Breathe: A Life in Flow

Rickson Gracie

ISBN 10: 0063018950 / ISBN 13: 9780063018952

Published by HarperCollins Publishers Inc, 2021

About this Item

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.

Seller Inventory # CIN0063018950G

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Breathe: A Life in Flow
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0063018950
• ISBN 13: 9780063018952
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

*An instant New York Times bestseller, USA Today bestseller, and Wall Street Journal bestseller*

From Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legend Rickson Gracie, a riveting memoir weaving the story of his stunning career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty and the fighting philosophy of Jiu Jitsu.

Undefeated through his final fight, Rickson Gracie belongs in the fighting pantheon with Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Mike Tyson. In Breathe, Rickson shares 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, and the principles and skills that guided him to his undefeated record. Gracie’s classic memoir offers indispensable insights into the warrior mindset, martial arts, human performance, and how the connection between mind and body can be harnessed for success both inside and outside the ring.

Inside, Rickson shares the code of a modern samurai:

• The Gracie Dynasty: Learn the history of the world’s most famous fighting family, from their Scottish warrior roots to the creation of Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Brazil.
• Vale Tudo Champion: Go behind the scenes of Rickson’s legendary, undefeated career in the brutal, no-holds-barred world of vale tudo.
• The Mind-Body Connection: Discover the spiritual and psychological principles Rickson used to harness his internal energy, conquer fear, and remain in a state of flow.
• Birth of MMA: Witness the inside story of the Gracie family’s move to America and the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

About the Authors

Rickson Gracie is the New York Times bestselling author of Breathe. The leader of the most prominent martial arts family of all time, Gracie reigned as world Jiu Jitsu champion in both the middle heavy weight and open divisions for almost two decades. Since retiring with an undefeated record, he has focused on unifying and spreading his family martial art through his Global Jiu Jitsu Federation. 

Peter Maguire is the author of Law and War, Facing Death in Cambodia, Thai Stick, and Breathe. Maguire has taught the law and theory of war at Columbia University, Bard College, and University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He is the founder and director of Fainting Robin Foundation. Maguire received his blackbelt from Rickson Gracie and has been his friend and student for over 30 years.