Breathe: A Life in Flow
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- Create Date：2021-08-28 08:51:52
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Rickson Gracie
- ISBN：0008440107
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Summary
From legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA master Rickson Gracie comes a riveting， insightful memoir that weaves together the story of Gracie’s stunning career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty and the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship， showing how the connection between mind and body can be harnessed for success both inside and outside the ring。
Undefeated from the late 1970s through his final fight in the Tokyo Dome in 2000， Rickson Gracie amassed hundreds of victories in the street， on the mat， at the beach， and in the ring。 He has joined the pantheon that includes Bruce Lee， Chuck Norris， and Jackie Chan as one of the most famous martial artists of the twentieth century。 Jiu-Jitsu， the fighting style developed and pioneered by his family， has become one of the world’s most prominent martial arts， and Vale Tudo， the “anything goes” style of Brazilian street fighting over which the Gracies had a monopoly， was an early precursor to the Ultimate Fighting Championship。 Simply put， without the Gracie family， there would be no sport of “MMA，” no 4-billion-dollar UFC empire， and no “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” at strip malls all across America。
In Breathe， for the first time， Rickson will share the full story of how his father and uncles came to develop Jiu-Jitsu， what it was like to grow up among several generations of world-renowned fighters from the Gracie clan， and the principles and skills that guided him to his undefeated record。 From learning to assert himself on the streets of Rio to gaining fame and honor in Japan and emerging through heartbreaking tragedy， the martial arts master shares tales of overcoming challenges， extolling universal virtues and showing readers how pride and ego are the enemies of success。
With never-before-seen photos and profound insights into the sport and way of life that only a studied legend can provide， Breathe is an entertaining and magnified view of an enduring legacy as well as an inspiring tale of weathering life’s complexities and overcoming them with style and grace。
Undefeated from the late 1970s through his final fight in the Tokyo Dome in 2000， Rickson Gracie amassed hundreds of victories in the street， on the mat， at the beach， and in the ring。 He has joined the pantheon that includes Bruce Lee， Chuck Norris， and Jackie Chan as one of the most famous martial artists of the twentieth century。 Jiu-Jitsu， the fighting style developed and pioneered by his family， has become one of the world’s most prominent martial arts， and Vale Tudo， the “anything goes” style of Brazilian street fighting over which the Gracies had a monopoly， was an early precursor to the Ultimate Fighting Championship。 Simply put， without the Gracie family， there would be no sport of “MMA，” no 4-billion-dollar UFC empire， and no “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” at strip malls all across America。
In Breathe， for the first time， Rickson will share the full story of how his father and uncles came to develop Jiu-Jitsu， what it was like to grow up among several generations of world-renowned fighters from the Gracie clan， and the principles and skills that guided him to his undefeated record。 From learning to assert himself on the streets of Rio to gaining fame and honor in Japan and emerging through heartbreaking tragedy， the martial arts master shares tales of overcoming challenges， extolling universal virtues and showing readers how pride and ego are the enemies of success。
With never-before-seen photos and profound insights into the sport and way of life that only a studied legend can provide， Breathe is an entertaining and magnified view of an enduring legacy as well as an inspiring tale of weathering life’s complexities and overcoming them with style and grace。
Reviews
Micah Atkinson
，
Excellent auto biography by Master Rickson Gracie。 I have been fortunate to meet Master Rickson a few times and train with him and I was fortunate enough to receive my black belt from one of his black belts。This book is an excellent introduction to not only his philosophy on Jiu-Jitsu and how it applies to life but also a moving and intimate account of his life。 Recommend。
London Tiner
，
This book is the autobiography of Rickson Gracie and chronicles the Gracie family and there contributions to the sport of Jiu Jitsu。 It will give the reader an insight into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and it’s history in Brazil and America。 If your a jits guy you’ve probably already heard about It。 If your thinking about starting Jiu Jitsu。 Don’t read this book- go to a Jiu Jitsu school and roll。 Then read the book。
Mr Nathan
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A fantastic compelling story from a unique individual 👏
Romulo Araujo
，
