{"title":"Books","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"opening-closed-guard","title":"Opening Closed-Guard: The Origins of Jiujitsu in Brazil","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat are the origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Is it merely a by-product—a rebel offspring—of Judo? What was the nature and content of the art that Mitsuyo Maeda, a.k.a. “Count Koma”, and other Japanese were teaching in the Amazon? Was it Judo? Jiu-Jitsu? His own personal fight-tested style, built on a foundation of Judo and informed by his dozens and dozens of matches around the world? What was the bridge between the art he learned at the Kodokan and the Brazilian style that claims him as its godfather: a style now practiced by millions worldwide (and growing bigger every day)? Should Maeda even be at the center of this story? And what role did Carlos and Hélio Gracie play in all of this? Did they \"invent\" BJJ? Would BJJ exist without them? And, if so, what—if anything—did they create? And why does this history matter to the average BJJ practitioner today?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAny history possesses its official narrative with its own favorite characters and events. But true history is seldom simple, and more oft than not the real story is far richer than the popular version that is widely repeated and handed down. The history of BJJ and MMA in Brazil doesn’t escape this paradigm. The recent renaissance in research in regards to the history of martial arts in Brazil led to the author’s curiosity, which in turn led to the documentary Closed-Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, which in turn led to this book.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis manuscript started as an account of the author’s recollections of the film's production, and quickly grew into much more. Opening Closed Guard: The Story Behind the Film contains conclusions, analysis, and historical interpretations, as well as the story behind the documentary itself and the many challenges it faced along the way. It contains interviews, research articles pertaining to the history of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, as well as the author's own take on the current state of BJJ and MMA. Finally, it is the story of the author rediscovering his love for Jiu-Jitsu in a completely new and unexpected way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE AUTHOR\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBorn in the US from a Brazilian mother and American father, and having spent his life between these two countries, Robert Drysdale remains the only American competitor to have ever won both the IBJJF and ADCC World Championships, the two most prestigious tournaments in all of Jiu-Jitsu. Furthermore, he has also cultivated a career in MMA, both as a fighter and as a coach. The author also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History, as well as a long-held passion for this discipline. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. He is also the co-founder of the international team Zenith Jiu-Jitsu, and is the father of two girls.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gameness","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56320777617574,"sku":"OCG","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/4503\/3382\/files\/71oSQCLL52L._SL1500.jpg?v=1774378573"},{"product_id":"the-rise-and-evolution-of-brazilian-jiu-jitsu","title":"The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this new addition to the history of BJJ, multiple time World Champion and the author of the bestseller \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e“Opening Closed Guard,”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Robert Drysdale explores the history of jiu-jitsu by concentrating on the major events and characters that were responsible for turning BJJ into a global phenomenon.\u003cbr\u003e“The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” is divided into four parts, or four waves of practitioners (1934-1967; 1967-1993; 1993-2007 and 2007-present) as these practitioners were exposed to different brands of jiu-jitsu as the art evolved over time, in both cultural and technical terms. For this, the author takes a dive into the importance of vale-tudo in shaping the Gracie fighting system away from judo and into a more reality-based approach to combat. It also investigates jiu-jitsu’s continuous evolution inside its first federation as well as how the family feud between Helio and Carlson Gracie played a vital role in this evolutionary process.\u003cbr\u003eFurthermore, the book discusses the importance of the brotherly-rivalry between Carlson and Rolls Gracie as setting the foundation for jiu-jitsu to evolve from its previous form into the brand of jiu-jitsu practiced by millions of people around the world today. According to the author, it was Carlson’s role in insisting on a competition-oriented approach to jiu-jitsu open to all that breathed life into the brand of jiu-jitsu that took the world by storm after the rise of Royce Gracie and the UFC in 1993. For these and other reasons discussed in the present work, the author places Carlson at the center of this history as the father of modern BJJ and MMA.\u003cbr\u003eLastly, this book discusses the struggles and importance of Carlos Gracie Jr. and the IBJJF in giving jiu-jitsu, structure, shape and professional credibility at a time where jiu-jitsu was under threat of becoming simply another fad. It also discusses the greatest challenges the art faces today as its popularity carries with it problems that threaten to fragment precisely some of the qualities that set jiu-jitsu apart from other martial arts to begin with.