Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques

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Summary: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques
Review: A must have for every woman, I got my copy and have been practicing the moves with my friends, a must have book

Royce Gracie has proved himself and has been for the past 10 years fighting in no holds barred fights, I would say if I had to trust my safety to anyone it would be him
Jenny

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Summary: This book would get you hurt
Review: Alright, THIS IS a great book as far as photography goes. The photos are very clear and crisp and easy to understand. The techniques are easy to follow, however, I think they could have gone without the weapons section. The gun disarms would get you shot dead, with Royce having a gun to his head, then in the next shot, his right hand is on the gun and pulling it aside. No book should ever do gun defenses, because 99% of the time you'll get shot. The only reason I gave it 2 stars has to be because, while the gun and knife defenses (and stick for that matter) were very poor, the photography and easy to follow techniques were a big plus. More books should have photography like this. However, if you want a good book, try the Machado book or the one by Royler and Renzo Gracie.

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Summary: The quintessential self defense book!
Review: Being a black belt in Tae Kwon Do I am always looking for new books to improve my techniques and this book ranks above any I have found. What could be better than learning techniques from the master of the most effective martial art? This book presents a series of extrememely effective defensive techniques and demonstrates it in a clear and understandable way. The pictures, the moves, and the descriptions are all top rate! A must for everyone who is interested in the martial arts--beginners and experts alike.

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Summary: A strongly recommended instructional and reference guide
Review: Collaboratively written by martial arts champions Royce and Charles Gracie (with the assistance of martial arts writer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt holder Kid Peligro), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques is a superbly organized and presented martial arts self-defense resource offering direct, practical, "user friendly" instructions and effectively illustrated with numerous full-color photographs throughout. Techniques for protecting oneself when accosted in a wide variety of situations are carefully presented, along with cautions against common errors. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques is a strongly recommended instructional and reference guide, especially for those who already have some experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is the next best thing to taking a course from a certified instructor in person.

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Summary: Stand Up BJJ
Review: Excellent text on handling stand up aggresion with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Note: you DO NOT need to go to the floor! The book is divided into 103 sections or positions as the authors call them, each section on facing pages, so you don't need to turn the page to see the continuation of a technique. The grouping of the techniques is not really sequential.

The instructors wear colored clothing so that the pictures are clear and instructive (usually white gi clad instructors make it hard to see who's doing what).

The techniques are clearly explained with any subtlety noted. From the basics, palm and elbow strikes, how to fall, to advanced like club, knife and gun disarms (Yikes!) the book is fairly all inclusive (although the order of the techniques does leave much to be desired). This is a BJJ text on basic Standing Self Defense, so don't expect to see any new floor grappling techniques! The headlock escapes were novel though!

If you've studied traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu the techniques are familiar. Note: if you ever read Combat Jiu Jitsu by D'arcy Rahming then this is nothing new.

These are techniques, epecially the restraints, that every martial artist should know. If you're from a striking art these locks are especially useful since striking may not always be appropriate. As your primary means of self defense though, relying on these techniques could be tricky. Just keep in mind it takes skill to use them and that requires diligent practice and good instruction from a qualified teacher.

Now to the real question, are the techniques practical and effective? It depends. If an opponent is of equal or lesser size and strength then yes, WITH proper training and GOOD JUDGEMENT on when to use these techniques. If the opponent is larger then most likely no. Not without exceptional skill. These are not moves that anyone can learn and apply just from reading a book, ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING WITH WEAPONS. The authors clearly state that timing and speed are important, not to mention skill and practice. Don't believe that if the authors can make these techniques work then you can too! They've been training for decades, most likely you haven't.

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Summary: Good Basic Stuff
Review: First off I will give my main concern, and it is the concern of several other reviewers on this page. Organization. It is just plain bad. There is no real coherence to the piece, similar techniques are not grouped together. For instance, a better book would have grouped defenses against the stick together, defenses against various punches togther, bear hugs together and well, you get the idea. Instead the techniques are kind of smeared all over the book with no logical progression. There is also no real explanation of why you would attempt one defense as opposed to another. Like why would you go from hooks headlock escape to the frame up? It is touched upon, but not as it would be in a well ran class. But that is the problem of a book. Specifically you have limited space to try to impart the salient features of your art. So having said that here is why it is a good book.
These are all good techniques that make a two key assumptions. the first is that the altercation involves just you and the attacker, and the second, that the attacker is not a skilled fighter. That is the attacker makes a living (mugger, rapist whatever)with a very limited arsenal. The knife defenses are not performed against a filipino knife fighting master, the stick defenses are not performed against a filipino stick fighter, but against a fellow who has limited technical expertise, and no real plan. They are no less dangerous for that. But they are easier to deal with. This is probably a good statistical assumption to make. When you get grabbed as you pass an ally entrance and someone trys to take you away from the bright and safe lights of the streets, they are probably not martial arts masters. They are big guys (sometimes) who are utilizing surprise and violence of action to take a mark unawares. The techniques offered in this book are good first counter stratigies. Does that mean it is all you should know and that it will save your life everytime. No. And the authors say as much in the intro when they say the book is in no way a substitute for good instruction. It is a good supplemental to your self-defense training.
ALso to the reviewer who practices judo, the gun defenses are a last resort. They say in the text when confronted with a weapon try first to get away. I would further argue that fighting is your only option if your assailent wants to take you away. The history of that type of crime (kidnapping) indicates that you are being taken away for bad things and you will not be coming back. These defenses (against a gun or a knife) are for the victim who has run out of options and is running out of time. Not for someone who wants to play "hero".

