Rating: 
Summary: Great book with valuable information
Review: This book is great the instruction is very clear and the techniques are easy to use and very effective. The photos are very clear and the explanations as well.Royce is a legend in the sport and self-defnese is very important in todays crazy world. I reccomend it to everyone not just Martial Atists but women and teens
Rating:
Summary: The definite Bible of Self-Defense
Review: This book is great, it is the definite Bible of Self-Defense. Royce Gracie is the man that broke the old ways and showed the World that there is a new technique called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The pictures are great and the techniques even better. I liked the weapons defense a lot for the streets. A must have!
Rating:
Summary: great and very practical book
Review: this book is very practical. it simply and clearly explains basic and very effective self defense techniques. charles and royce are experts with a lifetime of training and practical application of self defense. a very good investment for anyone who who wants to protect themselves and their loved ones
Rating:
Summary: Self Defense that really works
Review: This book shows self-defense that really works. It doens't show any sports stuff or fancy moves only practical things that anyone can use. I am in law enforcement and have been in many of these situations and these escapes will help me in my work. Apparently the other reader did not see the book as it doesn't show anyone rolling around on the ground. It is all easy to use practical stuff that works for everyone, even my wife tried it!
Get this book if you want simple effective techniques to defend yourself!
Rating:
Summary: Great book, but be careful
Review: This is a great book by the greatest fighter on earth. However, when I ordered this book, I did not read close enough, and I thought I had ordered a book on the competitive/sport side of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. However, when I received the book, I saw that it was self defense techniques for real life situations. It is still a great book with great techniques, but look for Renzo Gracie's book if you are looking for the sport.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, depends on what you're looking for
Review: This is a pretty decent book depending on what you're looking for. Jiu-jitsu itself has been proven to be very effective in unarmed combat. (Reading this book does not teach you jiu-jitsu, although it does give you a grasp on the fundamentals.) Things get a little different against armed opponents. This book deals with both scenarios (vs. armed and unarmed). This book covers a bunch of basic jiu-jitsu moves and how they can be used in self-defense scenarios. The techniques incorporate both striking and grappling. These make for great "tricks" to use against an unsuspecting opponent, even if you don't practice jiu-jitsu. I agree with some of the concepts and disagree with others. I personally would prefer striking (chin, throat, groin) responses to some of the scenarios- as Krav Maga would advocate. I have some gripes.. I would like to see an index. I would like to see a little better organization. However, the pics are great (as with "Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique") and the text is well-written. I think the book is not a standalone guide to self-defense (which ideally should be methods taught & practiced with a qualified instructor). But it is a great addition to the bookshelf of jiu-jitsu practitioners and anyone else wanting a quick (shortcut) guide to self defense responses to common scenarios. I had written a 2-Star review previously and changed it because I saw Charles today and he seemed like such a nice guy (and he didn't kick my a$$).. ;) It really peeved me that there is no index, but I don't think its fair to rate this 2 stars just because of the lack of organization.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good, some bad, some dangerous
Review: Undoubtedly, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has proven itself to be indispensable in the ring of Mixed Martial Arts. Does this translate to the street? I believe so, but not without Muay Thai (another style that's proven itself in the MMA's ring), and, IMHO Taijitsu and something of the nature of Pencak Silat. This book has effective techniques for grappling situations. Royce has proven he is one of the best of the world in this area, again and again. However, it falls a little flat with the grabs (This is where Taijitsu comes in better). The techniques shown in this book for grabs, are what would be shown as "introduction techniques". They introduce a concept (pulling at the thumb), but by themselves, won't work very well. BTW...In the MMA ring, no one will ever grab somebody by the wrist. Maybe that is why this area of the book proves skimpy The strikes are fairly flat too. Royce has proven himself against striking arts repeatedly too, but his main concern is to get inside (The Gracie's all excel at getting inside). Then again, you only need to "master" a few strikes to be effective. However, Muay Thai and other arts, such as boxing will train you a lot better at this. WARNING: The knive techniques in this book will likely get you cut up or killed. They are extremely clumsy, and will only work if your attacker moves like a robot, or if you get lucky. The only system I've seen with effective techniques against a knife, is Pencak Silat (or similar styles) Two more quick notes: One. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, IMHO, is probably the most important style for a girl to learn in order to prevent being raped. Even an effective striker will often get overpowered by a larger, stronger, and tougher attacker. Also, in the case of date rape, a girl may already be in a clinch before she realizes something is going wrong. Bottom line, this style works well on larger, stronger attackers. (If you are well practiced) Two. Can one learn from a book? Yes and No. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Yes, if you have a few good training partners who don't give you the move. You can go all out in practice and not get hurt if you are mindful and smart. It would help if you have some street fighting experience, or training in a similar art, BUT you would progress MUCH faster with a qualified instructor. You will certainly miss some key elements without an instructor, however, you may well get good enough to save your butt. Striking arts: No. I don't think you could learn something like Muay Thai without a qualified instructor (Though a good book might help in your practice). Reason being, you can't tell if you are doing something effectively without knocking each other senseless, even with pads and gloves.
Rating:
Summary: Some good, some bad, some dangerous
Review: Undoubtedly, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has proven itself to be indispensable in the ring of Mixed Martial Arts. Does this translate to the street? I believe so, but not without Muay Thai (another style that's proven itself in the MMA's ring), and, IMHO Taijitsu and something of the nature of Pencak Silat. This book has effective techniques for grappling situations. Royce has proven he is one of the best of the world in this area, again and again. However, it falls a little flat with the grabs (This is where Taijitsu comes in better). The techniques shown in this book for grabs, are what would be shown as "introduction techniques". They introduce a concept (pulling at the thumb), but by themselves, won't work very well. BTW...In the MMA ring, no one will ever grab somebody by the wrist. Maybe that is why this area of the book proves skimpy The strikes are fairly flat too. Royce has proven himself against striking arts repeatedly too, but his main concern is to get inside (The Gracie's all excel at getting inside). Then again, you only need to "master" a few strikes to be effective. However, Muay Thai and other arts, such as boxing will train you a lot better at this. WARNING: The knive techniques in this book will likely get you cut up or killed. They are extremely clumsy, and will only work if your attacker moves like a robot, or if you get lucky. The only system I've seen with effective techniques against a knife, is Pencak Silat (or similar styles) Two more quick notes: One. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, IMHO, is probably the most important style for a girl to learn in order to prevent being raped. Even an effective striker will often get overpowered by a larger, stronger, and tougher attacker. Also, in the case of date rape, a girl may already be in a clinch before she realizes something is going wrong. Bottom line, this style works well on larger, stronger attackers. (If you are well practiced) Two. Can one learn from a book? Yes and No. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Yes, if you have a few good training partners who don't give you the move. You can go all out in practice and not get hurt if you are mindful and smart. It would help if you have some street fighting experience, or training in a similar art, BUT you would progress MUCH faster with a qualified instructor. You will certainly miss some key elements without an instructor, however, you may well get good enough to save your butt. Striking arts: No. I don't think you could learn something like Muay Thai without a qualified instructor (Though a good book might help in your practice). Reason being, you can't tell if you are doing something effectively without knocking each other senseless, even with pads and gloves.
| 
