The popularity of BJJ has seen a steady rise over the years. This has largely been thanks to the popularity of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) competitions such as the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
It was after a series of performances from Royce Gracie in early UFC events that BJJ became highly renowned worldwide. It was at these early events where Gracie demonstrated Jiu Jitsu’s efficiency and effectiveness. He did this by defeating opponents from various backgrounds and martial disciplines (such as Wrestling, Boxing, Karate, and Kickboxing). His opponents were often much larger than him and had a significant weight and muscular advantage. At the time of the tournaments, Royce weighed just 170-pounds! Another factor to consider was that early UFC was very much a no-holds-barred style tournament with very few rules. Despite these obstacles, Royce went on to win three of the first four UFC Championship Tournaments. His victories put BBJ on the map and established the discipline as a legitimate power in the Martial Arts world.
BJJ continues to grow and evolve to this day and is practiced worldwide with many schools and institutes. It is considered a martial art, a sport, a method of promoting physical fitness and building character, and a way of life.