In a touching ceremony that marks both a milestone achievement and poignant moment for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, Richard Bresler, widely recognized as the first American student of BJJ, has been promoted to the prestigious rank of coral belt. The promotion was conducted from Bresler’s hospital bed, where he is currently battling stage 3 cirrhosis of the liver.
Bresler’s promotion was unique in its execution, conducted by Ryron Gracie and Rener Gracie, the sons of his original teacher, Rorion Gracie. While neither brother individually held the rank required for such a promotion, they made the decision to award the belt on behalf of the entire BJJ community, acknowledging Bresler’s immense contributions to the art.
“We believe that if we unite all of our forces, we can do this special gesture for a guy who deserves it more than anyone else,”
said Rener Gracie in the promotion video shared on social media. Ryron Gracie added,
“The gratitude never ends for Richard Bresler, from us and from all of Jiu-Jitsu.”
Bresler’s journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began in the late 1970s when he became Rorion Gracie‘s first American student. His influence on the sport has been profound and far-reaching. He played a crucial role in establishing BJJ in the United States, contributing to early demonstrations, challenge matches, and instruction in the Gracie Garages. He was also instrumental in founding the original Gracie Academy, where he served as one of the first certified instructors, and helped create and launch the UFC.
Upon receiving the promotion, an emotional Bresler stated,
“I’m very proud. I love Jiu-Jitsu. I always have… It’s priceless.”
This promotion makes Bresler the fourth American to achieve the coral belt rank, joining Ken Gabrielson, Jeff Hudson, and Roy Harris in this elite group. His elevation to coral belt comes as he faces significant health challenges, battling cirrhosis despite being known as a teetotaler and health advocate throughout his life.
The BJJ community has rallied around Bresler during this challenging time. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover his medical expenses, with contributions pouring in from across the martial arts world, including a $5,000 donation from Rorion Gracie himself.
Bresler’s legacy in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is chronicled in his memoir “Worth Defending: How Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Saved My Life,” which details his journey through the early days of BJJ in America, from the garage days to the inception of the UFC. As Rorion Gracie has noted,
“Richard is definitely one of the pillars of Jiu-Jitsu in America.”
Those wishing to support Richard Bresler in his battle against cirrhosis can contribute to his GoFundMe campaign, which has currently raised $39,847 toward its $100,000 goal.
