Aiki-jujutsu was once something that one was only allowed to train once one already had a jujutsu black belt. Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo (which is what BJJ comes from), regarded Aiki-jujutsu as superior to his own jujutsu, and sent his top students to be trained by Takeda Sokaku, Aiki-jujutsu's head. He was embarrassed when Takeda found his students lacking, and famously explained that judo was really just a "budo of sports." It's extremely difficult. Those who say it's not for practical s

Today, only a few people are aware of the true origins of jujutsu, or as it became famous, Jiu-Jitsu. Back in the 1930s, the Academia Gracie, situated in an apartment in the borough of Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, served as a vibrant hub for students from diverse backgrounds and fighting styles. Challenge fight events were common, attracting experts in capoeira, boxing, judo (which was then synonymous with Jiu-Jitsu), and catch wrestling, all eager to learn jujutsu. This open environment, where f