Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't get any better: here's your Jiu Jitsu Bible
Review: I've got a few BJJ books, but this one takes the cake. It's a virtual bible of technique, clearly explained and demonstrated (hard in a book sometimes) and with a typical Gracie attention to detail. You won't be able to learn BJJ from a book, but if you're a student--like me--you'll LOVE this because how many times have you learned a new technique and then forgotten it? Or at least a key element to it? You've got it just... up... to... this... point... and then you can't remember the finish.That's why this book rocks: go look it up! You'll find yourself saying "AHHHH... dammit! THAT'S it! That's what I forgot!" It's awesome for that reason. It's not particularly loaded with super-advanced techniques, but you ought not be worried about those until you've mastered all these--and this will keep you busy for a long, long time. I saw this book at my BJJ school and came home to order it ASAP. This is as good as it gets. I know the Grappler's Manual is also supposed to be incredible, too, but I have not yet seen that. Buy it. You'll be using it for years.
Rating: 
Summary: pretty !!
Review: this book is very nice looking!however,i must say that this book was a bit of a let down. its a good book,the techniques are decent,and a great chapter on its history and evalution were a nice addition! renzo, and royler are both FANTASTIC athletes! the book however does not show this. just like gene lebells grappling encyclopedea.many of the techniques are very basic, and it mixes both vale-tudo(no-gi) and sport jiu-jitsu techniques in its format. it rarely ever comments on this though. again many moves are very basic and both royler and renzo are wearing white gi's. this makes it more difficult to see whats happening when they are tied up. again i am a big gracie fan and have been since the early 90's but this book doesnt show there true championship form! on the bright side the book again has a very informative chapter on bjj history and evalution. most of the pictures are very nice but small and again their both wearing white gi's. this does occasionaly make it diff. to fallow. sorry to say but im sure they will someday do another that will beat all! (or i hope they do,the markets small, and there are the best!)
Rating:
Summary: The REAL Gracie Bible!
Review: This book is the absolute BIBLE of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. It covers all the technqiues by color-coding the pages so you sequentially learn the Gracie system from Blue Belt to Black Belt. I attend Reylson Gracie's academy (son of Carlos Sr., inventor of Gracie Jiu Jitsu) and I can assure you the techniques in this book are true to the Gracie system. At any time I can use this book as a reference of past techniques or what is coming up in my next lesson. Gracie Jiu Jitsu is a way of life. Having the confidence to learn the techniques at the academy and then keep my skills fresh and razor sharp at home is perfect. I wouldn't trade for anything. Now for the real surprise. Get this book and one of the Gracie's Bubba Grappling Dummies to practice your moves and you're Golden.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: Pros:
this is a great book for virtually any novice jui jitsu student. this book clearly describes 110 techniques ranging from anywhere between tying the belt to a helicoptor armbar. Each technique has an intoduction explaining why it is useful and when to use it followed by a number of useful photographs showing every step of the move along with descriptions. This book also contains breif descriptions of jui jitsu theories i.e THe effectiveness of ground fighting as a means of self defence, why early mixed martial arts competitions were dominated by brazilian jui jitsu competitors, and how to properly conduct yourself in training as well as history.
Cons:
1) the descriptions of the techniques can be very dry, long, and somewhat unnecessary for instance the descriptions can say something like "renzo stands up in roylers guard and places his hands on roylers collar" when in the photograph next to the description you can clearly see that that is exactly what is going on. therefore i don't believe that it is necessary to describe the photograph.
2)Advanced students (blue belts and higher for the most part) won't find much that is new to them as i believe that jj machados book is more suited towards that level.
Verdict: buy it.
Rating:
Summary: There's the BEST then there's the BESTEST
Review: ...ok bestest isn't a word but in this case it should be. I learn by watching. During class, my instructor Jay (worldthreatjiujitsu.com) shows us a couple of techniques. Some of us are standing and some are kneeling while we watch the move. I'm always standing so I'm prepared to walk around Jay while he demonstrates the technique. This allows me to get multiple views of the move. It's not possible to learn the move properly by watching from one position. What IS missing from class demonstrations (sometimes) are `sidebar` type comments, the comments `between` steps of each move. You usually get that when he is done and he watches what you are doing wrong or you just try it yourself and figure it out through practice. The book explains all these intricate steps between the moves AND provides pictures of them too. For the purpose of giving the most accolades for this book, my view is: By using this book solely as instruction and practicing with a partner, it wouldn't be necessary to go to a class to learn Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Although, NOT going to class would be stupid.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT JIU JITSU BOOK
Review: I bought this book when I was a whitebelt with about 2 weeks jiu jitsu experience, with the intention of actually "learning" moves from it. The book definately served me in that aspect as I was able to get an understanding of the moves from the excellent pictures and descriptions in the book and apply them when sparring. Now that my understanding of jiu jiujitsu has grown, I still come back to this book, not to learn moves, but for the details of how to correctly do them. The pictures and descriptions in this book are excellent, and this book is very useful for both beginners and advanced practicioners. Even now, I still find details in the book that I use to improve my game. Buy this book. Your jiujitsu will improve. Possibly the best jiujistu book ever (i've only seen a few of them, but of the ones i've seen this is by far the best).
Rating:
Summary: this book is the best
Review: I've seen a lot of giraffe hunting manuals in my time, but this one is the worst ever made.
Where are the single picture of a giraffe in this book.
Secondly, why are these men wearing those robes?
How do they keep them so white and clean out on the hot african savanah ?
Totally impractical.
Only a fool would by this book. Therein lies the jib. In this sense its a brilliant cash cow, a real genius scheme, if i do say so. Brilliant! Good show then!Let the cash roll in boys, and my 5 stars to you as well.
Rating:
Summary: If you wnt to know BJJ, buy this book
Review: This is a great book with tons of pictures and great instruction. You'll still need to join a gym to learn, but this is a great companion!
Rating: 
Summary: Good look at the world of brazilian jujutsu!
Review: Although it is a bit old (world of MMA has changed a lot since those days) it still provides the techniques that you need to survive in the ring. Self-defence techniques were a fun(?) extra in the book. The teachings were very well illustrated and easy to read. I don't recommend this book to those practitioners who already have enough knowledge about brazilian jujutsu (more than 6 months of training). But it's a great looking book! Buy it for your friend for christmas, if he/she is into grappling!
Rating:
Summary: Very good BJJ book
Review: This book is a must-have for BJJ students, MMA competitors, or anyone interested in expanded & improving their grappling arsenal. This book is largely broken down by what techniques are taught at certian belt levels ("Blue Belt Techniques", "Purple Belt Techniques"), and are as basic as tying the belt and as advanced as handstand sweeps. The writters pay very accute attention to detail, and the many close-up photos show that. The photos are all in color, which is also a plus. I dislike, a little, how some sequences are not shown back-to-back (blue belt headlock escapes are techniques 28 & 29, then 35 & 36), but some do. There is also a pretty good theory/history of BJJ at the beggining of the book. Overall, while not a life-altering publication, a well-written and technicaly supperior book. I believe it would be complemented by other books by the Gracies.
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