BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU HISTORY
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BJJ Is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting with the goal of gaining a dominant position and using joint-locks and chokeholds to force an opponent to submit. The art was based on early 20th century Kodokan Judo, which was itself then a recently-developed system (founded in 1882), based on multiple schools (or Ryu) of Japanese Jujutsu.
It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring (commonly referred to as 'rolling') and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition.
Development
Mitsuyo Maeda
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Maeda (standing on the right) with his first students in Brazil
Maeda met an influential businessman named Gastão Gracie who helped him get established. In 1917, his son Carlos Gracie, still a 14 year-old boy, watched a demonstration by Maeda at the Teatro da Paz and decided to learn jiu-jitsu. Maeda accepted Carlos as a student, and Carlos went on to become a great exponent of the art and ultimately, with his younger brother Hélio Gracie became the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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In 1921, Gastão Gracie and his family moved to Rio de Janeiro. Carlos, then 17 years old, passed Maeda's teachings on to his brothers Osvaldo, Gastão and Jorge. Hélio was too young and sick at that time to learn the art, and due to medical imposition was prohibited to take part in the training sessions. Despite that, Hélio learned jiu-jitsu by watching his brothers. He eventually overcame his health problems and is now considered by many as the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (though others, such as Carlson Gracie, have pointed to Carlos as the founder of the art).
Hélio competed in several submission judo competitions which mostly ended in a draw. One defeat (in 1951) came by Masahiko Kimura, whose surname the Gracies gave to the arm lock used to defeat Hélio
Some quotes about Master De La Riva:
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"De La Riva is just a little guy and therefore can't muscle his way through life."
"His trademark Guard position, including the famous de la Riva Hooks, which have led such notable fighters as the Nogueira brothers to seek out his instruction."
"Ricardo de la Riva has been called BJJ’s unsung hero and a true pioneer in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Receiving his Black Belt from the legendary Master Carlson Gracie, Sr. de la Riva is not only a champion fighter, but also a world class coach and innovator."
"De la Riva is on the cutting edge of high level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu technique. Being in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since the early 1980’s de la Riva has seen it all. His small stature led to his innovations in the now popular Guard game, and his famous de la Riva Hooks are practiced in BJJ academies all over the world. When not traveling the world teaching his famous seminars or competing with the world’s best, de la Riva can be found in his Copacabana academy where he still trains the best in BJJ fighters. As one of the top trainers for the then famous Carlson Gracie team de la Riva worked with Murillo Bustamente, Wallid Ismail, Amuary Bittei, Mario Sperry and others."
"The best fighters in the world have honed their skills under his watchful eye, and have become better for it. De la Riva is a soft spoken gentleman with a precise and dynamic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu style. Humble yet confident through years of tough training, de la Riva’s true passion is sharing his beloved art of BJJ with everyone."
"Ricardo De La Riva is without question one of the most influential and creative fighters in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