Fantastic read， and I'm sad I finished this book。 I wish this book had five times the number of histories， so I read it weeks and weeks。 Time to reread it。 Fantastic read， and I'm sad I finished this book。 I wish this book had five times the number of histories， so I read it weeks and weeks。 Time to reread it。 。。。more
Mel Padden
，
Too short！ But great。As soon as I heard about this book I pre-ordered it。 At first， I was hoping for a little more detail， some more insight into the legend that is Rickson Gracie， but the benefit of getting an account of how things happened from the perspective of the man himself is priceless。 Rickson Gracie's voice is also a pleasure to read。 He is direct and visual， sometimes gruffly poetic。 I read the whole thing in a night， and came away with a real sense of his journey as a man， that being Too short！ But great。As soon as I heard about this book I pre-ordered it。 At first， I was hoping for a little more detail， some more insight into the legend that is Rickson Gracie， but the benefit of getting an account of how things happened from the perspective of the man himself is priceless。 Rickson Gracie's voice is also a pleasure to read。 He is direct and visual， sometimes gruffly poetic。 I read the whole thing in a night， and came away with a real sense of his journey as a man， that being his overriding message; jiu-jitsu is life， life is jiu-jitsu。 To Rickson they are inseparable， and he feels that every human being can benefit from his martial art， and from his wisdom。 I must say I would agree。 。。。more
Carlos Cruz
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Great history lesson for those who want to know the beginnings of BJJ from Rickson's POV。 Great history lesson for those who want to know the beginnings of BJJ from Rickson's POV。 。。。more
Cody Lasko
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Even if this wasn’t right up my alley it would have still been an exceptional read。 But this was right up my alley。 And it may now rank among my favourite biographies/memoirs I’ve ever read。 For those uninitiated with the fight world， martial arts culture， or the pre-history of MMA let me be the first to inform you that the author， Rickson Gracie， is a living legend to millions。 Here we get the privilege of listening to him tell the extraordinary story of his family history and his own ascent to Even if this wasn’t right up my alley it would have still been an exceptional read。 But this was right up my alley。 And it may now rank among my favourite biographies/memoirs I’ve ever read。 For those uninitiated with the fight world， martial arts culture， or the pre-history of MMA let me be the first to inform you that the author， Rickson Gracie， is a living legend to millions。 Here we get the privilege of listening to him tell the extraordinary story of his family history and his own ascent to becoming the clan’s champion。 If that sounds intriguing， go give this a read。 If it doesn’t sound intriguing， I bet you’d still enjoy it。 Promise 。。。more
Happy
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Loved the story and audible narration。 Loved the story and philosophy UNTIL he divorced his wife - after she gave up everything for him。 He dumped her。
Geoff
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I am a fan of MMA and am also a big fan of Kron Gracie。 When I saw this biography was due out I， of course， had it pre-ordered。 I am very glad to have been able to read this life story。In the pages of this book， you will see how Rickson Gracie is a true Bushido Warrior。 His story of growing up in the shadow of his father Helio Gracie and the drive to be the greatest warrior of the Gracie clan is inspiring。 His work ethic and beliefs， from training to diet mixed with how he views Jiu Jitsu is som I am a fan of MMA and am also a big fan of Kron Gracie。 When I saw this biography was due out I， of course， had it pre-ordered。 I am very glad to have been able to read this life story。In the pages of this book， you will see how Rickson Gracie is a true Bushido Warrior。 His story of growing up in the shadow of his father Helio Gracie and the drive to be the greatest warrior of the Gracie clan is inspiring。 His work ethic and beliefs， from training to diet mixed with how he views Jiu Jitsu is something I truly appreciate。 Though he didn't lose his matches his belief that the encounter， regardless of whether you win or lose， is a lesson if you approach and understand it。I consider this to be in my top 3 biographies， one I may re-read for inspiration。 Highly recommended as an inspirational read。 。。。more
Martin V
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It’s as if Superman wrote an autobiography。
Charles
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I like books with flow。
Tony Sibbald
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InspiringRaw， leading by example。 Lots of wisdom。 Not afraid to show his pitfalls and how he climbed out。 Loved it！
Jason Weber
，
