Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil

Choque traces the development of jiu-jitsu in Brazil from 1856 to 1949, documenting the key figures and events that shaped the martial art's evolution. The book draws from period newspapers, magazines, and primary sources to establish an evidence-based historical record. Roberto Pedreira examines the roles of pioneers like Mitsuyo Maeda, the Gracie family, and other influential practitioners who contributed to Brazilian jiu-jitsu's growth. The narrative follows the emergence of challenge matches, academies, and teaching methodologies that defined the art's early years. The text includes translations of Portuguese-language sources and analyzes claims about jiu-jitsu's effectiveness against other fighting styles. Pedreira presents photographic evidence and contemporary accounts to verify or dispute various aspects of Brazilian jiu-jitsu's origin story. The book represents a significant contribution to martial arts scholarship by separating myth from documented fact, while exploring themes of cultural adaptation and the evolution of combat sports in South America. Through its rigorous research methodology, it establishes a new framework for understanding Brazilian jiu-jitsu's historical development.

Readers appreciate the book's research depth and challenge to common BJJ origin myths, with many noting it reveals facts omitted from other jiu-jitsu histories. Reviewers highlight the comprehensive source material and documentation. Criticism focuses on the writing style, which readers describe as dry and academic. Some note the text can be hard to follow due to its non-linear structure and dense detail. Multiple reviews mention the book needs better editing and organization. "Eye-opening research but reads like a dissertation," notes one Amazon reviewer. Another states "Important information buried in difficult prose." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (26 reviews) The book appears most popular among readers specifically interested in martial arts history research rather than casual BJJ practitioners. Several reviews suggest reading it alongside other BJJ histories for a complete perspective. No discussion forums or review sites outside of Goodreads and Amazon contain significant numbers of reader reviews for this title.

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🥋 Despite common belief, Japanese Jiu-jitsu was already being taught in Brazil as early as 1909, several years before the Gracie family became involved with the art. 🥋 Roberto Pedreira spent over 15 years researching and gathering primary sources in both Portuguese and Japanese to create this comprehensive history. 🥋 The book reveals that many early "challenge matches" in Brazil were actually choreographed exhibitions rather than real fights, similar to professional wrestling. 🥋 Mitsuyo Maeda, often credited as the sole transmitter of jiu-jitsu to Brazil, was actually one of several Japanese martial artists teaching in the country during the early 1900s. 🥋 The term "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" didn't become widely used until the 1990s. Before then, it was simply called "jiu-jitsu" in Brazil, and practitioners didn't make a strong distinction between Japanese and Brazilian styles.