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What BJJ BOOK biographies have you read or heard about?
3 year(s) ago • 17399 views • 27 replies
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hi everyone, I really enjoy reading and have a special interest on biographies. Anyone else?
I love when a new BJJ related book like this come out.
Here some I have read: Carlos Gracie Biografy, Rickson, Renzo, Close Guard (not biography, but great insight in the the BJJ History). I already bought and will start soon Robson Moura and Globe Trotter, from Christian.
Anything else you all have read and suggest?
I love when a new BJJ related book like this come out.
Here some I have read: Carlos Gracie Biografy, Rickson, Renzo, Close Guard (not biography, but great insight in the the BJJ History). I already bought and will start soon Robson Moura and Globe Trotter, from Christian.
Anything else you all have read and suggest?
MBrown beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hi everyone, I really enjoy reading and have a special interest on biographies. Anyone else? I love when a new BJJ related book like this come out. Here some I have read: Carlos Gracie Biografy, Rickson, Renzo, Close Guard (not biography, but great insight in the the BJJ History). I already bought and will start soon Robson Moura and Globe Trotter, from Christian. Anything else you all have read and suggest?
Worth defending by Richard Bresler was nice to read
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Carlos Gracie Biografy, Rickson, Renzo, Close Guard (not biography, but great insight in the the BJJ History). I already bought and will start soon Robson Moura and Globe Trotter, from Christian. Anything else you all have read and suggest?
I really liked "Opening Closed Guard", but I haven't read too many biographies. Thanks for the post/suggestions!
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hi everyone, I really enjoy reading and have a special interest on biographies. Anyone else? I love when a new BJJ related book like this come out. Here some I have read: Carlos Gracie Biografy, Rickson, Renzo, Close Guard (not biography, but great insight in the the BJJ History). I already bought and will start soon Robson Moura and Globe Trotter, from Christian. Anything else you all have read and suggest?
I just finished Robson’s book and I really enjoyed it.
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SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
John Will did a trilogy, Rogue Black Belt. The lack of dates is unfortunate, but it's really cool to read about the early expansion of BJJ to the US in the 1980s and 1990s (filling in some details from some of the other biographies mentioned already, especially as they have a Brazilian perspective, compared to Will's Australian angle).
Similarly, Roy Dean's biography from a little later also provides lots of interesting detail to that development story. His one is called 'Becoming the Black Belt.'
Not BJJ, but I'd recommend checking out the late Gene LeBell's biography too, given how important a figure he has been in the history of grappling. I think he may have more than one, but 'The Godfather of Grappling' is fun ride.
I've read most of the others mentioned in this thread, but haven't checked out Robson's book yet, I'll have to give that a look.
Similarly, Roy Dean's biography from a little later also provides lots of interesting detail to that development story. His one is called 'Becoming the Black Belt.'
Not BJJ, but I'd recommend checking out the late Gene LeBell's biography too, given how important a figure he has been in the history of grappling. I think he may have more than one, but 'The Godfather of Grappling' is fun ride.
I've read most of the others mentioned in this thread, but haven't checked out Robson's book yet, I'll have to give that a look.
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks for all the answers. I finished Robson´s book last night. Good read and it was especially interesting to compare to where I was in my life when such and such was happening with him, since we are just 2 years a part.
Im working on the GlobeTrotter now.
Im working on the GlobeTrotter now.
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Im working on the GlobeTrotter now.
I’m glad you liked it. Maybe you could start writing your own book soon?
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
DBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Sam Sheridan, A fighter's heart was excellent.
Forest Griffin's Got Fight was fun.
And looking forward to your biography Felipe!
Forest Griffin's Got Fight was fun.
And looking forward to your biography Felipe!
JABlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Sam Sheridan, A fighter's heart was excellent. Forest Griffin's Got Fight was fun. And looking forward to your biography Felipe!
Got Fight was great and I quite liked BJ Penn's book personally.
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Sam Sheridan, A fighter's heart was excellent. Forest Griffin's Got Fight was fun. And looking forward to your biography Felipe!
