Rating: 
Summary: A Decent Introduction to BJJ Locks & Chokes on the Ground.
Review: This, like the other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) books which have come onto the mass market in the last year, are loooong overdue (by about 10 years!). Rigan (Hee-gan) Machado introduces the theory of BJJ, his family's history (the Machado brothers studied under Carlos Gracie and are cousins to the Gracies), and then goes right into applied ground techniques: Arm locks (chapter 2), followed by Leg Locks (chapter 3), Chokes (Chapter 4), and grappling without a gi (Chapter 5).The best place to learn grappling is from a teacher, but for those without an extensive range of ground techniques who haven't the time or money to find a teacher, or anyone who just wants to see the differences down on paper this volume focuses almost entirely on the ground applications of techniques which many arts lack. Those who already have backgrounds in judo or wrestling will enjoy the BJJ variations of techniques with which you will, for the most part, probably be familiar with, in theory if not practice. Another excellent volume to consider is "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Practice" by Renzo and Royler Gracie.
Rating: 
Summary: Warning: Not for beginners!
Review: Though the book is kind of small, it does have probably the greatest variety of submissions for the least amount of space. Most of the book is devoted to submissions with a gi, but there is a chapter on non-gi hooks. The book is organized, chapter-wise, into the part of the body the hold works (legs, chokes, arms). It's not as detailed as other works, and covers only submission holds (instead of throws, strikes, possitions, reversals), and in that, I think the title is misleading. But if you're going to be using a gi with your submissions, go ahead and pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Best bang for your buck, where submissions are concerned.
Review: Though the book is kind of small, it does have probably the greatest variety of submissions for the least amount of space. Most of the book is devoted to submissions with a gi, but there is a chapter on non-gi hooks. The book is organized, chapter-wise, into the part of the body the hold works (legs, chokes, arms). It's not as detailed as other works, and covers only submission holds (instead of throws, strikes, possitions, reversals), and in that, I think the title is misleading. But if you're going to be using a gi with your submissions, go ahead and pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great cover. Lousy inside.
Review: Unfortunately someone beat me to writing my thoughts of how lousy this book really is. Too bad considering the talent of the subject. The black and white pictures have little contrast to decipher what the combatants are doing. Many times the camera angles miss the important hand hold or actual technique required to be seen. The descriptions are almost non-existent and occasionally placed with the wrong picture. Unique Publications, Inc. sure blew this one. Let's hope Rigan is more successful with a second book. Don't waste your money on this book. Instead get Gracie's JiuJitsu. High quality in a its details.
Rating:
Summary: Great cover. Lousy inside.
Review: Unfortunately someone beat me to writing my thoughts of how lousy this book really is. Too bad considering the talent of the subject. The black and white pictures have little contrast to decipher what the combatants are doing. Many times the camera angles miss the important hand hold or actual technique required to be seen. The descriptions are almost non-existent and occasionally placed with the wrong picture. Unique Publications, Inc. sure blew this one. Let's hope Rigan is more successful with a second book. Don't waste your money on this book. Instead get Gracie's JiuJitsu. High quality in a its details.
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