\u003cbr\u003eBJJ has conquered the martial-arts world, yet its history remains only half told. Its rise and evolution are a captivating story of resilience, courage, rivalries and ambition that, ultimately, led to the prestige and popularity it enjoys today. This book is about this story and its main protagonists.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout the Author: Robert Drysdale is the only American to have ever won the IBJJF Gi World Championships and the ADCC (the two most prestigious jiu-jitsu tournaments in the world) as well as having fought MMA successfully. He has also trained multiple UFC champions and BJJ World Champions. He is the co-founder of the Zenith BJJ team and the author of the bestseller \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e“Opening Closed Guard.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e He holds a bachelor’s degree in History and lives with his two daughters in Las Vegas, Nevada where he teaches daily.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gameness","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56320781254822,"sku":"REBJJ","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/4503\/3382\/files\/61WhC3jNGRL._SL1500.jpg?v=1774378700"},{"product_id":"the-triumph-of-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-50-years-of-a-martial-arts-revolution","title":"The Triumph of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: 50 Years of a Martial Arts Revolution","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAbout this book:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book tells the history and evolution of BJJ through over 500 rare images. From pre-Meiji Japan, to Jigoro Kano and the foundation of judo, to Japanese immigration to Brazil, to the introduction of pre-War judo to the Gracie family and all the way to the transformation the art underwent in the South-Zone of Rio as various characters and social phenomena intertiwned to give shape to the worldwide phenomenon that we now refer to as \"Brazilian jiu-jitsu.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eSummary:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1993 Royce Gracie led a martial-arts revolution and brought the Brazilian version of jiu-jitsu to the worlds attention. As a result, giving birth to not only the UFC, but also what had been brewing in the South-Zone of Rio for the past two decades: The art that would come to be known as \"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.\" But what is BJJ? Is it nothing but a variant of judo? Or is it, as Helio Gracie claimed, something he \"invented\" due to his frail size? The reader may also want to know why is it that it is practiced under so many different formats: is it a form of self-defense? Or a sportive practice? Or is it an art for vale-tudo (MMA)? This book discusses the importance of the 1975 ruleset as a turning point in BJJ history and loosely separates the history of jiu-jitsu in Brazil into two stages: before and after the 1975 ruleset. The author of Opening Closed Guard and The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu makes use of hundreds of archival pictures and documents to argue that, prior to the 1975 ruleset, BJJ did not have the ground orientation for which it is best known today. Moreover, that what the Gracie brothers Carlos and Helio were teaching was a self-defense model with elements of pre-War judo (pre-Olympic), not so unlike various other \"jiu-jitsu\" schools around the world that were not absorbed by competitive judo before and after World War 2. As the author argues, it was only after the formulation of the 1975 ruleset that jiu-jitsu in Brazil truly began to take the ground orientation for which it is best known today. The author also argues that the experience that the first-wave of BJJ practitioners (1930s-1975) had in vale-tudo rings inspired them to radically reshaped their understanding of combat towards the ground. First, by distancing themselves from the self-defense and private lesson model of the original Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. And second, by distancing themselves from judo in technical terms (by emphasizing the ground-work or ne-waza), while simultaneously copying judo in terms of its logistical structure and by running tournaments as an outlet for growth and evolution. The result of this ground orientation, thanks to the 1975 ruleset, is precisely what gave BJJ its advantage over other martial-arts during the 90s and after Royce Gracie and that first UFC. This book also argues that it was a misunderstanding of combat by Helio Gracie that led to the sophistication of \"the guard\" position and that this same misunderstanding had the unforeseen side-effect of opening up endless creative possibilities for BJJ as a ground oriented art. These elements and others, when combined, led to the jiu-jitsu craze we are experiencing today as BJJ aims to surpass its predecessor and become \"the most practiced martial-art in the world.\" It is in honor and celebration of this triumph that this book is written.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gameness","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56320781746342,"sku":"TBJJ50","price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/4503\/3382\/files\/710lIGDDcPL._SL1329.jpg?v=1774378823"},{"product_id":"what-is-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-today-discussions-about-the-present-and-future-of-the-art","title":"What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Today?: Discussions about the Present and Future of the Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etoday?