The Story of the Movie "Redbelt"

This video will allow you to go behind the scenes into Street Sports Jiu Jitsu to discover the inspiration for David Mamet's epic movie "Redbelt". Included are interviews with fighters Renato Magno, John Machado and Randy Couture.

Black Belt Magazine on Redbelt The Movie

Black Belt Magazine recently interviewed David Mamet, writer and director of the movie Redbelt (and a Street Sports purple belt) about his involvement with Jiu Jitsu, training at the academy and his inspiration for the film.

Street Sports in Masters Magazine

Masters Magazine: The Making of Redbelt

In this issue of Masters Magazine they do a great job of getting some back story on Renato Magno and Street Sports jiu jitsu and some of the inspiration for the film Redbelt.

From the article, "Renato Magno is the product of elite teachers born in Brazil during a time when Gracies and Machados trained and surfed together as a big Brazilian family. Renato's background as an outstanding athlete, holding medals in judo and jiu jitsu, combined with his gregarious personality make him the 'diplomat of martial arts'. Don't be surprised if, while training at Street Sports, some of the biggest names in the martial arts industry stop by just to say hello."

Street Sports in RealFighter Magazine

RealFighter magazine recently delved behind the scenes into the making of the film Redbelt and talked to some of the key players in the martial arts world responsible for bringing the realism to the screen.

From the article:

"Mamet is a fine choice to lead the charge of MMA into the moviegoing mainstream. Over the past several years, he has earned a purple belt under Renato Magno, a BJJ instructor in Santa Monica, Calif. (In one for the "Fact is Stranger than Fiction" file, Mamet was reportedly introduced to BJJ by his rabbi.) According to Magno, Mamet walks the walk: "His jiu-jitsu is very technical and he did some boxing and grappling before. He has some good chokes and armbars," says Magno who appeared in Mamet's movie "Spartan" and helped choreograph the fight scenes in "Redbelt".

David Mamet in Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair has a funny 20 questions with Street Sports Purple belt and Writer/Director of Redbelt, David Mamet.

Party At Tribeca: Redbelt Premiere

Redbelt was chosen as the gala premiere for the Tribeca/ESPN sports film festival in New York and according to ESPN it was not your average festival opening. I guess that's what happens when you get fighters and artists in the same room, add alcohol and maybe a few b-list celebs.

"NEW YORK -- How to kick off a sports film festival: Take one totally off-the-wall David Mamet movie, add celebrity sycophants, a hint of paranoia and some anxious mixed martial artists, then liberally dump in overmatched security goons, the world's most famous magician, Steve Martin, Smash Williams and a dude who's lived with a fatwa over his head for the better part of two decades, and stir. Then, of course, turn away from this dangerous concoction -- pointing in any direction, really -- and run for your friggin' life." Full article here.

Also, more photos from the premiere here: Redbelt Tribeca Premeire Photos

Street Sports on ESPN.com

Sam Alipour of ESPN.com has written one of the best articles yet about Redbelt, the philosophy of jiu jitsu, and its importance to those involved in the film.

"'Redbelt' is Mamet's love letter to this nondescript building along a sun-bleached slab of Ocean Park Boulevard, the men who sweat here and its purveyor, Renato Magno, a BJJ black belt and Mamet's teacher of six years. It's why the notoriously private Mamet, also a celebrated playwright, fire-breathing essayist and a purple belt, has agreed to guide me into his safe haven where, it seems, only two rules apply: Remove your shoes and leave the outside on the outside."

Full Article Here

Street Sports in the LA Times

The Los Angeles Times drops by Street Sports Jiu Jitsu to interview David Mamet and Renato Magno about Redbelt the Movie and Mamet's inspiration for the film.

Full Article Here

David Mamet on The Fightworks Podcast

David Mamet, Street Sports Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and writer/director of the film "Redbelt" was recently interviewed on the the fightworks podcast about the upcoming movie and his experience in the sport.

Click here to listen to the interview (link to audio is near the bottom of the article).

David Mamet Interview - On Set of Redbelt

Here's another recent interview with David Mamet (the writer and director of Redbelt), professing to be a regular guy in a cowboy hat. David's a modest guy; not only is he a pullitzer prize winner and an academy award nominee, he's also an accomplished Jiu-Jitsu player and a purple belt at Street Sports BJJ under Renato Magno.

In the video you can also see Street Sports athletes Ray Mancini and Steve DeCastro doing some fight rehearsals.

The UFC and NBC Visit Street Sports

NBC Sports recently visited the Street Sports Gym in Santa Monica, CA to chat with some of the stars of Redbelt and film some of the fight choregraphy. Interestingly, David Mamet reveals that he had previously discussed making the film with Mel Gibson.

LA Times Article on Redbelt

The LA Times recently ran a brief article about the movie Redbelt in which they point out the irony of an intellectual filmmaker like David Mamet acting as the catalyst that caused big Hollywood to recognize MMA and Jiu Jitsu as mainstream entertainment.

Photo Courtesy of LA Times and Sony Pictures Classics.

Fox Sports interviews David Mamet about the movie Redbelt

Fox Sports recently stopped by the Street Sports Gym to interview David Mamet and to gather some footage of Renato, Rico Chiapparelli, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and others as they prepare for the film.

Announcing Redbelt the Movie

Production for the movie Redbelt has been started. The film is the first major motion picture centered around jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts and is being written and directed by Academy award nominee David Mamet. The film is being financed and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.

Renato Magno will be acting as the Jiu-Jitsu consultant for the film. In addition to Renato, an all-star cast of martial artists has been assembled to act in or choreograph fight scenes for the movie.

Keep reading this blog (or better yet, subscribe!) for more information and behind the scenes info on Redbelt the movie.