Sources & Methodology
How we build the most complete history of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The BJJ Story draws on the broadest possible source material: immigration records, newspaper archives, tournament results, and academic research from multiple countries. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has a richer and more complex origin than any single family or tradition can encompass. We owe the Gracie family enormously for the sport's global reach — and we owe the many other pioneers the telling of their stories. Where sources diverge, we show it. Where research is new, we say so. The goal is not to tear down, but to build out.
Our methodology
We treat BJJ history as an open, living field of research — not a finished narrative. When new scholarship uncovers people, connections, or events that were previously unknown, we integrate them into our database with clear source attribution.
In the lineage tree, we distinguish between verified and unverified connections. Verified connections are supported by multiple independent sources. Unverified connections are shown with a dashed line and are based on tradition or limited source material.
Where competing narratives exist — for example, about who taught Carlos Gracie — we present both versions side by side, with source citations, and let the reader evaluate.
Source tiers
Primary sources
Contemporary documents: newspaper articles, immigration records, tournament results, period photographs.
Academic research
Published research and in-depth investigations by dedicated historians such as Josh Simon (simonbjj.com), Roberto Pedreira, and others.
Reference works
Wikipedia, BJJ Heroes, Sherdog — useful for basic facts, but cross-verified against primary sources.
Tradition & oral sources
Family stories, academy traditions, interviews. Valuable but may be colored by personal interests — marked as unverified in the database.
Key research contributions
Josh Simon — simonbjj.com
Much of the extended research in our database is based on the extensive archival work of Josh Simon. Through years of research in Brazilian newspaper archives, immigration records, and primary sources, Simon has uncovered people and connections previously unknown or underreported in BJJ history — including Jacyntho Ferro, Donato Pires dos Reis, Sada Miyako, and the complete story of the Japanese pioneers in Brazil.
simonbjj.com ↗Verified vs. unverified
Verified connection — supported by multiple independent sources or official records.
Unverified connection — based on tradition, oral sources, or limited documentation.