History
Like many other things in the history, it would be impossible to accurately describe the origin of Jiu-Jitsu. Every culture has shown to have hand-to-hand combat in its history appears in the form of wrestling or boxing. Freesyle or oil wrestling from the Ottoman Empire, bare-knuckle boxing from United Kingdom, pankration from ancient Greek could be given as an example.
Without a doubt one of warriors who utilize hand-to-hand combat effectively was samurai. Jujutsu (Also known as Ju-Jitsu, Jujitsu, Jiu-Jitsu) taught by samurai from generation to generation for centuries.
Jujutsu is literally meaning the art of softness. Because striking against an armored (bigger, stronger) opponent proved ineffective. Practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attackers energy against him, rather than directly opposing it. There was more than two thousand schools (ryu) of Jujutsu existed in Feudal Japan.
This text is an excerpt from various websites. Original text and for further reading:
http://www.gracieacademy.com/history.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsu
Jigoro Kano
He lived in Japan between years 1860-1938. He learned old samurai martial art Jujutsu in early ages and practiced its various styles. After the Feudal period in Japan ended Jujutsu was no longer needed on the battlefield. Grand Master Jigoro Kano modernize this art and developed his own version in the 1890s, called Judo (Also known as Kano Jiu-Jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu).
After a match-up between older styles of Jujutsu and Judo at the Tokyo police headquarters, Judo was named the national martial art in Japan and continues to be popular to this day.
This text is an excerpt from Wikipedia website. Original text and for further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano_Jigoro
Mitsuyo Maeda
He lived between years 1878-1941. Mitsuyo Maeda finised his Judo education as a direct student of Grand Master Jigaro Kano, at the Kodokan in Japan and spread this sport by traveling many countries just like a cultural ambassador. Finally settled in Brazil and taught Judo to many students. He was a 7th dan black belt one of the hightest ranks in Judo.
This text is an excerpt from Wikipedia website. Original text and for further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuyo_Maeda
Carlos Gracie
Grand Master Carlos Gracie lived between years 1902-1994. He decided to learn Judo after he watched a demonstration by Mitsuyo Maeda when he was 14 years old. He learned Judo from Mitsuyo Maeda for several years and open a school (Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu) with his brothers which he trained and started to give Judo lessons.
He was also the teacher of his younger brother Helio Gracie who is the founder of todays Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Grand Master Carlos Gracie was 7th dan black belt in Judo, he later used higest rank 10th degree red belt of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Grand Master Carlos Gracie was also established the Gracie Diet which is an eating habit based on combining or separating different food types and consuming regularly. Gracie Diet is still used by some family members who tied to their roots and many Gracie Jiu-Jitsu students.
Some parts of this text is an excerpt from Wikipedia website. Original text and for further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie
