Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a ground-based martial art and combat sport that teaches smaller, weaker individuals to defeat larger, stronger opponents through leverage, technique and positional control. Born from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, refined in Brazil by the Gracie family, and exploded globally after UFC 1 in 1993 - BJJ is today one of the most widely practised and respected martial arts in the world, and the foundation of modern MMA.

From Japan to Brazil: The Origin Story

The story of BJJ begins in Japan in the late 19th century. Jigoro Kano developed Judo from traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu in 1882, creating a more systematic and safer form of grappling. One of Kano's most gifted students was Mitsuyo Maeda - a relentless competitor who travelled the world demonstrating Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in challenge matches across Europe and the Americas.

In 1914, Maeda arrived in Brazil. There he met Gastao Gracie, a local businessman who helped him settle in the country. In return, Maeda taught Jiu-Jitsu to Gastao's eldest son Carlos Gracie. Carlos went on to teach his brothers - including the youngest, Helio.

Helio Gracie and the Birth of BJJ

Helio Gracie was a frail child who could not perform the more physical Judo techniques. Out of necessity, he began modifying them - emphasising leverage, timing and body mechanics over strength. These adaptations became the philosophical and technical foundation of what would become Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: a system designed for the physically smaller or weaker person to survive and submit a larger opponent on the ground.

Helio proved his system by fighting some of the toughest men alive - including a famous 3 hour 45 minute draw with Japanese judoka Masahiko Kimura in 1951. Kimura was so impressed he offered Helio a scholarship to Japan. The double-shoulder lock Kimura used to finally defeat him is still known worldwide as 'the Kimura' in his honour.

UFC 1 and the Global Explosion

The Gracie family had a tradition of open challenge matches - 'vale-tudo' fights - to prove the effectiveness of their system. In 1993, Royce Gracie - son of Helio - entered the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament in Denver, Colorado. The concept was simple: pit fighters from different disciplines against each other with minimal rules.

Royce won UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 - often defeating opponents much larger than himself - by taking fights to the ground and submitting them with techniques most fighters had never encountered. The world watched in disbelief as a slender Brazilian in a gi choked out wrestlers, boxers and kickboxers. Almost overnight, BJJ became the most talked-about martial art on the planet.

The message was clear: if you did not know ground fighting, you were incomplete as a fighter. Every serious MMA gym in the world added BJJ to their curriculum. The sport never looked back.

The Evolution of BJJ

1990s - The MMA Revolution: Royce Gracie's UFC dominance puts BJJ on the map. Gracie Barra, Alliance and Carlson Gracie teams begin producing world-class competitors.

2000s - Sport BJJ Grows: The IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) standardises competition. The World Championships in Rio de Janeiro become the sport's most prestigious event. Black belt divisions become fiercely competitive.

2010s - No-Gi and Submission Only: A new generation pushes the sport toward no-gi competition and submission-only formats. Polaris, Quintet, EBI and ADCC grow in prestige. Grapplers like Gordon Ryan, Craig Jones and Garry Tonon redefine what elite grappling looks like.

2020s - Global Mainstream: BJJ academies exist in virtually every country. The sport attracts mainstream athletes, celebrities and recreational practitioners in the millions. It is now the fastest-growing martial art in the Western world.

Training in BJJ

BJJ training is divided into two main formats: Gi (with the traditional kimono jacket and trousers) and No-Gi (shorts and rash guard). Both are widely practised, with No-Gi increasingly dominant at elite competition level.

A typical class covers positional drilling, technique instruction and live sparring (called 'rolling'). Rolling is a defining feature of BJJ culture - full resistance sparring from day one, which accelerates learning and builds genuine combat competence.

The belt system runs: White - Blue - Purple - Brown - Black. Progress is slow and deliberate. A black belt typically requires 8-12 years of consistent training. Unlike many martial arts, BJJ belts are notoriously difficult to earn and are a genuine mark of technical mastery.

Core techniques include: guard passing and retention, mount and back control, sweeps, takedowns, chokes (rear naked, guillotine, triangle, bow-and-arrow), and joint locks (armbar, kimura, omoplata, heel hook). Modern BJJ places heavy emphasis on leg locks, particularly in No-Gi competition.

BJJ in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has embraced BJJ rapidly, driven largely by the country's world-class MMA and kickboxing infrastructure. Many top Dutch MMA fighters - including those from teams like Xtreme Couture Amsterdam, Fight Academy and Golden Glory - incorporated BJJ early as the ground component of their MMA game.

The Dutch BJJ scene has grown into a serious competition community, with academies in every major city and a strong presence at European IBJJF events. The combination of Dutch striking excellence and solid BJJ produces a particularly dangerous breed of MMA fighter.

Gi vs No-Gi - Two Worlds, One Art

BJJ exists in two parallel competitive worlds: Gi and No-Gi. In Gi BJJ, fighters wear the traditional kimono (gi) - a cotton jacket and trousers designed to withstand gripping. The gi creates a completely different tactical landscape: collar chokes, lapel guards and sleeve control are foundational, and the friction of the fabric slows the game, rewarding patience and technical precision.

No-Gi BJJ is fought in rashguard and shorts with no fabric to grip. The pace is faster, leg locks are more central (particularly heel hooks in modern No-Gi competition), and the game rewards athleticism and dynamic scrambling. The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is No-Gi's premier event - widely considered the hardest tournament in grappling to win.

Gordon Ryan - multiple ADCC champion and absolute winner - represents the peak of modern No-Gi BJJ. His system, built around back attacks and leg lock entries under coach John Danaher, has redefined what elite No-Gi competition looks like and influenced an entire generation of grapplers worldwide.

BJJ Competition - IBJJF and Beyond

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) is the dominant Gi competition organiser globally, running the World Championship (Mundials) in Long Beach, the European Championship in Lisbon, the Pan-American Championship and dozens of major open tournaments. IBJJF competition is the main pathway for Gi BJJ competitors at every belt level.

Beyond IBJJF, the professional grappling circuit - Who's Number One (WNO), Polaris, Quintet, Fight to Win and others - provides high-profile No-Gi events with prize money and production values that have brought grappling to mainstream audiences for the first time.

BJJ Gear Guide

Gi: The traditional BJJ kimono. Must be sturdy enough to withstand gripping and pulling. Look for single or double weave construction in cotton or pearl weave. IBJJF competitions have specific colour and fit requirements (white, blue or black for most divisions).

Rashguard: Worn under the gi or alone for No-Gi. Compresses muscles, protects skin from mat burns and reduces bacteria transfer. Long or short sleeve depending on preference.

Spats / BJJ Shorts: For No-Gi training. Spats provide compression and mat protection. Board shorts or fight shorts are worn over them in competition.

Mouthguard: Essential for sparring. Protects teeth and jaw during scrambles and accidental contact.

Ear protection: Optional but recommended for those training regularly, to prevent cauliflower ear from mat pressure and friction.