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Summary: mistake...
Review: i got to look at this book because my order got mixed up. i had purchased Renzo Gracie's BJJ Theory and Techniques, but opened the box to see Royce Gracie's Street Self Defense. Oh well, might as well take a look... no way.

I personally train in judo, which is a grappling art, a little different than jiu jutsu, but essentially most of the ground work is the same. so i have a great respect for Royce and the Gracie system because i know that it works. However, the stuff that he tries to pull off in this book is somewhat insane. For example, taking on a guy with a pipe in his hand, Royce takes the guy down, but has his arms wrapped around the attackers body with the top of his head exposed and the attacker is still holding the pipe. He tries to take on a man holding a knife by grabbing his wrist. First off, if the guy wants to cut you, he'll be stabbing at you or swinging at you. so if by some miracle you don't get your fingers cut off trying to grab his arm, then when you actually do grab his arm, the guy can just turn his own wrist and stab you in your forearm. and you can see that proximity of the knife and your wrist in the pictures. I was wondering if that was a picture of what NOT to do. then there's the gun. well, if you want to be a hero and risk getting your head blown off, go ahead. i'd just give up my wallet. i think we've all seen the movies where the good guy wrestles the gun away from someone and we're thinking "why doesn't he (the bad guy) just pull the trigger?"

the book itself is presented well enough, although there really is no structure to it. moves are just presented in the order that they thought of them, it seems. nice pretty pictures though. But i think that a big part of what they left out is what to do when you have the guy in these finishing moves. i really don't think he's gonna tap out and leave you alone if you put him in an arm bar. you can only dislocate his arm once. then what? let him up so you can repeat the technique on his other arm? sit there with his broken arm between your legs until help arrives?

basically, if you're someone with a martial arts background, then these are things that you should already be able to figure out. besides dealing with guns. in fact, you should be able to come up with better things. that's one of the reasons you've been training. to be able to handle yourself and keep a cool head during this kind of situation. If you have NO martial arts training, and you think that this book is going to save your life, please remember that Royce has been doing this a long time, and he MIGHT be able to pull it off. The better bet for you might be to carry the book around, throw it at your attacker, and run while he's trying to figure out what the hell just happened... unfortunately my copy is on its way back to amazon.com.

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Summary: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques
Review: I just purchased the book and received it. Looking over the book I find it very informative and useful. I am a woman and for me these moves look like something I can learn. I have shown them to my friends and we started to practice some of them already.

I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing how to defend themselves

Jenny

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Summary: Not for the real world
Review: I know, I know, all you jiu jitsu lovers out there probably love the information in this book. I have worked in law enforcement and teach military members how to fight in real combat situations. I have practiced Judo and Jiu Jitsu for a long time. One of my instructors is a bronze medalist in Judo and is one of the finest Jiu Jitsu masters. I have worked in person with students of the ground fighting masters. These men are in fantastic shape. The techniques shown in this book can get you killed. If you get involved with a knife wielding maniac who feels no pain and you try most of the stuff in this book it will prove ineffective in most cases. I am sorry but I must tell the truth. If you like Jiu-Jitsu then practice the atemi (strikes) until you can deal with a raging fighter with a weapon. You will not get the locks and grapples to work against a knife moving at high speed. Check out some of the Close Combat masters books who have been in actual battle. Good luck, JR

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Summary: There is Much to be Gained from this Book
Review: I really like this book. Many of the self-defense techniques are from the true Gracie Jiu Jitsu curriculum. It's difficult and challenging to learn any Martial Art or Self Defense system from a book alone, but if you must, then this is the book to get. If you take lessons then this book is still a very worthy investment at such a small price. The layout and photos are awesome.

If you are going to execute these moves at home I highly recommend buying a rubber knife, rubber pistol, a stick, and lastly the official Gracie Grappling Dummy called Bubba. It's like having a 5'10 enemy with realistic joints that you can really practice the majority of the techniques. I have one and couldn't ever go back to shadow-practice. He even comes in a Gracie Gi uniform.