*Also check out Master Dave Kama's Interview on Gracie Challenge Fights:* kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b652ntCltLfQZKM.html

Very interesting interview. This guy is definitely one of the American Jiu Jitsu OGs.

Richard was one of my instructors at Gracie 93-94. Great guy...happy to see he's doing well!

Richard is an excellent person. Much love ❤️

I was in the room for this interview. It was fantastic. Loved every minute of it. ❤️

Richard's book is fantastic!!

What a crazy story! Real as it gets!

I was there in the mid 90’s. Richard was a tough and fair instructor. I saw him play and submit college level wrestlers. He and Lowell Anderson are insanely talented.

This is really great to see. Professor Bressler taught me my combatives “headlock escapes from side mount”!!

Congratulations for you channel , I´m from Brazil , I admire your channel , the video themes , go on with your work , spreading Jiu Jitsu for the world .

This was such a wonderful interview. Really loved it and Richard is absolutely a great story teller.

This guy should have not only his own Academy but he should have a bunch of affiliates schools by now.

Reading Richard's book lead me here. It's called 'Worth defending'.

Such a gem of an interview. I love hearing the history of Gracie Jiu- Jitsu

Second interview please! Read Prof Breslers book...loved it! Very inspiring and learned a lot I didn't know about the pre-ufc days. Recommend it highly to practitioners and those wanting to learn more about the history of Gracie Jiu-jitsu in America. Also a great read for those of us that are getting a little older in our jiu-jitsu careers.

Ordering his book today . Great interview

Excellent interview. Thank you.

This is great! I could listen to these old stories all day.

Wonderful stories, thanks Ryan and Richard... I loved the "Rorion, I don't wanna hurt your dad!" :) :)

Seminar w/Bressler and Maxwell!! That’d be the bomb

Helio passed 2009 - 95 years old

Looking forward to the new book!

Wonderful interview

Really Great interview, can’t wait for part 2!! And I want a copy of that book. Finding a GJJ school that’s for the older student who’s interested in the self defence and no cauliflower ear is near impossible I’ve found. At my age I still believe bjj is for the younger guys even though the philosophy is its for EVERYONE at any age!

Love it guys !!!! Ya'll rocks !!!

I was at the Gracie academy back in the day. I remember Ryan Young and I remember Richard Bresler. When Ryan Young said Richard taught at the Torrance academy I was a little surprised at first because I'm pretty sure I never had a class taught by him. Then I remembered (it's been a while) of course he taught because Richard and Lowell set up a back room match between Richard's private student and Lowell's private student (me) for $20 or something like that. I can remember Richard's black belt quite clearly. I don't believe I've ever smiled more than I did learning jiu jitsu those early years at the Torrance academy. Quite a special time! BTW I've still got my funny looking old gi and put it on sometimes to work on stuff with my grand son Nathan, who is a little ninja on the mat.

Great information!!

Amazing history love the entire back story and background

Good interview, look forward to his book too.

Great story!

Good job! This was a very enjoyable interview

Really great interview. Amazing story 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Awesome 🤙

The whole layout looked perfect the way you had the screen your logo and also the backdrop.

We need more videos like this from the family too would love hear more amazing stories like this there’s so much historical stuff

Damn 40 years ago and 1 day today damn boy

Wow what story. Great job on the interview

I'm reading his book at the moment.

The juicer to me would be priceless i'd box frame it😯😄

I LOVE your shirt Ryan! Go Aggies!

Awesome video. Check out Roll: Jiu-Jitsu in SoCal as well.

Legend

Rener and Ryron owe Richard a lot more than he got for his investment. I am disappointed how Rorion treated Richard after everything he had done to help him including investing his parents money. Seems like the Gracie's owe him a check to say thank you.

