While appearing an undeniably masculine sport, Jiu Jitsu possesses feminine elements, producing a kind of ambivalence.

It was my curiosity into its duality, caught between gentleness and brutality, which inspired this project. I set out to explore the relationship of intimacy and violence among training partners, the speed and gracefulness of the techniques, their structural and fluid nature.

I began training at the Lakeland gym in Mullingar, getting to know the members, going to competitions, and studying the history and philosophy of Jiu Jitsu. By totally immersing myself in the sport and its culture, I documented every facet of the experience of martial art from the training, techniques, victories and defeats to the long-lasting friendships.

A digital version of the book is available here.