Our History

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is an art that developed in the country of Brazil during the 1900s. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can trace its history back to the Japanese styles of wrestling and submission fighting commonly referred to as Judo, Jiujitsu, and Sumo. It is closely related to the art of Judo, founded by Jigoro Kano, although Brazilian Jiu-jitsu's emphasis on grappling techniques more closely resembles the Kosen Judo styles of Judo.

In 1897, a man by the name of Mitsuyo Maeda entered the Kodokan school to begin his Judo training. During this time Kodokan Judo was beginning a great emphasis on ne-waza, or grappling techniques. He had a natural talent for Judo and moved through the ranks very quickly, establishing himself as a promising young student in the Kodokan.

In 1904, at the age of 26, at the rank of 4th degree black belt, he and one of his instructors, Tsunejiro Tomita traveled to the United States to demonstrate Judo at West Point. It was here that Maeda was challenged by a student that was a wrestling champion. The student thought that he had won because he pinned Maeda, but Maeda, unfamiliar with western wrestling continued to fight until he got his opponent in a joint lock and made him tap out. The students then wanted to see Tomita fight. Since he was the teacher, they assumed that he must be the better fighter. Tomita, however, was in his 40's and past his prime, so when the much larger American rushed him and tackled him, he was easily able to pin him under his weight so that Tomita could not move. He was forced to give up.

Tomita and Maeda parted ways with Tomita going to the West Coast and Maeda staying in New York to teach. He accepted a few challenge matches and taught at Princeton as well as in New York City, but Americans did not take well to Japanese style teaching and did not stay long.

Mitsuyo Maeda

Maeda persuaded some Japanese business men to back him with $1000 in prize money and he began traveling and fighting to prove the superiority of Judo in North, Central and South America as well as in Europe. At 5'5" and 154 pounds, he fought all challengers. Out of over 2000 matches he was undefeated in Judo/Jiu-jitsu matches and lost only 2 matches in the catch-as-catch-can world championships held in London.

In 1908, while in Spain he adopted the name Conde Koma, or Count Trouble. Because of his financial trouble he was in and his other surrounding problems, he first took the Japanese verb "komaru", or trouble, as his name. However, he didn't think that Maeda Komaru had a good ring to it, so he dropped the last syllable. A Spanish friend of his suggested that he use the name Conde, or Count, so Maeda adopted this name and later it became part of his legal name.

Count Koma

Maeda submits an opponent

In 1915, Maeda ended up settling in the town of Belem, Brazil. He felt that Brazil was the idea place for the Japanese to immigrate to, since America, at the time, had strong anti-Japanese sentiments and Brazil was very open minded. While there, he still continued to accept challenge matches and to teach Judo. His fame as a fighter brought him policemen, army college cadets, and politicians as well as ordinary citizens; all wanting to be his students. One politician, named Gastao Gracie, asked him to teach his son Carlos Gracie.

Carlos Gracie was the son of Gastao and Cesalina Gracie. Gastao's father, George Gracie, had immigrated from Scotland years earlier. Gastao had asked Conde Koma, or Mitsuyo Maeda, to teach his son, Carlos Gracie, his art of Judo. Maeda agreed and began his lessons. Carlos actually only studied about a year with Maeda himself before he had to leave again. Carlos continued his training with the Brazilian assistant instructors that Maeda had put in place to teach his students in his absence.

Carlos opened his school in 1925, named the Gracie Jiu-jitsu Academy. The Gracie's Jiu-jitsu was not focused on points, it was focused on simply making the opponent give up with a submission technique or to carry the technique to its completion, much like the older styles of Judo. The new name was to separate it from its sport counterpart of Judo. This was not about sport, this was about fighting.

Carlos had four younger brothers: Oswaldo, Gastao Jr., Jorge and Helio. Helio was often on the sidelines watching his brothers practice because of his poor physical condition, but he was learning much as he watched. One day, a student showed up for his private lesson with Carlos, but Carlos was late. Helio decided that he would teach the lesson since he had watched his brothers for years and was sure that he could teach as well as he needed to. In fact, as the lesson ended and Carlos burst in apologizing for his being late, the student said, "That's alright, your brother gave me a good lesson, and if you don't mind, I'd like him to teach me from now on." This began Helio's career in Jiujitsu.

The Gracie Family

Just as Maeda challenged other schools and fighters, so too the Gracie brothers began challenging anyone and everyone. Boxers, wrestlers, Karate men and champions of all styles were fought and beaten by Gracie Jiujitsu.

