What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport focused on ground fighting, leverage, and submission techniques. Unlike striking arts, BJJ emphasizes controlling an opponent through joint locks, chokes, and positional dominance. It teaches practitioners how to neutralize larger, stronger opponents by using technique, timing, and leverage rather than brute strength.

BJJ is widely recognized for its practical self-defense applications, competitive sport format, and benefits for fitness, coordination, and mental focus. At Elite Training Center, students gain a safe, structured environment to learn and apply these skills, whether for self-defense, sport, or personal development.

You can learn more about training in BJJ on our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes page.

Origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu originated in the early 20th century when Japanese Judo master Mitsuyo Maeda brought his knowledge of Judo and classical Japanese Jujitsu to Brazil. Maeda taught the art to Carlos Gracie, who, along with his brothers, refined the techniques into what became Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Who are the Gracies in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

The Gracie family is a legendary lineage of martial artists who played a central role in shaping modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Building on the foundation taught by Maeda, Carlos and Helio Gracie, along with other family members, adapted traditional techniques to emphasize leverage, control, and ground fighting, allowing smaller or less physically strong practitioners to defend themselves effectively. How did the Gracie family develop Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Through continuous refinement, practical testing in real combat situations, and strategic innovation, they created a system that became the cornerstone of BJJ and later influenced the global rise of Mixed Martial Arts. Today, the Gracie name is synonymous with both BJJ and the early evolution of MMA worldwide.

The Gracie family focused on real-world effectiveness, creating techniques designed to work against resisting opponents of all sizes. This emphasis on leverage, submissions, and ground control distinguished BJJ from other martial arts and laid the foundation for its role in modern Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

Evolution and Global Influence

Over the decades, BJJ spread globally as the Gracies challenged fighters of all styles and demonstrated the effectiveness of ground-based techniques. The art gained international recognition through the early Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, where Royce Gracie showcased that a smaller practitioner could defeat larger opponents using skill, technique, and strategy.

Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to evolve, integrating sport competition rules, advanced positional strategies, and cross-training with other martial arts. Its influence extends into MMA, self-defense training, and fitness programs, making it both a practical and competitive discipline worldwide.

Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Stands Out

• Focuses on technique, leverage, and strategy over raw strength

• Practical self-defense for real-world scenarios

• Improves fitness, endurance, flexibility, and coordination

• Suitable for all ages and skill levels

• Integral to MMA and grappling-based competition

Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Redondo Beach

Experience authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Elite Training Center with guidance from certified instructors. Classes provide hands-on training in technique, sparring, and strategy, helping students develop confidence, discipline, and practical self-defense skills.