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Richard Bresler

Richard Bresler trained with Rorion Gracie from 1979, made the loan that got the Gracie Academy started and invested in the first UFC.

Biography

Richard Bresler was an American jiu-jitsu teacher who began training with Rorion Gracie in Los Angeles in 1979. For close to twenty years he worked at Rorion's side, helping Gracie Jiu-Jitsu grow in the United States, and his money went into both the Gracie Academy and the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. He reached black belt in 1998 and was promoted to coral belt in 2025, the year he died. The website for his memoir calls him Rorion's first regular student in Los Angeles and says many regard him as the United States' first student of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Most of what follows about his years with the Gracies comes from Bresler himself, in the memoir he published with Scott Burr, Worth Defending: How Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Saved My Life, and from the book's own publicity. A free class The memoir begins in 1979 with an invitation to try a free class. Bresler was nearly thirty then and, as he tells it, stuck in a job he did not like, in a line of work he could not stand, and looking for something meaningful to do with his life. All he knew of martial arts came from television and films, and he expected punches and kicks. He found instead an art that was methodical, subtle and effective, and he was hooked at once. The garage years According to the book's publicity, the first Gracie Garage was in the house Bresler and Rorion shared in Hermosa Beach, California. Chris Saunders began training in November 1984 in a Hermosa Beach garage that, in his words, is considered the original. Bresler, he recalls, had started about five years before him, in a garage that came before that one. Saunders also remembers Bresler catching him in a triangle choke without his even noticing he was in a submission. Bresler took private lessons from several members of the family, among them Rorion, Rickson, Royler, Royce and Hélio Gracie, and traveled to Rio de Janeiro, where he trained with Rolls Gracie. He was part of what the book calls the "dojo storming" years, the period of challenge matches that came before the first UFC, while Gracie Jiu-Jitsu had yet to win a foothold in the United States. At a 1988 seminar with Chuck Norris, he was the only member of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team from outside the family. Bresler later wrote that it took more than a decade of effort, and a whole new sport, before the wider martial arts world saw what the Gracies' jiu-jitsu could do. The Academy and the first UFC The founding of the Gracie Academy, the book's publicity says, was made possible by a loan from Bresler to Rorion. When the first UFC was staged in 1993, he was one of its investors, and he watched from cageside, with Hélio Gracie, as Royce Gracie won the tournament. Reviewing the memoir for Martial Journal, Richard Bejtlich wrote that it was fair to say neither the Academy nor the UFC would have been funded without the backing of Bresler and his family's small businesses. Rorion Gracie has called Bresler "one of the pillars of Jiu-Jitsu in America." Rorion's son Rener Gracie has said that no one did more than Bresler to help Rorion and the family's art become established in the United States, from the garages through the original Academy to the UFC. Teaching Bresler was among the earliest to be certified as a teacher under the Gracie Academy's original Instructor Certification Program. Steve Maxwell has credited Bresler with helping him through the Academy's strict requirements for its Instructor Training Certificate. Phil Migliarese met Bresler in the early 1990s, the first time he visited the original Gracie Academy, in Torrance, California. In his first class with Bresler, Migliarese recalls, Bresler showed a mastery of Hélio Gracie's original teaching method, and many of his lessons later helped Migliarese prepare for his black belt test. Bresler received his black belt in 1998, and Fábio Santos has said that he was the one who awarded it. The memoir's website places him among the earliest Americans to hold a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. After he left the Gracie Academy, he kept teaching in the greater Los Angeles area, and his own website said he practiced alternative healing there as well. According to the publisher's description of his memoir, he helped develop "Krav Ground," a ground-fighting system for Krav Maga. The memoir and the last years Worth Defending was first published in November 2020 through Kindle Direct Publishing and later appeared in a second edition with a new foreword by Burr. Bejtlich's review noted Bresler's advice to older practitioners: take a self-protection mindset into class and avoid aggression, especially with new or younger partners. In November 2021 the Gracie Breakdown YouTube channel released an interview with him titled "How BJJ Started In America," describing him as knowing more than any other American about how the art began there. A podcast episode released in January 2024 introduced him as a sixth-degree black belt. In 2025 Ryron and Rener Gracie promoted him to seventh degree, the coral belt. He died a few months later, on July 2, 2025.

Sources for this profile

  • Worth Defending (official book website, © Scott Burr), home page.(opens in a new tab)

    • The book's website describes Bresler as Rorion Gracie's first regular student in Los Angeles.

      Where in the source: Home page, paragraph under the excerpt: 'first regular student in LA'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler wrote that it took more than a decade of effort, and the creation of a new sport, before the wider martial arts world recognized what the Gracies' jiu-jitsu could do.

