This book has ten main chapters, and about 254 pages, not including the notes and pictures.

The Foreword by Jocko Willink describes the effects Jiu Jitsu has had on his life. Willink describes his introduction to Jiu Jitsu in the 90s, his early training sessions, and getting to meet Rickson Gracie. Willink was only a blue belt when he got to roll with Rickson, and he explains how the lessons Rickson taught seemed to apply not only to his life as a SEAL, but to life in general.

In the first chapter, Gracie discusses the history of the Gracie family. He traces his roots all the way back to Scotland; and mentions important figures in history, including Hideyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie and Helio Gracie, Rickson's father. Rickson covers many details about his family, including Carlos and Helio having thirty children, and his biological mother being African Brazilian.

Over the next few chapters, Gracie describes his upbringing as a proud member of the Gracie family of fighters. Throughout the book there are wonderful pictures of members of the Gracie family, many very old black and white images. Gracie describes the influence of his reckless cousin Rolls, his dog Thor, and his association with a street gang, and Roll's training with the American wrestler Bob Anderson. Gracie explains how his love of surfing ended up with him getting into a legendary fight with Hawaiian surfer Byron Amona. Gracie details his teenage life, and recalls the epic first fight with King Zulu. He explains the influence of Orlando Cani, and how he learned to control his breathing. He also covers his marriage to his wife Kim, his starting a family, and the death of Rolls.

As Gracie continues telling his life story, he covers the rivalry between Jiu Jitsu and Luta Livre, as competing fighting style in Brazil. He describes his moving to America, and teaching students in the US. He recalls training his brother Royce for the first UFC tournament, and the subsequent explosion in popularity of BJJ in the US. Gracie describes his decision to fight in Japan, his experiences with the Yakuza, and several epic fights. The last few chapters deal with the tragic passing of his son Rockson, the death of his father Helio, and his marriage to his new wife Cassia.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Rickson Gracie is a legendary figure in MMA history, and perhaps the most impressive Jiu Jitsu practitioner of all time. Reading the story of his remarkable life was both entertaining and informative, and I appreciated hearing his perspective on martial arts; and life in general. There is some wisdom here, and valuable lessons one can learn from Gracie's experiences.

This book has ten main chapters, and about 254 pages, not including the notes and pictures.

The Foreword by Jocko Willink describes the effects Jiu Jitsu has had on his life. Willink describes his introduction to Jiu Jitsu in the 90s, his early training sessions, and getting to meet Rickson Gracie. Willink was only a blue belt when he got to roll with Rickson, and he explains how the lessons Rickson taught seemed to apply not only to his life as a SEAL, but to life in general.

In the first chapter, Gracie discusses the history of the Gracie family. He traces his roots all the way back to Scotland; and mentions important figures in history, including Hideyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie and Helio Gracie, Rickson's father. Rickson covers many details about his family, including Carlos and Helio having thirty children, and his biological mother being African Brazilian.

Over the next few chapters, Gracie describes his upbringing as a proud member of the Gracie family of fighters. Throughout the book there are wonderful pictures of members of the Gracie family, many very old black and white images. Gracie describes the influence of his reckless cousin Rolls, his dog Thor, and his association with a street gang, and Roll's training with the American wrestler Bob Anderson. Gracie explains how his love of surfing ended up with him getting into a legendary fight with Hawaiian surfer Byron Amona. Gracie details his teenage life, and recalls the epic first fight with King Zulu. He explains the influence of Orlando Cani, and how he learned to control his breathing. He also covers his marriage to his wife Kim, his starting a family, and the death of Rolls.

As Gracie continues telling his life story, he covers the rivalry between Jiu Jitsu and Luta Livre, as competing fighting style in Brazil. He describes his moving to America, and teaching students in the US. He recalls training his brother Royce for the first UFC tournament, and the subsequent explosion in popularity of BJJ in the US. Gracie describes his decision to fight in Japan, his experiences with the Yakuza, and several epic fights. The last few chapters deal with the tragic passing of his son Rockson, the death of his father Helio, and his marriage to his new wife Cassia.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Rickson Gracie is a legendary figure in MMA history, and perhaps the most impressive Jiu Jitsu practitioner of all time. Reading the story of his remarkable life was both entertaining and informative, and I appreciated hearing his perspective on martial arts; and life in general. There is some wisdom here, and valuable lessons one can learn from Gracie's experiences.

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.)

The 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.

This 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.

Informative biography about a BJJ legend. Great perspective from someone who grew up when BJJ (and MMA) were just starting to form, thorough history lesson on how BJJ was developed as well as insight on the dynamics between the iconic Gracie family.