\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe question, I hope, elicits the desired effect of leading the reader into reflection about jiu-jitsu and its definition. Since the word “today,” carries within it the implication that at some point in time, the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003ewas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e something else entirely and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003emay yet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e become something different still. What it \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003ewas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003ewhat it is morphing into\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e are the topics of a trilogy.” Following the success of Opening Closed Guard and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Robert Drysdale urges us to think the current state of affairs in the jiu-jitsu world. In his own words, “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eare the gains superior to what is being lost?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this current work, the author continues his use of oral tradition to enrich these discussions and shed some light on where the art currently stands. Unlike his previous works however, the discussions (or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e“taidans”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in Japanese) in this book have a freer flow to them and do not follow an interview format, but rather the format of an irregular conversation between two experts and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eaficionados\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e of the gentle-art. These discussions are intermingled with chapters that give further sustenance to the observations highlighted in these conversations.\u003cbr\u003eThis book contains:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ePrologue -\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e An Unusual Taidan in the Afterlife Between Helio and Carlson Gracie\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe Jiu-Jitsu Missionary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Fernando Soluço (pioneer of jiu-jitsu in Latin America)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eWhat is the purpose of BJJ? Education or Entertainment?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eA Soldier of Faith\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Marcelo Siriema (IBJJF CEO)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eShould We Teach Old or New Jiu-Jitsu?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eA Master of The Heart and Mind\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Paulo Rezende (coach to many world champions)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBut is the Customer Always Right?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eStanding on the Shoulders of Giants\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Ryan Hall (UFC fighter)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAre Jiu-Jitsu Coaches Really Cult Leaders?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe Process of Never Ending Evolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Ricardo De La Riva (BJJ guard pioneer)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAre Male Instructors Really Harassing Women?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eExporting a Tradition in Excellency\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Bruno Bastos (coach to many world champions)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eShould a Coach Prioritize Teaching the Individual or the Group?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eRoots That Never Die\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Vinicius Draculino (coach to many world champions)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAre Instructors Too Controlling? Loyalty and the Creonte Issue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe Heir to a Beautiful Tradition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Julio Cesar (coach to many world champions)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eWhy Loyalty to Peers Helps Train Better Fighters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eCracking The Code\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Seth Daniels (Fight 2 Win promoter)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eWhy Loyalty is Educational and Breeds Healthier Citizens\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eIcarus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Fernando Terere (renowed BJJ fighter and coach)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eWhat are Belts Good For? And The Meaning of a Black-Belt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eHard Work and Craftsmanship\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – A Taidan With Adam Wardziński (1st European to win the IBJJF Worlds)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eConclusion –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Why do We Need Jiu-Jitsu?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eEpilogue –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The Rigors of Climbing\u003cbr\u003eBonus Material:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eA Place to Learn Respect –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A Taidan With Satoshi Ishii (judo Olympic gold-medalist)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eMerit-City, Come Hell or High Water –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A Taidan With Ben Askren (One FC champion)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eReflections on Jiu-Jitsu Rulesets –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The IBJJF Ruleset; The ADCC Ruleset; The submission-only Ruleset\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gameness","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56320782205094,"sku":"WBJJT","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/4503\/3382\/files\/61RgUBN6bZL._SL1499.jpg?v=1774378911"}],"url":"https:\/\/gameness.com\/collections\/books.oembed","provider":"Gameness","version":"1.0","type":"link"}