Rating: 
Summary: Best of the many "Gracie" guides
Review: I'm a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who trains under Fabio Santos (5th degree Black belt under Rickson Gracie) in San Diego California. I've read nearly every Gracie technique guide and this one is by far the best.
Many of the moves are well depicted and explained. This book makes a great reference more than anything. You learn a lot of moves during a BJJ career, and to have this on the side of the mat at home while practicing can be very helpful. However, at-home training, reading, and mental exercises, can only amount to a fraction of what could be obtained under a "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" certified instructor. As long as you keep that in mind, this book can be very instructional.
Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: This book is great. Great detailed pictures. Easy to understand
Rating:
Summary: A must have for the beginner and veteran.
Review: This book is a great way to improve on your technique when you're not learning in class. I consider it the Cliff Notes of Brazilian JJ. The pictures are detailed and clear and the written instruction is easy to understand. However, just like Cliff Notes, you're not going to become a Jiu-Jitsu master by just studying the book. The real technique comes from hands-on lessons. The book also contains the history of BJJ that is garnished with many pictures. I would recommend this guide to anyone taking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Rating:
Summary: The REAL Gracie Bible!
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: 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.
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