Our BJJ Origin

Some historians of Jiu-Jitsu say that the origins of “the gentle art” can be traced back to India, where it was practiced by Buddhist Monks. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques based upon principles of balance and leverage, and a system of manipulating the body in a manner where one could avoid relying upon strength or weapons. With the expansion of Buddhism, Jiu-Jitsu spread from Southeast Asia to China, finally arriving in Japan where it developed and gained further popularity.

In the last days of the 19th century, some Jiu-Jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents, teaching the martial arts as well as taking part in fights and competitions.

Esai Maeda Koma, also known as “Conde Koma,” was one such master. After traveling with a troupe which fought in various countries in Europe and the Americas, Koma arrived in Brazil in 1915, and settled in Belem do Para the next year, where he met a man named Gastao Gracie.

The father of eight children, among them five boys and three girls, Gastao became a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos, to learn from the Japanese master.

Carlos and the other 5 sons including Helio Gracie learned the Art and Later made it evolve even more, Developing ground techniques  that today are the foundation of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

When the family moved to Rio,  Rolls Gracie, one of the greatest  Jiu jitsu Fighters that ever lived ,started training with judo Master Oswaldo Alves. Oswaldo and Rolls Gracie started training together and expanded even more the horizon of the Art. In a short period of time the Gracies and Oswaldo were training, expanding and developing Jiu-Jitsu to an even higher level. The meeting created a bond that lasted up to today. Since then Oswaldo has graduated many black belts and many world champions. He has given most of his life to the art of Jiu-Jitsu and is – without a doubt – one of the greatest masters ever. The importance of having a living Grand master training and teaching up to day is immeasurable. His knowledge and experience is a treasure to all teachers and students of the art.

A great champion ,a student and his highest ranked black belt Master Fabricio Martins (6 degree black belt), has carried on with great responsibility the knowledge and teachings of the Great Master. Fabricio has expanded and most importantly kept the techniques and  philosophy of the original Jiu-jitsu  preserved at its best form. Master Fabricio himself has graduated many black belts and has brought much to the Gentle Art. In an Effort to expand  even more BJJ throughout the world one  of Master Fabricio’s  highest and most accomplished fighters has crossed borders and leaped to the Middle East to spread BJJ. 

Master Samy al Jamal is a third degree Black belt under the tutorage of Master Fabricio for over 22 years. He is currently the highest ranked Arab black belt in the world and is following the footsteps of these great masters by teaching at THE SOURCE MMA the Pure and Original Brazilian Jiu-jitsu .

It is very important to value the Origin and the Source of a Martial Art in order to keep its purity and essence through generations. If the purity of the martial art is diluted with time through commercial gyms and unprepared instructors  the essence and therefore the strength of the fighting art is lost forever. Brazilian Jiu jitsu is one of the most effective forms of martial arts proven over and over again. It has accomplished this status in a convincing  way around the world. Its success can bring its failure since many unauthorized and unprepared instructors can spread the art wrongly and dilute it to a commercial insignificant art form.

We at the SOURCE MMA are proud of teaching the purest and most original form Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Our mission is to  expand this Art in a effective and mature way to all the Middle East using all resources available to accomplish this goal.