The lineage
HISTORY OF BJJ.
From the samurai battlefields of feudal Japan to the modern academies of Brazil — the story of how a battlefield art became the gentle art.
Roots
From battlefield to dojo.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu traces its origins back to the Japanese martial art of Jiu Jitsu, developed by the samurai as a method of close-quarters combat for situations where weapons were impractical. Over centuries, these techniques were refined and passed down through generations.
In the early 20th century, Mitsuyo Maeda — a master of Judo and traditional Jiu Jitsu — travelled to Brazil and began teaching the art. Among his students was Carlos Gracie, who together with his brother Hélio adapted the techniques to emphasise leverage and technique over brute strength.
What emerged was a new art form: Gracie Jiu Jitsu, later known worldwide as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Proven in challenge matches and eventually the UFC, BJJ demonstrated that a smaller, skilled practitioner could neutralise a larger opponent through superior technique.
Today, BJJ is practised by millions across the globe. At Alento, we honour that lineage every time we step on the mat — combining traditional values with modern coaching to build better humans, one roll at a time.