BLURBS...
Praise for Richard Bresler and Worth Defending from luminaries of the BJJ community...
Grandmaster Rorion Gracie
Founder of the Gracie Academy and co-creator of the UFC.
"Richard is definitely one of the pillars of Jiu-Jitsu in America."
Rener
Gracie
Chief instructor at the Gracie University and co-creator of the Gracie University online curriculum.
"No one did more to help my dad—and my family's art—establish a foothold in the US than Richard Bresler. From the garages to the original Academy to the UFC, Richard was there doing whatever he could to make it happen. Anyone training Jiu-Jitsu in America today owes Richard Bresler their thanks."
Robert
Drysdale
BJJ Black Belt and author of the best-selling book Opening Closed Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil: The Story Behind the Film.
"Richard’s book is far more than a memoir of his life in Jiu-Jitsu and his personal struggles: it is the story of Jiu-Jitsu in the United States, it is the story of a family whose role in the Martial Arts arena is beyond any discussion. It is also the story of how money and greed will splinter just about anything, including a family who grew up together on the mats with the common goal of learning and teaching Jiu-Jitsu."
Pedro
Sauer
8th Degree Coral Belt
"Richard Bresler was Rorion [Gracie]'s first student in the USA. He was a great supporter of the inauguration of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in
California. Thank you, Richard!"
Steve
Maxwell
Black Belt Professor, 6th Degree Relson Gracie’s first black belt and one of the first Americans to earn a black belt from the Gracie Family.
"Richard was a major influence on me in my early days of learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Thanks to Richard's help, I was able to pass the Gracie Academy's strict requirements to earn my Instructor Training Certificate. Richard’s generosity in helping me train for this will never be forgotten. He is a true BJJ inspiration."
Lowell Anderson
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Black Belt
"Richard’s book is an intimate telling of one man’s journey in martial arts; a great insight into the origins of BJJ in America. His extensive time spent with the Gracie family and his dedication to the craft makes Richard an authoritative voice on Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu. If you are interested in learning how it all began, definitely pick up this book."
Chris
Saunders
5th Degree BJJ Black Belt, and the first American to earn a Black Belt from Rickson Gracie,
"I started training in November of 1984 in a garage in Hermosa Beach. It’s considered the original Gracie Garage, but there was a garage before that and that’s where Richard started training about five years before me. I remember training with Richard in the beginning of my training. He caught me in a triangle choke and I didn’t even realize I was in a submission! Richard has been a good friend and health mentor to me."
Ryron
Gracie
Chief instructor at the Gracie University and co-creator of the Gracie University online curriculum.
"We can't go back in time, but we can hear from the people who were there in the beginning. Richard was there before I was born, and he's full of stories share!"
Master
Fábio Santos
7th Degree Coral Belt
"I'm very proud of Richard Bresler for his support of Jiu-Jitsu, being one of the first Americans to actually learn the art! I awarded him his black belt and he's surely a professional capable of teaching you every aspect of the art!"
Phil
Migliarese
6th Degree Gracie Black Belt
"If you ever googled, 'Who was the first student of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the US?' well, you found him. I met Richard in the early '90s, on my very first trip to the original Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. He immediately made me feel comfortable and welcome. In my first class with Richard, he exhibited mastery of the original Hélio Gracie teaching method. Many of his lessons prepared me to test and graduate to black belt under Grandmaster Relson/Hélio Gracie. Get ready to enjoy the best stories about the history and legend of the Gracie Family!"
Suzanne
Gracie
Longtime friend, ex-wife of Rorion Gracie, and mother to Ryron and Rener Gracie.
"One thing I know for sure: Richard's love of Jiu-Jitsu, loyalty to the cause, and generous contributions were key in cementing the foundation of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in America. He believed in the importance of Jiu-Jitsu, knew it would be successful, and the rest is history! My family, and all those enjoying Gracie Jiu-Jitsu today in America and around the world, owe Richard a debt of gratitude.
"After all we went through, one of the best things that came out of it all is that I have gained a friend for life, and his name is Richard Bresler."
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