Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is everywhere.
From celebrities and professional athletes to everyday hobbyists, millions of people around the world now train the art regularly.
But according to Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães, there was a time when imagining that kind of global growth felt almost impossible.
Here is what the legendary coach had to say on the topic:
I could not have imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would see that which is going on nowadays.
To see how big we became, how far we came… It’s just unbelievable to witness all of that.
Much of his own journey is deeply tied to the rise of Gracie Barra, which has grown into one of the largest and most influential teams in the world:
As a team, as Gracie Barra is now the biggest team in the world – and the sport of Jiu Jitsu as well.
I was also one of the founding members of the CBJJ, which is the IBJJF now, that Master Carlos Gracie Jr. was the president of…
So, it was pretty cool to witness the development of not just Gracie Barra, but of the sport itself.
Looking at modern Jiu-Jitsu today – with packed tournaments, global academies, and mainstream visibility – it’s easy to forget how recent much of that growth actually is:
I am really proud and happy to be a part of that history.
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