Re: Bob Bass' black belt (as discussed in the video). My recollection as told to me in detail by a pissed off Craig Kukuk the very next day I believe. Disclaimer: This is my recollection from the very early 90's so this story could easily be wrong! So the story from Craig K. as I remember it was that Craig was rolling somewhere other than the Gracie academy the night before, probably with the Machados, and Bob Bass was there watching for quite a while. According to Craig, after he was all but done rolling and quite tired Bob Bass asked if Craig would roll with him. Craig said he was too tired and Bob Bass kept asking until Craig relented. Now the story that was told me is that there was an arrangement between Bob Bass and the Machados (?) that if Bob Bass could submit Craig K, he would receive his black belt. So Craig said he was tired and only wanted to roll light and Bob B.agreed. So they went easy then all the sudden Bob B. caught Craig K. in a quick and tight submission which really pissed Craig off. I'm not making excuses for Craig and I remember at the time he was telling me this story I was thinking he shouldn't be complaining because he had no one to blame but himself. Anyways, that is the story of how Bob B. got his black belt as I recall it way back when as told to me by Craig K. For whatever it's worth...

I learned under Steve Maxwell in Philadelphia when he first was teaching it. Is Steve still around?

Very good interview. Your history videos and interviews are superb. When people have a passion, they don't just want to do it, they also want to talk about it and the KJJ channel has met that need.

Hey all! To stay updated about Richard's book about his over 40 years' involvement with the Gracie family and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, be sure to 'like' and 'follow' Richard's Facebook page, where we'll be posting exclusive content and updates as the book becomes available. facebook.com/RichardBreslerJiuJitsu

Please come to Washington it’s all Gracie Barra over here

Ryan “I Gave All Of My Juicers Away” Young :-)

I love the competition but I just blew out my knee and I'm 42 with a family that needs my fullest attention. Injuries suck.

"You do not need to be better then the others you need to be better then yesterday" Jigoro Kano founder of Judo. that applies to any martial art .....

Great video, thank you! Would be interested in knowing what those 36 classes, or 41 topics that was necessary for promotion AND how a :30 minute class was structured. 1 technique per class; rolling, etc. I believe you shared the Gracies didn't do open, group classes until the 90's? Thank youj.

What a cool interview, just so much funny stuff. Who are the 3 people who don't like it?

Really great interview! Seems like Rorian was a con man when it benefited him. Ryron and Rener do not give those same vibes

"all these things were happening... music industry... backstage passes... drug use cocaine qualudes..." poor Richard is too humble to admit (in another life) he was once the wolf of Wall Street but for the local music scene of that day

I lost a lot of respect for Rorion after listening to this. The first rule of martial arts is never ever go into business with your teacher. It will never end good for you. 2nd rule is never lend money to your teacher. Better to just give it if you want to help out. Because most of the time you will never get it back. Rorion is a master salesman and he was going to make it in USA no matter what. So he meets Richard by chance and realizes Richard has some money, loves to study from him and is easily manipulated. He needed to keep Richard around because his money and services may come in handy one day. What was missing from the story was Rorion must have asked what Richards parents did for a living and I am guess in they owned a business or had great jobs. Turns out Rorion's gamble was right because Richard was the golden goose that just giving. Rorion used Richards money to start the first Gracie BJJ academy and then then UFC. Once Rorion had his school that Richard paid for. He did not need Richard anymore. Rorion knew Gracie BJJ was going to be huge. Rorion is a shrewd businessman and realized he gotta find an excuse to get Richard out of here. He and his parents are going to see how successful this empire will be and he and his parents might want their piece. Then it happened. The minute Richard does not take orders even for a medical issue . Rorion has his excuse to get Richard out of there and take full control of ownership of the school. Get out Richard and don't come back. I'll pay you back eventually. Richard tried to stay to at least do office work in the school he bought. But, now Rorion has to be more firm. Richard, you don't understand your not wanted around here. Oh yeah don' t show up for classes anymore either. Your services are no longer needed. Rorion has so many students now he made it in America. Rorion is always thinking business. He did not give Richard a black belt because he did not want Richard opening a school to compete with the Gracie school at anytime in the future. Richard had to get one from another BJJ teacher and even the other teacher realized that this was fu---- up. Rorion for what ever reason called Richard which sounds like 6 years latter. Maybe, he was ashamed of himself of not giving Richard his black belt and using him and throwing him away like trash. Maybe he did not want Richard telling people what happened because it makes Rorion name look bad. To this day as you can see in the interview. Richard is still that wide eyed kid that even after all this time. Does not realize the truth what happened. He thinks Rorion got upset he had to go to the doctor and it was a power play which is laughable. Because , obviously Richard had no power. Want another example. Richard and his parents gave all that money to Rorion for the UFC which so purpose was a big commercial for Gracie jujitsu. Rorion sells for 500,000 and then tries to f--k all the investors of of their money. WTF! Rorion saying well the way the contact reads you,your parents and all the other investors don't get any money. Richard takes a stand. Rorion had to go talk to his wife and she probably said Richards parents and the other investors would probably sue and we could lose the Gracie academy. Rorion decides it's not worth it and he has to pay people back and give then 10 percent interest. What Richard should have said well of the 500,000 how much did you pocket? Obvioulsy, Rorion made money and had enough to pay everyone back immediately. Watch Bill Wallaces interview of youtube about his experience at UCF. Richard was Rorion's ATM and when Richard was spending time with Rickson. Rorion was worried Richard might help Rickson with his money and obviously told Rickson to tell him make a choice. Meaning if you pick Rickson don't come back. If Rorion was really Richards friend he would have said without you I would not even have a school. How does 20% sound or even 5%. Not, even 1%. Sad!!!

