{"product_id":"2940015814170","title":"The Beginner And Advanced Guide to Jiu Jitsu","description":"Now that brazilian jiu-jitsu and the UFC have become global phenomena, I can’t help but feel that the martial arts have lost a certain something.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor every humble and balanced Marcelo Garcia out there, there are a thousand guys in Affliction t-shirts training at ‘Death-Kill MMA’ or someplace similar.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI’ve owned my share of Tap Out clothing and God only knows I’ve indulged the aggressive aspects of my nature on the mat, but at this point in my life jiu-jitsu is not about that anymore. One event in particular was responsible for a complete change in my comprehension.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was in early 2005 during my first trip to Brazil to train at the world-famous Gracie Barra headquarters in Barra da Tijuca, Rio.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was close to the end of an intense training session and after several tough matches in the humidity, the entire class was gassed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI was 26-years-old, a strong purple belt at the time, coursing with testosterone and ambition. Physically, I was not far off my prime. Add in a burning desire to reach the black belt and you had a recipe for a pretty tough grappler. I could give most black belts a run for their money and even beat a few of them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere was one more bout to go, and I looked around the mat for what I considered would be a ‘light roll’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI noticed a guy who I had not yet sparred with. He was a black-belt, about 45 years old, and looked in reasonable (but not great) shape. I thought to myself ‘Let me give this old dude a decent workout’....More Inside","brand":"Roman Truve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47163818148080,"sku":"2940015814170","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940015814170_p0.jpg?v=1763624940","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015814170","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}