jiu jitsu

Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport and a self-defense system descended from the ancient Japanese Samurais and was revolutionized by the legendary Gracie family in the early 1900's. Especially instrumental to the art's development was Helio Gracie, the youngest of the five Gracie brothers. Due to his thin and frail physique, he was forced to adapt the techniques he learned, so that a smaller, weaker person could overcome an adversary of greater size and strength. In the prime of his career, Helio Gracie would accept and defeat challenges of much larger, heavier, and stronger men, in his quest to prove the superior effectiveness of Jiu Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes taking an opponent to the ground and utilizing ground techniques and submission holds to stop the confrontation in a non violent fashion. The premise is that most of the advantage of a larger, stronger opponent comes from superior reach and more powerful strikes, both of which are somewhat negated when grappling on the ground.

Made popular in the United States by Brazilian native, Royce Gracie when he appeared on the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Brazilian's modified this grappling art so that the techniques rely on leverage; regardless of strength, speed or stature.