The British Ju-Jitsu Association, the BJJA, was originally founded in 1956 by Soke James Blundell (22/12/21 to 13/11/89) and was later re-constituted in 1988. It included other affiliated Ju-Jitsu associations from around Great Britian. Together, these clubs and associations approached the British Sports Council (now the UK Sports Council) to establish a single Governing Body for the Martial Art of Ju-Jitsu in this country and as a result, since 1993, the BJJA became the British Ju-Jitsu Association Governing Body, or BJJAGB.

The Governing Body oversees all aspects of Ju-Jitsu in Great Britain such as, establishing codes of conduct, standard practises, competition formats and rules, arranging group insurance policies for clubs within the Association, CRB Clearance for all instructors training Juniors, and certification of teachers and competition referees as well as registration of new clubs.