Rating: 
Summary: Good Technique, Not Perfect
Review: This book demonstrates the virtues of wrestling skills used against a larger, stronger, more aggressive opponent in a one-on-one fight with no rules and no time limit. It is expertly photographed, explained, and written with about 100 wrestling moves that form the basis for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You can't make a work better than this. The theory of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that you can totally nullify a striker by taking him to the ground where kicks and punches mean nothing. The fight is won with submission holds. The wrestling techniques are designed to frustrate the western wrestler by learning to fight with your shoulder blades against the ground, something that western wrestlers never encounter. The fundamental move is to grasp your opponent with your legs as well as your arms. Unlike other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will have an immediate positive effect in your fighting ability against most of the population, and with my two objections below, it is safe to learn.I have combat tested the technique against a drug addict in the subway who was threatening the passengers, and even hit a woman by accident. He would be about my size if I was still young and in good shape [thin]. I released a standing guillotine choke when I handed my glasses to my wife, and he took me down to the ground and got on top of me. He was somewhat skilled as a fighter himself, probably from reform school and/or prison. I just held him there in another headlock until the crowd pulled us up off the ground. He tried go get on the train with us when the police came. I guess I was in the right. The crowd all pointed at him and left me alone. The doors closed, he was under arrest, neither of us even had a bruise, and I was gone. I give it five stars, but you should be cautioned. Don't ever attempt the more advanced moves without the 8 years of professional instruction the authors recommend to earn a black belt. It is extraordinarily dangerous to allow even a moderately skilled wrestler to lift you up by the legs. The authors have counters for these moves that should never be used in a real fight by anyone but themselves. The bad guys can counter the authors more advanced moves and could kill or permanently maim them, and certainly you. These moves are banned in competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for good reason. The second thing you should understand is that eastern wrestlers shun punching in favor of elbow strikes because they view punching as ineffective. Go to a eastern wrestling class and note that they don't do push-ups. They frequently break each others elbows! It's better than brain damage!
Rating:
Summary: Self taught Jiu-Jitsu
Review: This book is full of excellent techniques. The Gracie's success in mixed martial tournaments proves the value of these techniques. All one needs is a practice partner and thorough study of this text to dramatically improve your fighting ability. I currently study Kito Ryu Jujitsu and find many of the Brazilain techniques more straight forward and just as (if not more) effective.
Others have pointed this out and I concur that the book could be organized better. There seems to be very lttle logic for the sequence of techniques. This book does not show everything needed to know in jiu-jitsu. It does an excellent job of providing detailed photos of some good techniques and submissions. Like the Gracie school of martial arts, they expect you to practice the techniques and fill in some of the blanks with actual experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Good basic book, lack of organisation
Review: This is a book about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an art that has revolutionised the martial arts world. Royce Gracie's incredible performances in the first four Ultimate Fighting Championships showed just how important ground fighting was to "real world" combat situations. There are a number of things that I like about this book. The first half of the book is titled "Theory" and provides a great introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It provides a good background information as well as dispelling myths such as "You can take on two or more skilled attackers at the same time". The next section is "Technique". The photos are large, clear and in colour. The text is also clear and easy to understand. The book suffers from lack of organisation and limited techniques. The techniques do not appear to be laid out in a well thought out manner. The book is laid out according to belt levels. However the distinction between techniques seems rather arbitrary. For example the "kimura" lock is not shown until purple belt even though this is quite a fundamental technique. Brazilian jiu jitsu and striking techniques are interwoven in no logical manner. Some fundamental techniques are also missing from the book. For example, only two guard passes are covered. To those are unfamiliar with BJJ, guard passing is one of the most important aspects. If you cannot pass the guard, then you cannot attain superior positioning from which to apply submissions. All techniques a done with a gi (uniform). The blurb boldly states "A Fighting Style for the Real World". Techniques should also be shown without the gi. Modern day mixed martial arts tournaments do not involve the uniform. Fighters square off in a pair of trunks only. The art has evolved a lot in the last ten years unfortunately this is not reflected in the book. Overall a decent introduction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. However there are certainly better books out there. I'm waiting for Gene Simco's book by the looks of things it holds a lot of promise. As an update to this review I'd like to say that the more I look over it, the more holes I find. I wish the book had some more information about the basic control positions. For example, the book lists the basic positions (mount, side control, knee ride, back mount and so forth) but unfortunately does not describe how to properly attain them. It's frustrating to attain a dominant position such as side control and then lose it due to insufficient knowledge of correct technique. Another deficiency is lack of escapes. On numerous occasions I've been caught on arm bars and triangles and have not had the faintest idea how to escape. Although tapping out is an important part of the learning process in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, my training has been much more satisfying since learning how to escape from these common submissions.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for beginners in BJJ and fighting!! (not dancing)
Review: I'm very impressed with this book. All the techniques are well explained and in many cases grouped together in a chain (ex: a sweep, then the counter to that sweep, then an armbar to counter the counter). It would have been good though if there was an index grouping techniques in different ways, like by type of move and position. I go to bookstores all the time and look in the martial arts books, all I see is CRAP. This is no doubt one of the best martial arts books out there on the shelves or available anywhere. Don't let the trolls and ignorant reviewers fool you. BJJ is a great art and this is a great book for beginners, which was the intent. Get a partner, flat surface and start practicing. I've seen and heard great things about The Fighter's Notebook, mentionned in another review. For more information, check out ... Never seen BJJ in action? ...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide to Jui-Jitsu!