man, I know this is one side of the story, but this was incredibly messed up. Richard seems like a great guy but with poor business sense. Rorion is a shark, but as a teacher should have more integrity. Just getting into BJJ and trying to absorb as much as I can. Your videos are great.

01:08:03 why you gotta love Ryan…

Poor Richard 😢

I got a question. In traditional Japanese, Okinawan and Korean systems you're certificate will usually have your date of promotion on it. Like my instructor, when he got his black belt from Chuck Norris his certificate was dated. My instructor for whatever reason didn't put a date on ours, just our Dan number. Was that the case in jiu-jitsu at the time, were dates not written on black belt certificates at the time? If they were, that would easily settle the who should be in the "dirty dozen" list. If Richard is jonesing to teach, hey come down Texas...midway between Houston and Austin.

It sounds like Richard kinda had an abusive relationship with Rorion haha.

So many unethical things in the Gracie history. Yet, some of the greatest people are involved. I've never heard anything negative about Pedro Sauer. Renee and Ryron are super cool guys also. Clarke Gracie is super casual.

“I went to karate schools looking for tough guys.” Well no wonder you didn’t find any lmao

I had no idea that Rorian was that shady (or shrewd) when it comes to money, and he doesn't sound like a great person to work for either. For one, look at the wealth of Rorian, and then look at this guy's wealth, they are in two different income brackets.

Is it me or was that “don’t come back” story at 48:12 super messed up? Richard contributes 60k to help open the Gracie academy - all he has to his name and even his PARENT’S money to help Rorion - gets injured teaching a spazzy student (again just doing his job for Rorion), and then gets banned from ever coming back to the academy he partially built because he needed legitimate medical treatment..? Why was Rorion so salty to his good friend?? Richard even showed loyalty by staying with Rorion in spite of preferring Rickson’s way of training.. he sacrificed so much for Rorion and in return he gets heartbroken and cut out. The way Richard talks about it clearly shows it was devastating to him for many years, and after all he did for Rorion that seems so cruel for him to do to Richard.. Much respect to grandmaster Rorion for everything he’s done but that implies a lack of character doesn’t it? It’s cool that they buried the hatchet eventually but 68 years old living in a 1 bedroom apartment after all he did for Gracie jiu-jitsu just doesn’t seem right.. hopefully there’s more to the story I’m not aware of that explains why. Sad, man.

Oss

Rorion is the scum bag of the family & that speaks volumes when it’s a family that big. He tried his best to hold Rickson back.

Today you can get a cheap juicer 40 dollars.

That’s why Veganism is not good for bjj

Lololol so little rich rich boy got ripped off .

Richard "I got banged good by Rorion" Bresler

I'm listening and yes, Gracie Jiujitsu is all good and all on the ground but what about when you're walking and 5 guys want to jump you on the streets? It's good to handle the situation on the ground but you still need a stand up and this is where the Gracies fell short and every pure jiujitsu guy. I knew about stand up and ground before I found out about BJJ/GJJ on the streets and no, not 90% of fights end on the ground. I know, I've been there and done that over 100 times. This guy sounds like he was used but given payment in the form of teaching and yet still thought he was owed. Oh well, none of my business!