Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to Brazil in the early 1914 by Mitsuyo Maeda (or “Conde Koma” in Brazilian Portuguese). In 1938, Maeda subsequently opened a dojo with another immigrant named Ryuzo Ogawa. In 1925, the Japanese government determined that based on Judo terminology it would be correctly described through Jigoro Kano Martial Art. Around the rest of the world, the Jiu-Jitsu terminology had not yet been established. According to Jose Tufy Cairus, a martial arts researcher who specialized in Count Koma’s history, Count Koma was not communicating with Kodokan since 1906.

When Carlos Gracie was informed through the new immigrants of the change in Japan, Gracie decided to reinforce the establishment of the Jiu-Jitsu name to show that his martial art did not have any links, bonds, or affiliation with Kodokan. At the time, Carlos Gracie was not driven by the motivation to deny “Judo” as the name. It was not until many years later when it was determined that he had created the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

The Yamasaki families formal education in Jiu-Jitsu began when he Yamasaki brothers Shigueto and Shigueru, started to learn Jiu-Jitsu with their father Mr. Yamasaki Seiti but as they got older, they began to train at a Jiu-Jitsu school in a country village in Sao Paulo.

During Master Shigueru his first class at the Sao Paulo academy, he began sparring without any knowledge and the result was a dislocated shoulder but this did not deter his program is the art. After the World War II, the Yamasaki family moved to the city and started to train with Master Ryuzo Ogawa. The Yamasaki brothers were quick learners in mastering the sport and the Yamasaki family opened their first school on the early 1950′s following the guidance of Master Ryuzo Ogawa. At this time, the Yamasaki Academy continued using the Judo terminology to describe the art.