Opening Closed Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil (1904–1949) — Robert Drysdale

Drysdale’s historical study traces the early, messy birth of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, leaning on newspapers, archives, and first-hand interviews to separate folklore from fact. He reconstructs how judo/jujutsu arrived in Brazil, examines the roles of Japanese emigrés and Brazilian pioneers, and challenges simplified “single-family” origin stories.

The result reads like a curated documentary in book form: photos, timelines, and commentary that clarify who taught whom—and when—between 1904 and the late 1940s. It’s aimed at practitioners who want receipts, not mythology.

https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Closed-Guard-Origins-Jiujitsu-Brazil/dp/B0BTKDNXCN