gracie jiu jitsu developed in brazil in the early 1900s using techniques learned from the great japanese judo champion, mitsuyo maeda (known in brazil as conde koma—the "count of combat"). maeda, who was taught by jigoro kano, the creator of judo, fought hundreds of victorious challenge matches against practitioners of other styles using his judo techniques to overcome them. maeda had become a champion judoka in japan and was so highly revered by kano he was sent around the world to spread judo.