Helio sent a challenge to the current Judo Champion, Masahiko Kimura, in 1952. Kimura accepted the challenge, but took two assistants with him. If Helio could not defeat his assistants then he would not even bother with him. Helio's first match was with Kado, a 5th degree black belt. Helio choked Kado into submission from the guard 6 minutes into the fight. Kimura accepted the match.

After 12 minutes of punishing throws and submission techniques, Kimura caught Helio in an armlock and had to break his arm in order to get Helio's corner to throw in the towel. Helio would still not tap, even with a broken arm. The armlock that broke Helio's arm is still called the Kimura by BJJ stylists to this day.

In 1957, Helio would suffer his second major loss against a former student named Valdemar Santana. They had what is believed to be the longest match in Jiu-jitsu history;3 hours and 45 minutes. It was not until regaining their feet that Santana was able to connect with a kick to Helio's head. Helio went down and the match was finally over. Helio was 45 years old at the time, and this would be his last fight.

With Helio's loss to Santana, Carlson Gracie, the son of Carlos, would enter the ring at the age of 17 to avenge the family name. He defeated Santana and earned the title of "king". They would fight again for a total of 6 times with Carlson winning four and drawing for two

Helio Gracie vs. Kado	Helio Gracie vs. Kimura	Santana in Helio Gracie's Guard
Carlson Gracie vs. Santanna	Carlson Gracie vs. Santanna	Carlson Gracie vs. Santanna

Carlson Gracie

Carlson went on to fight 19 professional matches and remained undefeated. At the age of 20, riding on his new found fame, Carlson Gracie opened his own academy. At the time, there were only 2 academies in Brazil under the Gracie Jiu-jitsu Team – the original Gracie academy in the city and Carlson’s in Copacabana.

Carlson had his own approach to teaching Jiu-jitsu. Having a more aggressive style of training and a reputation of not holding any information back from his students. When Carlson started the academy in Copacabana, he invited Rolls Gracie to come and train with him. Later though, Rolls and Carlson had a disagreement which led to a splitting of the team at the Copacabana academy with Carlson and Rolls retaining their own students but sharing time for use of the mat.

Carlos Gracie Jr.

After Rolls’s tragic death form a hang gliding accident, Carlos Gracie Jr, who was a student of Roll's, was asked to take over the duties of instructor for Rolls's students. He accepted, and would move the school to a promising new neighborhood in the western part of the city; Barra da Tijuca. It was there that they would come to be known as the "Gracies of Barra." This would eventually be shortened to "Gracie Barra." Since establishing the school, they have consistently produced Jiu-jitsu instructors with high qualifications, as well as distinguishing themselves in international competitions in Brazil and around the world. Today, Gracie Barra has the biggest Jiu-jitsu teams in the world.

Gustavo "Guga" Machado

Gustavo Machado began his martial arts training in at the age of 16 under Jean Jacques Machado, who soon promoted Gustavo to blue belt.. When Jean Jacques left Brazil, Gustavo began training at the Gracie Barra academy in Rio de Janeiro. Gustavo was a very active competitor, winning and placing in numerous competitions throughout his study. In 1993, at the age of 19, he was awarded his purple belt by professor Carlos Gracie Jr. It was at this time Gustavo began teaching under the authority of his teacher. In 1996, at the age of 22, Gustavo received his brown belt. In 1998, he followed his dream and moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia to open his own academy. He is now the head instructor and founder of Gustavo Machado Brazilian Jiu-jitsu as well as the president and founder of the Virginia Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation. Gustavo is also the founder of the Renzo Gracie Competition Team of Virginia Beach. In October of 2000, at the age of 24, Gustavo was promoted to Black Belt by Professor Roberto "Gordo" Correa. Gustavo is currently the highest ranking BJJ practitioner and instructor in Virginia.

Gustavo has created a team of champions that have placed or won medals in the Mundials, Pan-Ams, and a variety of other local and national tournaments. Team Gustavo Machado continues to be highly successful and competitive in the tournament circuits throughout the country. As a concerned citizen, Gustavo has donated his time for many worthy causes. He has raised money for several charitable organizations through his VABJJF sponsored tournaments. He has also conducted self-defense seminars to high school students and numerous local agencies. Gustavo is passionate about spreading the knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while giving back to the community which he has come to call home.