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Becoming the Black Belt
- One Man's Journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- Narrated by: Roy Dean
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Sports
Non-member price: $27.79
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Publisher's Summary
Roy Dean retraces the trials and tribulations he faced in learning the sophisticated art of Brazilian jiujitsu from early competition experiences in Southern California to running a world class academy and sharing that journey online. The lessons he learned are the lessons he shares with you.
A must-listen for martial arts professionals and serious students of the path.
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What listeners say about Becoming the Black Belt
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Michael
- 09-11-2019
Great stories with lessons
Great for jiu jitsu pracitioners. Great stories and takeways of how Roy Dean's Jiu-jitsu orientated life has helped him
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- jared l
- 27-11-2019
Incredible!
I already read the hard copy several times. Even more enjoyable listening to Roy reading the audible version. Cannot recommend enough.
3 people found this helpful
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- Rafael
- 08-11-2019
Exact, precise and effective!
Great book I highly recommend it complements all his other work on the Gentle Art!
3 people found this helpful
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- anelle
- 06-11-2019
Love the book
Great book truly awesome also enjoyed the fact it was read by the author who lived his journey
3 people found this helpful
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- Maria
- 22-02-2020
Labor of Love on Many Planes - Illuminating Read
Roy Dean opens up uniquely yet again with this book, taking us along for the ride as we drive with him down this stretch of his memory lane. A martial artist, a master within the arts, a thinker, a leader, a man - we hear him in many forms and glean our own takeaways, relatable moments, and lessons as fellow individuals on our own paths. His "middle path" approach to life spills over into communicating in a way that is welcoming and easily engaging to a wide range of readers/listeners. So, whether you are a martial artist or not, you can ease into understanding the logic behind his choices and remain interested in why/how he climbed the steep and arduous path to black belt and beyond - a metaphor for many challenges and accomplishments we all face and taste in life. As a fellow martial artist, seeker of wisdom, and a follower of the path, I value this work for what it gives to not only those of us who belong to this martial arts tribe of sorts, but what it can offer future generations. Perhaps into the decades and centuries ahead, people will still enjoy and find meaning and inspiration in this tale of one man's martial journey. It's a standout, and I can't think of any other modern day martial artist who speaks so eloquently and piercingly. A gem of a tiny slice of history.
2 people found this helpful
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- Kelsey Preuss
- 15-01-2020
worth the time
enjoyed the story, some of it was a little self involved I think, but overall a good listen in the bjj world
2 people found this helpful
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- Jeffrey Clorley
- 06-05-2020
Good but a little flawed
Roy's story was good but there was a little too much info about his love life and music career. would've been a 5 if it was focused a bit more on the bjj journey.
1 person found this helpful
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- Vincent
- 04-02-2020
a must-read for any Jiu-Jitsu practitioner
this is probably one of the most relatable BJJ stories to anyone who is practicing in the art.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 23-09-2020
Would recommend
Would definitely recommend. It really opens your eyes to what it takes and all the sacrifices to get to the elite level in bjj.
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- Kristian Tyler Castaneda
- 05-06-2020
Nice insight into the man’s journey
Written well, narrated well. Having been familiar with the stuart cooper event that blew up at the time online, roy’s placement and of the women in his journey makes him out to be a bit strange imo. I’m here for his martial arts journey, not his description of Scandinavian women. Overall would recommend
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- laudo deus
- 29-05-2020
A fantastic Book about a Jiu Jitsu journey.
If you haven’t watched a Roy Dean video, take a few minutes and look up Roy Dean on YouTube. They are exceptional videos about Jiu Jitsu and the art of Jiu Jitsu. This Book is no different. Roy Dean himself does the narration of the entire book and it is captivating. He shares his own experience in his journey from his beginnings in Martial Arts to the writing of the book. It’s a long and interesting journey Roy shares with us. I would highly recommend reading, Becoming the Black Belt by Roy Dean.
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- Brett Martin
- 11-11-2019
Excellent
This audiobook is fantastic. The production quality is excellent, with Roy Dean reading in a very intellectual and enthusiastic manner which makes it thoroughly enjoyable. His passion is obvious in the way he reads throughout the entire book. The content is brilliant. Roy Dean shows a very human side to his success, with doubts, fears, insecurities and a warrior spirit to conquer them all. Lots of valuable lessons in this book which can only stem from years and years of experience. Thank you Roy Dean for this great insight into your life!
1 person found this helpful
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- PM
- 06-11-2019
Loved it.
Been a fan of Roy Dean the moment I saw blue belt requirements. Thanks for sharing your story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Aidy
- 16-09-2020
good story
fan of his Jiu-Jitsu and teaching methods though i'm much less interested in who hes dating or sound design equipment all in all good if you're a fan of his but the personal stories are a little strange
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- Anonymous User
- 11-05-2020
amazing book and it gives a great insight!
great book! it really gives a brutally honest account of the highs and lows of the bjj lifestyle at the highest level.
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- Phillip
- 18-02-2020
Lots of good insight, really enjoyable
Thank you Roy Dean for sharing your story, very inspiring, your narration of your book was excellent!!!
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- Richard Winter
- 01-02-2020
great audio book
Thought the content and the narration was good and like fact the author is also the narrator well worth a listen
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