighting technique became very famous at the Kodokan, all the students started practicing the ground grappling techniques.

Mitsuyo Maeda got trained in Judo around the same time and became a martial arts prodigy. Maedo was a member of the Kodokan school of Judo. Maeda was one of the members selected by Kano to send overseas to spread his art to the world. Maeda was sent to U.S.A. to put the word out about Kodokan Judo in 1904. He traveled the world and saw beautiful places like Great Britain, northern Europe, Cuba, and Mexico. There he would compete against various fighters from different disciplines. On November 1914, Maeda visited Brazil and moved there. Maeda had fought over 1000 fights as a professional fighter without losing anyone.