In 1967, a federation known as the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara was established by Hélio Gracie, Alvaro Barreto and Oswaldo Fadda under the supervision of the National Sports Council, Brazil sports governing body, with the aim of developing a competitive sport version of jiu-jitsu, at the time a self-defence and street fighting art.
[1] In 2005 the North American Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation (NAJJF) was created.
[2] In June 2011 the Sport Jiu-Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF), was established as a non-profit organisation with the aim of meeting the International Olympic Committee requirements and promoting jiu-jitsu as a sport around the world.
[4] In December 2013 the SJJIF, in conjunction with the NABJJF, hosted its first international event, the World SJJIF Jiu-Jitsu Championships, at the same location as the World IBJJF Championship,[5] the Walter Pyramid at CSU in Long Beach, California, USA.
[8] The World SJJIF Jiu-Jitsu Championship counts at least 2500 competitors each year including more than 100 black belts.