Comfort in Darkness: The Invisible Power of Jiu Jitsu

A masterwork about the art of combat and the invisible powers within us all from Rickson Gracie, the world’s greatest Jiu Jitsu fighter and New York Times bestselling author of Breathe

A mythic figure in fighting and a legendary member of the “first family of martial arts,” Rickson Gracie is considered the godfather of what we recognize today as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Although Rickson’s three decades of total dominance in Jiu Jitsu is astounding, even more astounding is the path to spiritual growth found in the serenity and depth of his approach to combat.

For Rickson, Jiu Jitsu is a metaphor for life. Some consider Jiu Jitsu a martial art, others consider it a sport, but to Gracie, it is a profound life philosophy he uses to face and evaluate life’s challenges and maintain happiness and mental balance.

Gracie wrote Comfort in Darkness after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, a terminal sentence which he views as the final fight of his life, one he knows he will eventually lose. In this deeply moving memoir, Gracie delivers his defining life statement about his spiritual and technical practice.

For the first time, Gracie reveals his time-tested theories and techniques of invisible Jiu Jitsu, a combat system and life philosophy he developed over the course of his life. Anyone can use the principles of invisible Jiu Jitsu to awaken their dormant inherent power and apply it to their everyday lives. An indispensable tool for any fighter or seeker, Comfort in Darkness is a timeless book of strategy about aligning the mind, body, and spirit.

How does the world’s greatest fighter face a battle he knows he can’t win?

• Martial Arts Philosophy: Learn how the principles of Jiu Jitsu―leverage, timing, and patience―can be applied to every challenge, on and off the mat.
• Invisible Jiu Jitsu: For the first time, Gracie reveals the time-tested theories and techniques of his unique system for awakening your inherent power.
• Overcoming Adversity: A raw and honest account of Gracie’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease, reframing a terminal diagnosis as the ultimate test of the warrior’s spirit.
• Mind, Body, and Spirit: Discover a timeless strategy for aligning your physical, mental, and spiritual selves to find balance, serenity, and comfort in darkness.

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.