The Origins of BJJ: From Self Defence to Sport

By Jonny Woodhead, BJJ black belt, head coach and owner of Hold Down BJJ & MMA.

Let's talk about where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu actually came from. It's a story of tough training and proving what works.

This whole BJJ journey started with Japanese Jiu Jitsu, the ancestor of both Judo and BJJ. Japanese Jiu jitsu was made for a different time, for soldiers on battlefields, and included fighting with weapons. But when guys like Mitsuyo Maeda brought that knowledge to Brazil, things changed. It met new needs and new kinds of fights. The Gracie family were the ones who really got their hands on it and made it their own.

They didn't just take what they were given; they took it apart, tested it, and rebuilt it for real street fights. Their main focus wasn't on looking fancy or scoring points. It was all about true self defence. Could you handle yourself if a bigger, stronger person tried to attack you? That's what mattered to them. They got rid of anything that didn't work in a real struggle and focused on using practical moves and leverage so a smaller person could defend against someone bigger.

And how did they prove it? They proved it in "challenge matches." These were real fights, often in front of crowds, where they would go up against anyone – boxers, wrestlers, other martial artists. It was the ultimate test. Your techniques either worked, or you were beaten. There were no points, no trying to run out the clock. It was about winning or losing, pure and simple. That's how BJJ got its strong reputation, by proving itself in the toughest, most honest way.

And that spirit, that commitment to what actually works and building tough, resilient people, that's what we’re carrying on here at Hold Down. If you're keen to see what BJJ is about, come down to a class. Your first trial is on us.