Jujitsu: Basic Techniques of the Gentle Art/425

Rating:
Summary: Excellent approach to jujitsu
Review: This book does not attempt to cover the entire jujitsu syllabus, but addresses specific topics, such as dealing with multiple attackers, varyations on techniques and self-defence situations.
The techniques are well chosen and clearly illustrated.
This is a worthwile buy for anyone interested in jujitsu, but is most applicable to the senior kyu and early dan grades.
It is a pitty he has not followed it up with an "Advanced Techniques of Jujitsu".

Rating:
Summary: A Good Introduction to Stand-up Jujitsu
Review: This book does not teach Brazilian jujitsu. Understand that from the start. What it does teach is a variety of stand-up oriented holds, locks, and throws. While it does cover a little groundwork, the bulk of the book deals with self-defense situations which might typically occur on the street. It has been said that 95% of all streetfights end up on the ground. I think that it's safe to say that 100% of all streetfights start out standing up. The techniques in this book represent possible responses to that initial encounter. The text is clear, the photos are good, and the techniques are sound. While this is not the end-all of self-defense texts, it is a good place to start.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Introduction to Stand-up Jujitsu
Review: This book does not teach Brazilian jujitsu. Understand that from the start. What it does teach is a variety of stand-up oriented holds, locks, and throws. While it does cover a little groundwork, the bulk of the book deals with self-defense situations which might typically occur on the street. It has been said that 95% of all streetfights end up on the ground. I think that it's safe to say that 100% of all streetfights start out standing up. The techniques in this book represent possible responses to that initial encounter. The text is clear, the photos are good, and the techniques are sound. While this is not the end-all of self-defense texts, it is a good place to start.

Rating:
Summary: Don't dump on a martial arts book before practicing
Review: This book is exactly what it says- a book of basic techniques in Ju-jit-su. These are the techniques I've been taught and after practicing them for a couple years they do become second-nature and they are useful for practical self-defense. This is the way it is with all martial arts. People who read this book should understand that these techniques do require serious study and practice- as such, this book is really only useful as an accompaniment to a ju-jit-su class. Don't read the book and expect to be able to defend yourself, you will be sorely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic
Review: This book is simply unrealistic. Don't waste money on this. There are better books for beginners. 3 stars and I am being generous.

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic
Review: This book is simply unrealistic. Don't waste money on this. There are better books for beginners. 3 stars and I am being generous.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is a very good book on traditional Jujitsu. Though it was obviously written a few years ago, and the idealogies of Jujitsu have changed somewhat due to the introduction of Brazilian Jujitsu (which really isn't true Jujitsu), this text, none-the-less, is a great resource for the Real Thing.

Rating:
Summary: Old-school Ju-Jitsu book.
Review: This was an alright book on the Japanese (vs. Brazilian) Ju-Jitsu system. In the first part of the book, Mr. Kirby does his best to explain the physics behind Ju-Jitsu. I'll admit, I'm not sure how anyone could make that subject exciting, but Mr. Kirby's explaination was kind of dull to me. It seems to me like he explains "ki" as momentum, or kenetic and potential energy. If you dig physics, you might like this part. The good stuff is in the old-school self defense techniques. With a heavy emphasis on throws and locks (mostly to the arm), these moves are good for your basic one-on-one encounter (lots of shots to the groin here, too). While many throws require the use of a gi/jacket, just as many do not, and he end almost all sequenses with a lock of some kind. While this is no where near my #1 choice for a self-defense book, it does have a lot of good stuff in it. On the other hand, the moves themselves doesn't seem to be in any particular order. They don't seem to biuld on one another. The author sort of makes up for this by presenting a graph at the end of the book, showing what defenses can be used for such-and-such attack. Another point I'm not too cool about,as far as self-defense goes, is that plenty of the moves end with the defender on the ground with the attacker, and I think some of the "attacker's" movements aren't particularly realistic. This is OK for the perposes of learning to defend yourself, but is more about the techniques of the art of Ju-Jitsu. I didn't see too much in the way of sport/NHB or philosophy, either. Overall, with the exception of the graph, an unremarkable book. Guys with no grappling background will find it most useful, I think, as an intro.

Rating:
Summary: Old-school Ju-Jitsu book.
Review: This was an alright book on the Japanese (vs. Brazilian) Ju-Jitsu system. In the first part of the book, Mr. Kirby does his best to explain the physics behind Ju-Jitsu. I'll admit, I'm not sure how anyone could make that subject exciting, but Mr. Kirby's explaination was kind of dull to me. It seems to me like he explains "ki" as momentum, or kenetic and potential energy. If you dig physics, you might like this part. The good stuff is in the old-school self defense techniques. With a heavy emphasis on throws and locks (mostly to the arm), these moves are good for your basic one-on-one encounter (lots of shots to the groin here, too). While many throws require the use of a gi/jacket, just as many do not, and he end almost all sequenses with a lock of some kind. While this is no where near my #1 choice for a self-defense book, it does have a lot of good stuff in it. On the other hand, the moves themselves doesn't seem to be in any particular order. They don't seem to biuld on one another. The author sort of makes up for this by presenting a graph at the end of the book, showing what defenses can be used for such-and-such attack. Another point I'm not too cool about,as far as self-defense goes, is that plenty of the moves end with the defender on the ground with the attacker, and I think some of the "attacker's" movements aren't particularly realistic. This is OK for the perposes of learning to defend yourself, but is more about the techniques of the art of Ju-Jitsu. I didn't see too much in the way of sport/NHB or philosophy, either. Overall, with the exception of the graph, an unremarkable book. Guys with no grappling background will find it most useful, I think, as an intro.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for Beginners and those interested in the art
Review: This was overall a well done book. There are hardly any good holds or grappling techniques in this book. But there are a lot of great throws, and all the moves are mapped out in very well described and easy to fallow instuctions.There is also so much good information for beginners and those that are just interested in the art.