      Where in the source: Home page excerpt, the paragraph after that, on how long recognition took: 'a whole new sport'

      Accessed:

    • In the excerpt from the opening of his memoir, Bresler dates the invitation to a free jiu-jitsu class to 1979.

      Where in the source: Home page, excerpt from the book's opening, first paragraph after the opening dialogue: 'It was 1979'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler wrote that when he was invited, he was nearly thirty, stuck in a job and an industry he did not like, and wanted to do something meaningful with his life.

      Where in the source: Home page excerpt from the memoir's opening, same paragraph as the 1979 date: 'almost thirty years old'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler wrote that he knew martial arts only from television and films, expected punches and kicks, and instead found a methodical, subtle and effective art that hooked him at once.

      Where in the source: Home page excerpt, next paragraph, on what he knew of martial arts from the screen: 'instantly hooked'

      Accessed:

  • Worth Defending (official book website, © Scott Burr), 'About the Authors'.(opens in a new tab)

    • The co-author's website describes Bresler as widely recognized as the first student of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the United States.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, first sentence of the Richard Bresler paragraph: 'widely recognized'

      Accessed:

    • For almost twenty years Bresler worked closely with Rorion Gracie, helping to grow jiu-jitsu through the Gracie Garages, the Gracie Academy and the early Ultimate Fighting Championship.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, Richard Bresler paragraph, second sentence: 'almost twenty years'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler was one of the first people to earn a teaching certificate through the Gracie Academy's original Instructor Certification Program.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, Richard Bresler paragraph, third sentence: 'Instructor Certification Program'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler was an American and one of the first Americans to earn a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, Richard Bresler paragraph, third sentence: 'first Americans'

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    • After leaving the Gracie Academy, Bresler continued to teach jiu-jitsu in the greater Los Angeles area.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, Richard Bresler paragraph, fourth sentence: 'After leaving the Gracie Academy'

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    • Bresler was promoted to coral belt in 2025.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, Richard Bresler paragraph, fifth sentence: '7th-coral belt'

      Accessed:

    • The coral belt Bresler received in 2025 was a seventh-degree coral belt.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, Richard Bresler paragraph, same sentence as the coral promotion (rank written with the degree number '7th').

      Accessed:

    • Bresler died on 2 July 2025.

      Where in the source: About the Authors, last sentence of the Richard Bresler paragraph: 'July 2, 2025'

      Accessed:

  • Worth Defending (official book website, © Scott Burr), 'About Worth Defending'.(opens in a new tab)

    • The first Gracie Garage was in the house Bresler and Rorion Gracie shared in Hermosa Beach, California.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, main paragraph below the Rorion Gracie quote, on the first Gracie Garage: 'Hermosa Beach, CA'

      Accessed:

    • The founding of the Gracie Academy was made possible by a loan Bresler made to Rorion Gracie.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, main paragraph below the Rorion Gracie quote, on the founding of the Academy: 'a loan Richard made'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler trained privately with several members of the Gracie family, including Rorion, Rickson, Royler, Royce and Hélio Gracie.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, bullet list of contents, second item: 'training privately'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler travelled to Rio de Janeiro, where he trained with Rolls Gracie.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, bullet list, third item: 'shared the mats'

      Accessed:

    • Before the first UFC, when Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was struggling to gain a foothold in the United States, Bresler took part in the era of 'dojo storming' and challenge matches.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, bullet list, fourth item: 'dojo storming'

      Accessed:

    • At a 1988 seminar with Chuck Norris, Bresler was the only person outside the Gracie family on the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, bullet list, fifth item: 'only non-family member'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler watched from cageside as Royce Gracie won the first Ultimate Fighting Championship.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, bullet list, sixth item: 'from cageside'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler was promoted to black belt in 1998, which made him one of the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts in America.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, bullet list, seventh item: 'in 1998'

      Accessed:

    • Worth Defending: How Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Saved My Life was later published in a second edition with a new foreword by co-author Scott Burr.

      Where in the source: About Worth Defending, main paragraph below the Rorion Gracie quote, and the closing note on the new foreword: 'second edition'

      Accessed:

  • Worth Defending (official book website, © Scott Burr), 'Blurbs', statement by Chris Saunders.(opens in a new tab)

    • Chris Saunders, who started training in November 1984 in the Hermosa Beach garage considered the original Gracie Garage, says Bresler had begun about five years earlier in a garage before that one, and recalls Bresler catching him in a triangle choke without his realizing it.

