The book Opening Closed Guard takes a stab at this issue. Good book, but I think it doesn't go far enough. I think we have to take a much broader approach to the history of grappling, beyond the idea that specific individuals created an art and personally spread it around the world. Like other aspects of culture, grappling has been shared for thousands of years. How martial arts has influenced one another is a pattern of human migration and trade in commerce.

A lot has been written about the true history of BJJ, but in discovering this information, does it really change anything?

I don't think it does if much at all. But, if it does do anything, it kicks the Gracie name down a couple of notches.

A lot has been written about the true history of BJJ, but in discovering this information, does it really change anything?

Of course it does. Or I should say it should. It should change how much support you put into people who have been lying to you to get your support.

Life is full of deception, but in this very rare occasion, I benefit from that deception.

I don't ever plan on benefitting from deception directly or indirectly.

You’re doing Jiu Jitsu though, so you benefitted from the deception.

Not Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

How widespread would Jiu Jitsu be without the Gracie’s?

How widespread would Jiu Jitsu be without the Gracie’s?

I am not downing the fighting style just the history and marketing to brand it for themselves.. Listen the style was built on beating people up but please don't try to attach values to it that are BS

My stance is that if the Gracie’s had not done what they did, whether it was deceptive or not, we might all be doing karate or Kung fu.

And you would be as into that karate or kung fu as you are into jiu-jitsu. As long as you have achieved self-justification from cognitive dissonance then what does it matter?

I do Jiu Jitsu for the hugging. The lack of hugging in karate and Kung fu would have led to large amounts of dissatisfaction.

Good point. The hugging while wearing pajamas is very zen of us.

Good point. The hugging while wearing pajamas is very zen of us.

There is this interesting theory that evolutionarily we, as social animals, need way more touch and closeness as a remnant of times when our ancestors slept all close for warmth and safety. Current western culture pressures men to be OK with physical closeness with their intimate partner and even then non-sexual closeness is shunned or seen as non-manly. This might be one of the negative factors for especially male mental health in the West. Grappling martial arts/sports are one of the few culturally tolerated avenues for mento offer playful, non-sexual physical closeness with other humans.

Kind of like politics and religion I take from Jiu Jitsu what works for me and discard the rest

I can't think of any linage in the U.S that isn't a product of Gracie Jui Jitsu (maybe Drysdale?) Kind of like politics and religion I take from Jiu Jitsu what works for me and discard the rest, including the strange origin story. Having said that, we owe a good deal of gratitude that the Gracie clan brought the sport/art to the world when and how they did. I also differentiate between Gracie Torrence and the rest of the Gracies. Renzo is an amazing teacher and, judging from what people who know Renzo well have to say, a really good dude.