| Tri Town Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy |
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WHAT IS BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU?
The story of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu begins back in the early 1900's. The Japanese government was eager to
set up a Japanese colony in Brazil. To help lead this venture, they sent over a man named Esai Maeda,
also known as "Count Koma".Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian politician, befriended Maeda and helped him
and his new venture. As a show of gratitude, Maeda agreed to teach Gastão's eldest son Carlos, the
secrets of the Japanese martial art; Jiu Jitsu. Maeda happened to be a former champion back in
Japan, and proved to be a very effective teacher. Carlos, a teenager, trained under the watchful eyes of
Maeda for the next few years. As fate , in 1923 Maeda returned back to his homelands and left Carlos
alone with no master.
The story of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu begins back in the early 1900's. The Japanese government was eager to
set up a Japanese colony in Brazil. To help lead this venture, they sent over a man named Esai Maeda,
also known as "Count Koma".Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian politician, befriended Maeda and helped him
and his new venture. As a show of gratitude, Maeda agreed to teach Gastão's eldest son Carlos, the
secrets of the Japanese martial art; Jiu Jitsu. Maeda happened to be a former champion back in
Japan, and proved to be a very effective teacher. Carlos, a teenager, trained under the watchful eyes of
Maeda for the next few years. As fate , in 1923 Maeda returned back to his homelands and left Carlos
alone with no master.
Carlos Gracie and his master "Count koma"
THE CREATION PROCESS
Carlos, needing someone to train with, had taught his younger brother Helio the art. Together, these
resilient brothers morphed Jiu Jitsu more and more each day into something that would eventually
change the martial arts world forever. Neither Carlos or Helio were men of great size or strength.
Especially Helio, a frail boy who often weighed around 140 pounds or so. Because of this, they based
many of their modifications on position and leverage rather than size and strength. The concept behind
their creations were that a smaller, weaker man could effectively win in a fight against a bigger,
stronger man.
The mean streets of Brazil acted as very good testing grounds for these new modifications.Tested
over and over again in challenge matches and professional Vale Tudo (No holds barred) fights, these
new fighting techniques proved to be the most effective form of self defense around.
Carlos, needing someone to train with, had taught his younger brother Helio the art. Together, these
resilient brothers morphed Jiu Jitsu more and more each day into something that would eventually
change the martial arts world forever. Neither Carlos or Helio were men of great size or strength.
Especially Helio, a frail boy who often weighed around 140 pounds or so. Because of this, they based
many of their modifications on position and leverage rather than size and strength. The concept behind
their creations were that a smaller, weaker man could effectively win in a fight against a bigger,
stronger man.
The mean streets of Brazil acted as very good testing grounds for these new modifications.Tested
over and over again in challenge matches and professional Vale Tudo (No holds barred) fights, these
new fighting techniques proved to be the most effective form of self defense around.
Helio Gracie, training with older brother Carlos
THE GRACIE FAMILY
Learning that 95% of any real street fight will end up on the ground, the Gracie brothers concentrated on
developing the most effective grappling art form to date. The result of the past 70+ years of this
development has become known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Even though the roots of the art stem from the
traditional Japanese form of Jiu Jitsu, the Gracie family's effective renditions have proven to the world
that it is to be considered a form of it's own.
Carlos and Helio both had many children. These children were basically raised and taught the art of
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. To this day, you can find them continuing to prove the effectiveness of this art in many
of the most popular events in the world. Just to name a few... Rickson Gracie holds an amazing
undefeated record in over 400 Vale tudo fights to date. Royce Gracie not only won the first Ultimate
fighting championships ever, but continued to go undefeated and won 2 more UFC's after after that! Royler
Gracie, winner of some of the most prestigious grappling tournaments in the world, continues to be a top
competitor everywhere.
Royce victorious at the UFC. Rickson
doing what he does best - winning
doing what he does best - winning