About Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | About Cia Paulista

History of Jiu-Jitsu

Some historians of Jiu-Jitsu say that the origins of "the gentle art" can be traced back to India, where it was practiced by Buddhist Monks. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques based upon principles of balance and leverage, and a system of manipulating the body in a manner where one could avoid relying upon strength or weapons. With the expansion of Buddhism, Jiu-Jitsu spread from Southeast Asia to China, finally arriving in Japan where it developed and gained further popularity.

In the last days of the 19th century, some Jiu-Jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents, teaching the martial arts as well as taking part in fights and competitions.

Esai Maeda Koma, also known as "Conde Koma," was one such master. After traveling with a troupe which fought in various countries in Europe and the Americas, Koma arrived in Brazil in 1915, and settled in Belem do Para the next year, where he met a man named Gastao Gracie.
The father of eight children, Gastao became a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos, to learn from the Japanese master.

For the frail young Gracie, Jiu-Jitsu became a method not simply for fighting, but for personal improvement. At nineteen, he moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family and began teaching and fighting. In his travels, Carlos would teach classes, and also proved the efficiency of the art by beating opponents who were physically stronger. In 1925, he returned to Rio and opened the first school, known as the "Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu."

Carlos started to share his knowledge with his brothers, adapting and refining the techniques to the naturally weaker characteristics of his family. Carlos also taught them his philosophies of life and his concepts of natural nutrition. Eventually, Carlos became a pioneer in creating a special diet for athletes, "the Gracie diet," which transformed Jiu-Jitsu into a term synonymous with health.

Having created an efficient self defense system, Carlos Gracie saw in the art a way to become a man who was more tolerant, respectful, and self-confident. With a goal of proving Jiu-Jitsu’s superiority over other martial arts, Carlos challenged the greatest fighters of his time. He also managed the fighting careers of his brothers. Because they were fighting and defeating opponents fifty or sixty pounds heavier, the Gracies quickly gained recognition and prestige.

Attracted to the new market which was opened around Jiu-Jitsu, many Japanese practitioners came to Rio, but none were able to establish schools as successful as the Gracies’. This was due to the fact that the Japanese stylists were more focused on takedowns and throws, and the Jiu-Jitsu the Gracies practiced had more sophisticated ground fighting and submission techniques. Carlos and his brothers changed and adapted the techniques in such a way that it completely altered the complexion of the international Jiu-Jitsu principles.
These techniques were so distinctive to Carlos and his brothers that the sport became attached to a national identity, and is now commonly known as "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu," practiced by martial artists all over the world, including Japan.

With the creation of an official governing body to oversee the administration of the sport, including competition rules and the grading system, the era of sport Jiu-Jitsu competitions was started.

About Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Here’s what André says about Brazilian jiu-jitsu vs. Japanese jiu-jitsu (also called jujutsu):

“The Japanese developed it, but the Brazilians perfected it.”

No wonder every great champion in UFC has a background in jiu-jitsu!

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came from "judo.” In the early 1900's, Judo was being developed from a variety of Jiu-Jitsu styles in order to make it the most complete and effective martial art in the world. When you say Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you are referring to the best techniques from a wide variety of styles. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has a very sophisticated ground-game, where Japanese Jiu-Jitsu places importance on standing techniques, as does Judo. Judo as a sport does not allow leg locks, where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is simple to learn, so simple that a dedicated student of one year can easily beat martial artists of other styles who have many years of experience.

Some styles of martial arts spend hundreds of hours working on a rigid stance and one hundred standing techniques that cannot possibly be mastered in a reasonable amount of time. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on techniques that are easy to learn in a very short period of time. The techniques taught in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are extremely effective and have been tested on knowledgeable martial artists who are not cooperating.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a progressive style of Jiu-Jitsu; once a technique is developed and used in competition, other Jiu-Jitsu players begin to design counters to that technique, and counters to those counters, which allows Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to evolve freely. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players do not prepare for the untrained opponent; they assume that their opponent may be more technical.

The Gracie Connection

No matter where you live or what style of Jiu-Jitsu you practice, we all owe some degree of respect to the Gracie Family for introducing us to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracie family is responsible for a large part of the modern advancement or improvement of Jiu-Jitsu. The term Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is used to describe the difference between the "old" Jiu-Jitsu (jujutsu/jujitsu), and the Gracie family's advancement of the art through the 1900's.

Now that "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" has spread all over Brazil and to the United States, many champions of the art are being born that are not Gracie Family members. This includes André Glodzinski, although André can trace his training lineage back to the Gracies.

These champions are contributing to the art's progression by improving on techniques and developing new ones.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Today

Today, Jiu-Jitsu is a highly-organized sport, with an International Federation as well as a Brazilian National Confederation, both founded by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. Through his work with the Confederation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie Jr. contributed to the growth of the sport by holding some of the first organized competitions. Currently, the IBJJF and CBJJ holds competitions in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Asia, realizing Carlos' original dream of spreading Jiu-Jitsu around the world.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu trains the best fighters in the world.

Helpful Links
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
http://www.ibjjf.org

Jiu-Jitsu.net. Jiu-jitsu and MMA online
www.jiu-jitsu.net

About Cia Paulista

“I like Cia Paulista because it feels like a family.”
Rico, member of Team André and also a black belt in Tai Kwando.

Cia Paulista is a dominant name in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu both in Brazil and around the world. The Cia Paulista family is synonymous with respect, honor and success.

Cia Paulista operates 18 academies in Brazil, one in England, one in Spain, and four here in the United States, all in California:
Huntington Beach, Santa Cruz, Gilroy, and now Sacramento!

You will see Sensei André Glodzinski’s Cia Paulisto Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Company Sacramento on the official CP web site (see link below).
You will also see André shown in the gallery of Cia Paulista Black Belts.

When you study under André you will not only be learning from a BJJ master, you will be part of one of the proudest families in Brazil’s elite sport.

Companhia Cia Paulista de Jui-Jitsu
www.cpjj.org/home/html