Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the Gracie family introduce Brazilian jujitsu to audiences in the United States?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Two mixed martial arts fighters face off inside a caged ring, viewed through the chain-link fence with a referee and audience in the background. — mixed martial arts Two fighters competing in a mixed martial arts contest.

The Gracie family introduced Brazilian jujitsu to audiences in the United States during the 1990s by deciding to showcase their trademark style in a high-profile, televised format.1

Rorion Gracie, a member of the family, co-founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) alongside businessman Art Davie and executives from the Semaphore Entertainment Group. The organization’s inaugural event, UFC 1, was held in 1993 in Denver, Colorado, and was broadcast on pay-per-view television.21

To demonstrate the effectiveness of their martial art, Rorion’s brother, Royce Gracie, participated in the tournament as the family's representative. By emerging as the champion of UFC 1, Royce Gracie provided a powerful public display of Brazilian jujitsu, which helped bring mixed martial arts to the attention of a mainstream North American audience.21