Brazilian jiu-jitsu (/dʒuːˈdʒɪtsuː/; Portuguese: [ˈʒiw ˈʒitsu], [ˈʒu ˈʒitsu], [dʒiˈu dʒiˈtsu]) (BJJ) is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo (which itself is derived from Japanese Jujutsu) in the early 20th century.

It teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self defense.Sparring (commonly referred to as "rolling") and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is known as more than just a system of fighting. Since its inception in 1882, its parent art of judo was separated from older systems of Japanese jujutsu by an important difference that was passed on to BJJ: it is not solely a martial art: it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical fitness and building character in young people; and, ultimately, a way (Do) of life.

Frank James Edgar (born October 16, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. His first career loss came against Gray Maynard in 2008, which marked the beginning of a noted rivalry. He later avenged the loss to Maynard with a KO victory in 2011. As of March 2012, he is ranked as the #2 lightweight in the world by Sherdog.com.

Born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey, Frankie Edgar wrestled at Toms River High School East, making it to the New Jersey state championship tournament on three occasions, placing second as a junior and fifth as a senior. Edgar is the oldest of 3 children, Edgar went on to compete in the NHSCA Senior Nationals and placed second before he finished high school. He continued wrestling at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he qualified for the nationals all four years there. Edgar is also an assistant coach for the Rutgers University wrestling team.

Edgar entered his first mixed martial arts fight with only a few weeks of training outside of his wrestling background. Edgar originally trained with Rob Guarino of Rhino Fight Team, but today he is part of the Gracie system under Ricardo Almeida in Hamilton, NJ. Since seventh grade Edgar has wrestled with Steve Rivera at Elite Wrestling NJ in Jackson, NJ. His boxing trainer is Mark Henry of Millstone, NJ.

Clark Gracie (born July 17, 1984) is a Brazilian-American martial artist and the oldest son of Carley Gracie, both prominent members of the Gracie family, a Brazilian martial arts dynasty famous for its mastery of the sport of jiu-jitsu.

Clark Gracie is a member of the famous Gracie family that is synonymous with the art of Jiu-Jitsu. He is a black belt under his father Master Carley Gracie. He is also the grandson of Grandmaster Carlos Gracie, the creator of the art known today as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Clark was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and also lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during his teens. He trained in jiu-jitsu under his father, Carley Gracie (8th degree Red-and-Black Belt and undefeated National Champion from 1969–1972).

From childhood, Clark was exposed to his many relatives -his father, uncles, and cousins- who were masters in the art of Jiu-Jitsu and from whom he received much inspiration, encouragement, and Jiu-Jitsu training, which gave Clark the desire to be the Champion he is today. Clark Gracie currently lives in San Diego, where he teaches Jiu-Jitsu and competes in his sport.

Stuart W. Cooper (born 1942 in Hoboken, New Jersey) is an American filmmaker, actor and writer.

Cooper was a resident in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s where his most notable film appearance was as one of The Dirty Dozen, Roscoe Lever.

His 1974 film Little Malcolm was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear. The following year, his film Overlord won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize at the 25th Berlin Festival.

As director:

Joseph James "Joe" Rogan (born August 11, 1967) is an American martial artist, stand-up comedian, actor, writer and color commentator. He is best known for playing Joe Garrelli on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, commentating for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, hosting the NBC reality show Fear Factor and The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Rogan was born in Newark, New Jersey. His paternal grandfather was Irish and the remainder of his ancestry is Italian.

In 1981, at age fourteen, he became a practitioner of Kenpo Karate before transitioning to Taekwondo. He eventually gained a 2nd dan black belt. A four-time state champion in Massachusetts, in 1987 he was the USA Taekwondo U.S. Open Champion. In 1996, he began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jean Jacques Machado, eventually earning his brown belt. In addition, he holds a brown belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu under Eddie Bravo.

He also practiced and competed in kickboxing.

In 1994, he co-starred on the Fox comedy Hardball as Frank Valente, the young, ego-centric star player on a fictional professional baseball team. From 1995 to 1999, he co-starred on the comedy NewsRadio. He portrayed Joe Garrelli, the electrician at WNYX, a news radio station in New York City. In 2002, he appeared on the episode "A Beautiful Mind" of Just Shoot Me as Chris, Maya Gallo's boyfriend. In 2011, Rogan played his first major character in a movie in the Kevin James movie Zookeeper. He is slated to play himself in an upcoming action-comedy starring Kevin James called Here Comes the Boom, set to be released in the summer of 2012.