Story By: Kyle Railey

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) in Jacksonville is not something new. The Gracie family has been instrumental in the development and expansion in North America with Helio Gracie adapting the style of Jiu Jitsu he was taught by his brother, emphasizing leverage and timing over strength and power. Gracie’s style gained popularity in the United States because of his challenging of any in order to prove that his style was the superior fighting style. Helios’s son, Rorion, would move to California and further popularize BJJ with more public challenges that came with a $100,000 prize. Despite the many challenges that faced the Gracies, none were able to defeat them, continuing to prove how good BJJ was. With this cognition and influence, Rorion Gracie founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), recruiting the best fighters from their respective disciplines, including BJJ. To show off BJJ, Rorion recruited his brother, Royce, to fight in their first ever UFC event and he would go on to win the event. Since then, BJJ has shifted to more of a self-defense style rather than an offensive fighting style. The Gracies continue to play a key role with multiple BJJ academies throughout the United States, including Jacksonville. Their influence has also allowed for other academies to form, as well as connecting the sport to community and religion through their establishment within churches, like the one featured on Inside Jacksonville, Philadelphia Church JAX. These communities have brought people together through faith and sport, allowing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to flourish everywhere.