Skip to main content
The Strenuous Life Podcast

387 - The Most Successful Gracie Fighter Of All Time, with Robert Drysdale

From The Strenuous Life Podcast

May 26, 2023 · 1:39:10

Not only is Robert Drysdale a BJJ and ADCC World Champion, he has also conducted extensive research into the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this interview, he reveals some of what he's discovered, including...

01:54 - The first wave of jiu-jitsu in Brazil - Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie
04:35 - Exhibition and carnival fighting in Brazil
06:55 - Traditional jiu-jitsu style vs modified judo
12:14 - Training methods of the Gracie Academy in the '30s, 40s and '50s
18:43 - The second wave practitioners
19:47 - Waldemar Santana
22:49 - Carlson Gracie and the Rua Figueiredo Magalhães school
33:19 - How BJJ rule changes changed the sport
42:31 - Rolls Gracie
48:51 - Self-defense and Vale Tudo training
55:28 - Rolls Gracie death
1:00:55 - The Carlson Gracie tragedy
1:13:54 - Carlos Gracie Jr.
1:21:03 - Future rule changes, luta livre, and the sportification of jiu-jitsu
1:35:10 - The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the book

You can grab Robert's book, The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which goes into MUCH more detail on these topics at https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Evolution-Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu-Democratization/dp/B0C1JCNQ1P

Note that today's episode was also on my Youtube channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2ThcGhAlvs

If you found this episode interesting then a rating or a review to help get the word out would be SUPER appreciated.

Thanks,

Stephan Kesting

Report an Issue

Found outdated information, a broken link, or incorrect data? Let us know and we'll fix it.

0 characters (minimum 10)

We'll use this to follow up if needed

It's a mess, I know.

My goal is to build the most comprehensive BJJ encyclopedia anywhere — but good, accurate data is genuinely hard to come by. Records, gyms, belts and nationalities are pieced together from public and community sources, so some of it is incomplete, outdated, or flat-out wrong.

That's where you come in. If you spot something off, tell me and I'll fix it — every correction makes this better for everyone. This website wouldn't be possible without the community.