History
Brazilian jiu-jitsu began with Mitsuyo Maeda, a Kodokan judoka who toured the world fighting challengers and settled in Belém, Brazil, around 1915. There he taught Carlos Gracie, among others.
Carlos and his younger brother Hélio adapted the techniques so a smaller person could beat a bigger one, using leverage, chokes and joint locks on the ground. In 1993 Rorion Gracie co-founded the UFC to show the art; his brother Royce won three of the first four tournaments. The IBJJF, founded in 1994, runs the main competitions, including the World Championship (the "Mundial").