      Where in the source: Blurbs page, Chris Saunders entry: 'a garage before that'

      Accessed:

    • Rener Gracie, Rorion Gracie's son, is quoted saying that no one did more than Bresler to help his father and his family's art gain a foothold in the United States, from the garages to the original Academy to the UFC.

      Where in the source: Blurbs page, Rener Gracie entry: 'No one did more to help my dad'

      Accessed:

    • Phil Migliarese recalls meeting Bresler in the early 1990s on his first visit to the original Gracie Academy in Torrance, California; he says that in his first class with Bresler, Bresler showed mastery of Hélio Gracie's original teaching method, and that many of Bresler's lessons helped prepare him for his black belt test.

      Where in the source: Blurbs page, Phil Migliarese entry: 'original Hélio Gracie teaching method'

      Accessed:

    • Steve Maxwell credits Bresler's help with his passing the Gracie Academy's strict requirements for its Instructor Training Certificate.

      Where in the source: Blurbs page, Steve Maxwell entry, on the 'Instructor Training Certificate'

      Accessed:

  • Goodreads, book page for Worth Defending: How Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Saved My Life (Richard Bresler, Scott Burr), publisher's description.(opens in a new tab)

    • According to the publisher's description of the memoir, Bresler invested in the first UFC and was ringside there with Hélio Gracie.

      Where in the source: Book description, sentence on the inception of the UFC: 'ringside with Hélio Gracie himself'

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    • According to the publisher's description, Bresler helped develop 'Krav Ground', a ground-fighting system for Krav Maga.

      Where in the source: Book description, bullet on Krav Maga: 'helped develop for Krav Maga'

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Eastern Europe (bjjee.com), 'Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pioneer Richard Bresler Passes Away', 6 July 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Eastern Europe reported on 6 July 2025 that Rener and Ryron Gracie had awarded Bresler his coral belt a few months before his death.

      Where in the source: Obituary, paragraph beginning 'Just a few months ago', on who awarded the coral belt: 'awarded Bresler his coral belt'

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    • Bresler was one of the investors in the first UFC event in 1993.

      Where in the source: Obituary, paragraph beginning 'He later became': 'investors in the very first UFC'

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  • richardbresler.com (Richard Bresler's own website), archived by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, capture of 14 July 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • Fábio Santos is quoted on Bresler's own website saying that he awarded Bresler his black belt.

      Where in the source: Archived richardbresler.com (14 July 2025 capture), testimonial from Fábio Santos near the end of the page: 'I awarded him his black belt'

      Accessed:

    • Bresler's own website said that he taught jiu-jitsu and practised alternative healing in Los Angeles.

      Where in the source: Archived richardbresler.com, 'About Authors' section, Richard Bresler paragraph, last sentence: 'practices alternative healing'

      Accessed:

  • Life Unraveled Podcast (Podbean), 'Jiu-Jitsu Unraveled #52 with Richard Bresler', 31 January 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • Rorion Gracie has described Bresler as one of the pillars of jiu-jitsu in America.

      Where in the source: Episode notes, first paragraph, Rorion's quoted statement: 'one of the pillars of Jiu-Jitsu in America'

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    • In January 2024, before his coral belt, Bresler was presented as a sixth-degree black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: Episode notes, first sentence: 'sixth-degree black belt'

      Accessed:

  • Martial Journal, Richard Bejtlich, 'Book Review: Worth Defending', 25 November 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • Worth Defending: How Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Saved My Life, by Richard Bresler and Scott Burr, was first published on 12 November 2020 through Kindle Direct Publishing.

      Where in the source: Review header, 'Publication Date' line: 'November 12, 2020'

      Accessed:

    • Reviewer Richard Bejtlich wrote that the Gracie Academy and the UFC would not have been funded without the support of Bresler and his family's small businesses.

      Where in the source: Review, 'Pros' paragraph: 'would not have been funded'

      Accessed:

    • According to the review, Bresler advised older jiu-jitsu practitioners to adopt a self-protection mindset and avoid aggression in class, especially with new or younger training partners.

      Where in the source: Review, 'Pros' paragraph, last sentences: 'self-protection mindset'

      Accessed:

  • GracieBreakdown (YouTube), 'How BJJ Started In America', 23 November 2021.(opens in a new tab)

    • In November 2021 the Gracie Breakdown YouTube channel published an interview with Bresler titled 'How BJJ Started In America', describing him as the American who knows most about the beginning of BJJ in the United States.

      Where in the source: Video description (published 23 November 2021), first sentence: 'No American knows more about the beginning of BJJ in America'

      Accessed:

Research

Genealogy and source research: Josh Simon, simonbjj.com(opens in a new tab)

Lineage

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