I will look for those suggestions :)
My biography? That would be fun to write, let´s see ...Maybe a pocket book hahaha
My biography? That would be fun to write, let´s see ...Maybe a pocket book hahaha
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Here some I have read: Carlos Gracie Biografy
Is it Creator of a fighting dynasty or are there others? I found that one really interesting too, as a counterweight to all the glorified stories of the creation of our martial art. Getting really difficult to find though (and probably expensive if you do). There are some good reviews of it out there (and some corrections on where the author herself might glorify things).
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Is it Creator of a fighting dynasty or are there others? I found that one really interesting too, as a counterweight to all the glorified stories of the creation of our martial art. Getting really difficult to find though (and probably expensive if you do). There are some good reviews of it out there (and some corrections on where the author herself might glorify things).
yes, that is the one I mean.
JNBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Check out Breathe by Rickson Gracie. Fast read but great insight from the best of the game.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
My first book I ever bought related to training was the "Fighter's Notebook" by Kirik Jenness. Loved that thing. But my first biography was "Inside the Lion's Den" about Ken Shamrock and the Lion's Den team.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I once wrote a book. Was bored in the pandemic so I recorded it as audiobook and it's free to listen to / download on http://www.bjjglobetrotte[...]iobook.com
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I once wrote a book. Was bored in the pandemic so I recorded it as audiobook and it's free to listen to / download on http://www.bjjglobetrotte[...]iobook.com
I´m reading that one :D
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I just finished Robson’s book and I really enjoyed it.
I also just finished Robson's book, and it was... OK. I'm reading Rickson's book now ("Breathe: A Life in Flow"). I'm like 1/3 of the way through it, and it's also just OK.
I think that both of these guys have had super interesting lives, compared to most, but I think that they could have worked with some better story tellers to tell their stories.
All good, though. I'm enjoying the read!
I think that both of these guys have had super interesting lives, compared to most, but I think that they could have worked with some better story tellers to tell their stories.
All good, though. I'm enjoying the read!
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
This has easily been my favorite passage from "Breathe". I think I'm gonna save it and recite it to my grandchildren one day.
*Sorry for the poor picture quality. I'm not a photographer.
*Sorry for the poor picture quality. I'm not a photographer.
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
This has easily been my favorite passage from 'Breathe'. I think I'm gonna save it and recite it to my grandchildren one day. *Sorry for the poor picture quality. I'm not a photographer.
Breathe had some unexpected moments for sure.
FCBlack belt 6th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
This has easily been my favorite passage from 'Breathe'. I think I'm gonna save it and recite it to my grandchildren one day. *Sorry for the poor picture quality. I'm not a photographer.
I wanted to say it was a translation problem, but I think it was written originally in english hehehe
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Breathe had some unexpected moments for sure.
Yeah, I suppose he was trying to infer that he was happy to have a son, as opposed to a daughter?
JOBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Where did you find a copy of Carlos Gracie Creator of a Fighting Dynasty? Been looking for that book for years!
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Where did you find a copy of Carlos Gracie Creator of a Fighting Dynasty? Been looking for that book for years!
I bought it when it was released. No sorcery here.
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Where did you find a copy of Carlos Gracie Creator of a Fighting Dynasty? Been looking for that book for years!
It was available on Amazon for several years, doesn’t look like it is anymore though.
JOBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
It’s been unavailable everywhere for the past few of years!
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
It’s been unavailable everywhere for the past few of years!
I’m pretty sure I have a copy in my garage, I can send it to you if you just wanted to read it? I want it back though!
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Is it Creator of a fighting dynasty or are there others? I found that one really interesting too, as a counterweight to all the glorified stories of the creation of our martial art. Getting really difficult to find though (and probably expensive if you do). There are some good reviews of it out there (and some corrections on where the author herself might glorify things).
It's an interesting read, if biased (as you'd expect, given the author is Carlos' daughter). There are better sources in terms of objectivity, but she's tough to beat when it comes to first hand knowledge.
I have both the original Portuguese edition and the English translation. My old editor from Jiu Jitsu Style was selling them, IIRC? That would have been years ago though.
I have both the original Portuguese edition and the English translation. My old editor from Jiu Jitsu Style was selling them, IIRC? That would have been years ago though.