Review: I read this book every day after jui-jitsu training and sometimes even before...a must buy.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview of the art
Review: I must say I had my doubts about this book, but at 20 bucks I took a chance. Everyone has commented on the production value, so I need not belabor the point. The introductory section on theory really lays out the essence of what the goals of a brazilian jiu jitsu fighter are in an erudite and clear manner. Every portion of this portion on theory is great and worth my 20 bucks. Any instructor struggling to provide a "take home message" for his or her students would do well to examine the first part of this book to be sure they are not missing an important point. I would say that all this material in the front is aimed at both beginner and advanced instructor, as there is a good bit that both will find new and informative. And I would have paid more money as a beginner to have this framework laid out in the wonderful manner with which it is done in this book.
There has been a good deal of complaint about the technical content of the material. "This is all beginner stuff." People say. Or maybe, "That will get you triangled into an early grave." Such criticisms have a limited validity. Sure the guard passes are basic, and may very well get you into trouble if performed against an advanced player but these techniques are aimed, I think, primarily at beginners. The techniques are also provided as examples of what the different belt rankings are doing, and exploring. They are not the end all be all or meant as some rigid set of techniques to be followed like some bad connect the dots approach to fluency in the art.
I would also like to defend the guard pass that will "get you triangled into an early grave." You know the one in which you put one leg over your shoulder and hold the other leg as you put pressure on your opponent with you body weight until the leg on your shoulder slips by and you can achieve side control. It works, and if you do it well (keeping control of the leg not on your should and bearing down with all your weight and keeping your head up) it works against opponents of all kinds of skill levels. I will concede that some techniques are basic, and that some I would never try (a guilloteine escape comes to mind). That is however a by-product of my more advanced position in the game. Also criticism has been leveled at the self-defense portion of the book, but the justification for that inclusion is laid out in the section on belt rankings. In all I can only say this is an excellent book, with much for the beginner and the advanced student to enjoy.
See you on the mat!
Rating:
Summary: Disorganized
Review: Overall this was a good book. One must credit the Gracies for acknowledging the lineage of their art (and its derivation from Kodokan Judo) without any of the hype or lies perpetuated by many of their followers. The book is written in a clear, serious, and thoroughly respectable style. Each technique is well-explained and well-illustrated. The theory section and training advice are particularly enlightening, even to people like myself who do not practice in the Gracie system. It would be an invaluable tool for judokas and BJJ practicioners, were it well-organized. The techniques are categorized by a percieved necessary level of skill, not by principle or situational utility. No charts or indexes breaking the techniques down by situation or principle are given, making using this book to supplement one's randori or situation drills difficult. I cannot fault the Gracies for including techniques in this manual which have little use outside of contests. It doesn't take much creativity to envision "real fight" applications of most of the techniques, most with little to no modificiation--and the Gracies give a few illustrative examples in their theory section--but some are far more geared to grappling matches than anything else, and the Gracies haven't marked them as such. Those who have detracted from this book because of its emphasis on fighting in a dogi don't understand the purpose of wearing the dogi for training. Kano introduced the modern judogi (used in the same manner in BJJ as in Judo) for a reason--to enable tori to grip uke and gain leverage safely, without using strikes or face, muscle, hair, and skin grabs. Any judoka or BJJ practitioner with half a brain knows this. The techniques are shown in uniform because BJJ is a martial art and is expected to be practiced. The Gracies are not trying to rip the public off by adding to the heaps of worthless "street survival" guides. This is a martial arts book with all the respectability that entails, and we should praise, not fault them for this. That having been said, the essential left out here is standing technique. Most BJJ players I have fought in Judo contests have a reportoire of throws and trips which were excluded here. As neither martial-arts contests nor defense encounters begin on the ground, it's important to know how to bring a fight to the ground on your own terms if that's where you are most confident. Knowing a basic hip toss (the only throw included) alone won't cut it. Thus I'd recommend Kano's Kodokan Judo as a supplement to this book.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and easy to read
Review: the book is clear and the instruction is very focus, i like the book because on each chapter is dedicated to every belt that need to study.being a beginner in BJJ i can focus on which techniques i need to study and focus, which is good. the color of the picture is very detailed, i think all BJJ student will benefit with this book, not only the color picture but also the paper they use to demonstrate the action. with this price you, can't beat it. Nat
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenol
Review: I've been involved in various martial arts for over 13 years now, and this book is the best overall martial arts book I've ever owned. My grappling improved almost overnight. Obviously, no book alone can do this without an understanding of the concepts and lots of willing training partners, but this book is a must have for anyone developing grappling skills.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book - Must Have
Review: This is a great book for anyone involved or wanting to get involved in Brazilian jiu jitsu. The techniques selected have geat scope covering all of the important areaas of the Martial Art. Also the photos are very clear and the way they are presented is very good. The authors Renzo, Royler and Kid Peligro are the best. Renzo and Royler have more experience and titles than most anyone and Kid Peligro trains with the best. I am in law enforcement and use many of the techniques in my work every week. This is a must have book for anyone looking for information and a guide to Brazilian jiu jitsu.
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