4。5 starsA quick， easy， and very interesting read。 Rickson is/was considered one of if not the best Gracie to ever step into the ring。 Regardless， this book shares some history of Gracie JJ， and very personal stories from Rickson’s life。 A MUST read for any true martial artist。
Jordan Chicano
，
Good book on Rickson Gracie， the Gracie family， and life through jiu jitsu。
Turquoise Brennan
，
Such a good read。。。 learned a lot about the hiztoricL context of Brazilian fighting and more about mind control over physical control
chewren
，
Raw and historicI love itIt's rawI would love to meet Mr rickson one day and train with himAnd feel the invisible Raw and historicI love itIt's rawI would love to meet Mr rickson one day and train with himAnd feel the invisible 。。。more
Bernie Gourley
，
This autobiography of the phenomenal Brazilian Ju Jutsu practitioner， Rickson Gracie， begins with ancestral origins that include a Gracie who fought in the US Civil War through Rickson’s boyhood in Rio and his professional fights in Japan， and onward to how he reinvented himself after family tragedy and the end of his fight career。 Along the way， he conveys lessons learned not only through personal experience and from his father and uncle， the founders of Gracie Ju Jutsu， but also through his st This autobiography of the phenomenal Brazilian Ju Jutsu practitioner， Rickson Gracie， begins with ancestral origins that include a Gracie who fought in the US Civil War through Rickson’s boyhood in Rio and his professional fights in Japan， and onward to how he reinvented himself after family tragedy and the end of his fight career。 Along the way， he conveys lessons learned not only through personal experience and from his father and uncle， the founders of Gracie Ju Jutsu， but also through his studies with Olando Cani -- a yogi and developer of bioginastica。 While the book is overwhelmingly about a life in Ju Jutsu， Cani’s influence plays a crucial role as the yogi taught Rickson about breath control， and， among a huge pack of skilled Gracie fighters， that ability was pivotal in Rickson’s rise to the top。 （The book’s title， “Breathe，” hints at the role breathwork played in Rickson Gracie’s legendary capacities for enduring， flowing， and keeping his head in seemingly unfavorable situations。）tThe memoir is candid， offering insights into not only Rickson’s path to success， but also his failings （which， not unexpectedly given his single-minded obsession with Ju Jutsu and fitness， more often involved life as an impetuous youth， as a father， and as a person – generally – than it did his life on the mat。） The book also explores some of the fissures in the Gracie clan and how they grew under the pressure of the family’s mammoth success。 With autobiographies， it’s always a challenge to know how true a picture one is getting， but Gracie’s willingness to self-critique makes this book feel truthful。ttThis book is fascinating and highly engaging。 If you’re interested in martial arts， it’s a no-brainer for one’s reading list， but any reader who enjoys a memoir of a life intensely lived will find the book highly readable。 。。。more
Y。S。 Stephen
，
Breathe is an autobiography of Rickson Gracie， a former jiu-jitsu champion and one of the best martial arts practitioners in the world today。 Breathe details his upbringing in Brazil， his training， and his ethos in jiu-jitsu and life。WHAT I LOVE IN THIS BOOKWhat is striking about this book is the in-depth examination of the art of jiu-jitsu and its importance outside of the ring to personal development。 Lovers of the sport would love the tips， the tricks， and the philosophies of Rickson as he la Breathe is an autobiography of Rickson Gracie， a former jiu-jitsu champion and one of the best martial arts practitioners in the world today。 Breathe details his upbringing in Brazil， his training， and his ethos in jiu-jitsu and life。WHAT I LOVE IN THIS BOOKWhat is striking about this book is the in-depth examination of the art of jiu-jitsu and its importance outside of the ring to personal development。 Lovers of the sport would love the tips， the tricks， and the philosophies of Rickson as he lays them out in the book。 Even those who are not into the sport will come to appreciate the level of candour displayed by the author and the lessons jiu-Jitsu provides for all。WHAT I DISLIKEThe first few chapters delve into the Gracie family and how Rickson came to be born。 It looks at the family dynamics and idiosyncrasies of the Gracies。 The author presents how it shaped him and made him who he is today。I feel this section of the book could have been made shorter as it was a tad too long。 Having said that， the earlier chapters do provide a solid background and good insights into the rest of the narrative。WHO THIS IS FORBreathe is for practitioners and non-practitioners of jiu-jitsu。 Everyone should be able to take one or two lessons from the strange and incredible life of Rickson Gracie。Many thanks to Dey Street Books for providing a review copy。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Breathe: A Life in Flow
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Breathe: A Life in Flow&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft