Grappling Master: Combat for Street Defense and Competition

Rating:
Summary: Great book on submission holds!
Review: I love this book. It gave me my first experience with submission holds, and taking what I learned, I tapped out a BJJ blue belt who outweighed me by 40lbs. And that was when I didn't know any throws, pins, or escapes. That's how good this book is. "Judo" Gene starts off with the very basics of grappling with showing the ways to grip your hands together, including his "three-fingered" grip, and why not to lace your fingers together. Then he demonstrates his 'slap-and-catch', which is a way to extend your opponents arm for locking. Then it's on to the holds. The holds are classified by what part of the body they work on, and include "Rib Crushing" and "Head Lock Varieties". At the end of his book is a "Grab Bag" chapter, which is just a bunch of seemingly random techniques. Some of the moves in this book are very complex, and best suited for showing off, but many are very good, and hardly ever seen in jujitsu or MMA competition, like the over-scissors and short-arm scissors, but I can tell you from experience that they work. This isn't a self-defense book per say, but many of the moves could be incorperated into self-defense training. Though it was written first, "Grappling Master" seems like the abridged version of Gene's "Grappling Encyclopedia", and I'd recomend that one get "Grappling Master" first, as most of the techniques are simplified from "Encyclopedia". The only things that detract from this book is that there are no "heel hooks", and that the pictures were originally taken in 1986, so they don't look so great. However, these holds are about as close to "catch wrestling" as any book I've ever seen, and include some "ripping" techniques. A good buy, especially for someone who knows nothing of grappling holds.

Rating:
Summary: Not a Self-Defense Book, ( i secound this view )
Review: Not a Self-Defense Book,
The book is not about self defense or street defense as the title alludes to. It is a book with great submission holds. But, before one can attempt to apply these submission holds they must be capable of fighting hand to hand and then successfully and safely be able to place their attacker into one of these holds; not likely without alot of previous experience and training. Pass on this book unless you are an experienced fighter looking for some good finishing holds;

but the book does a poor job is detailing the application of these techniques

Rating:
Summary: Not a Self-Defense Book
Review: The book is not about self defense or street defense as the title alludes to. It is a book with great submission holds. But, before one can attempt to apply these submission holds they must be capable of fighting hand to hand and then successfully and safely be able to place their attacker into one of these holds; not likely without alot of previous experience and training. Pass on this book unless you are an experienced fighter looking for some good finishing holds; but realize for everyone of these holds there is at least one counter or escape move, so learn those also. For those of you looking for self defense books refer to my "Listmania" suggestions.