Brief Review of BJJ Books

**RoninPimp** · Posted On: 7/25/2005 9:30pm

I have "Passing the Guard" too. I like it. It it very well thought out. I bought it as a pretty new purple belt. I was doing a lot of the things in the book already, but it gave me a lot to think about. I can easily say it helped me refine may game.

The hardest part is getting the flow between all the different ways to pass. You start out doing one pass and it changes 3 or 4 times by the time you actually pass. Flow with the go I guess.

**Sh0t** · Posted On: 7/25/2005 9:42pm

I have the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique. I think it is pretty good. A

Some mini reviews:

Fighters Notebook B
Decent text, pictures are kindy iffy. It tries to be an "all in one" solution, covering scenarios from standing up at fairly long range to the ground and everything inbetween. No real detail at any range however.

Bas Rutten's Big Book of Combat Vol I and II

Must haves! But I am may be bias because I am a huge Bas Rutten Fan.

**FingerorMoon?** · Posted On: 7/25/2005 10:48pm

Bas's books are great but the layout was done by a retarded monkey, or by Bas himself after a big party. One of the two.
It has no flow at all. It just seems to be random techniques thrown together under general categories of 'armlocks' or 'leglocks'. They not even grouped together in general sections (eg. kneebars, anklelocks, heelhooks, etc), they're just everywhere.

The CDs are great fun though. 'Now we will practice armbarring the Hulk, No wait, Hulk is too strong, its not possible to armbar him.....BATMAN!...yes, now we will practice armbarring Batman'

**Ronin** · Posted On: 7/26/2005 6:49am

Originally Posted by RoninPimp

Not sure where this should go. If it's not here, please move.

I'm a bookworm nerd at heart so I tend to buy most books that come out on BJJ. This is my opinion on a few of them seen in the major bookstores. Hopefully my less than expert, but pretty experienced opinion will help a noobie to direct their $.

"Mastering JuJitsu"
by Renzo Gracie and John Danaher
-The first book all BJJ students should buy. Renzo needs no introduction. Danaher is a black belt under Renzo and has a PhD in Philosophy from Columbia. It shows in the text of this book. The history section is worth the price of admission all by itself. They cover, with known facts and lots of well thought out conjecture, the history of BJJ and it's sometime heatedly argued affiliation with Judo. Reading this will instantly cure you of masochistically lurking on a 10 page thread on BJJ vs. Judo.

The bulk of the book covers modern MMA competition and its strategy from every position. They give examples using modern fighters to support their points. All around great stuff. The techniques portion doesn't show a lot of techniques. This is a good thing. They show all the basic high percentage moves from modern MMA. The descriptions are long. They also talk about where a technique fits into an MMA fight strategically. This is the meat of the book and its great stuff.

The last part of the book goes into basic SD strategy. This is good stuff too. It covers empty hand SD. Lots of good common sense here. Pepper spray, sticks, knives, firearms, or any other weapon aren't in the scope of this book.

All in all, one of the few must haves. A+, even with the average pictures.

"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" Theory and Technique
by Renzo and Royler Gracie text by John Danaher edited by Kid Peligrio
-Had this one for a while. This book is really good. It covers basic BJJ history and strategy briefly at the beginning. Not to the depth of Renzo and Danaher's book, but still very well. The majority of the book is technique divided by belt color. I don't understand why certain techniques are in a particular groups, but they are all good sound BJJ that every student should try to learn. All techniques are shown in the gi, but a lot of them carry over to no-gi. As most basics in BJJ do.

Gets an A.

"Ultimate Fighting Techniques" Volume 1: The Top Game
by Royce Gracie with Kid Peligro
-This book is pretty new to me. It is a good one. Royce covers all the basics with excellent detail. The techniques in this book are how I try to design my game. That doesn't mean I try to copy Royce's fighting style. I just want to know all the techniques in this book in great detail. I do a lot of these moves in sparring and competition. My stand up game for striking is lacking so I do a lot of BJJ 101 to force a clinch too. The strategy for that is covered very well here by Royce. This is basic, but well rounded BJJ that covers the BJJ outlook from the top in great detail. I can't wait for Volume 2!

In a nutshell, if you take Renzo and Royler's book expand the material to 2 volumes and add more detail with great explanations you get this book. All techniques are shown in the gi, but a lot of them carry over to no-gi. As most basics in BJJ do.

Gets a solid A.

"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" For Experts Only
by Carlson Gracie with Julio "Foca" Fernandez
-This book isn't bad, but it doesn't cover any new ground. I know Carlson is great for BJJ, but this book kind of seems like a "I want to write a book too" type book. The theory is light. The details pretty good. I guess it's a pretty good overview of gi, no-gi, and MMA techniques. If that's what you want or need then it makes a good purchase. The truth is, if you learn and can perform all the techniques in this book at a high level, you would have some serious skills. The techniques are shown both in a gi and no-gi depending on their bias’.

Gets a B-.

"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" Championship Techniques
by Jean Jacques Machado with Kid Peligro
&
"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" Black Belt Techniques
by Jean Jaques Machado with Kid Peligro
-These books are great. I'm lumping them together because they go together. Black Belt Techniques is older but comes second in skills progression. Theory is covered real well, even good advice on sport strategy. All the fundamental techniques are covered between the two books. From standing up properly to the high-tech half guard sweeps you see in the tournaments. There is an overall sport BJJ feel to the books. That's OK, I love sport BJJ. Because of that though, a lot of the stuff in Black Belt Techniques doesn’t carry over to no-gi. Whether it’s sub wrestling, MMA, or SD.

I think these 2 books are the sport counterpart to Royce's "old school" BJJ book. Assuming Royce's second volume will be as good as the first.

They get a solid A each.

"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" Submission Grappling
by Royler Gracie with Kid Peligro
-This is a good solid book. It's good basic BJJ that works in a no-gi environment. Royler covers all aspects from takedowns to submissions.

Gets a B+

“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” Self Defense Techniques
by Royce and Charles Gracie with Kid Peligro
-Overall, I like this book. A lot of people like to bad mouth this book. I understand their criticism. There are quite a few techniques in this book that look ridiculous to me. Things I would not ever try. They all involve disarming weapons. I don’t know if there is ever a time to try and disarm a guy with a knife who is trying to stab you. Unless you find yourself in the proverbial dark corner of a dead end alley and disarming the infamous gang member is your only way out. I will never allow myself to be in that situation.

A few of the disarms do look doable. These are the techniques for when you’re being threatened with a weapon or the BG hasn’t yet drawn the weapon. A lot of the book covers BJJ basics. Nothing wrong with that. I’d say 50% is OK, 25% might work, but isn’t my style, the last 25% is stuff that is crap.

Gets a C-.

“The Gracie Way”
by Kid Poligro

-I really like this book. Probably because I’m a history geek. Lots of old photos in this book. Zero fighting technique or strategy. That’s OK because I like reading about this innovative, but somewhat dysfunctional family. Kid Peligro paints a very positive image of all the family members he discusses. He’s a family friend so that’s understandable. Recommended for the sheer joy of reading.

Gets an A.

All the books by "Invisable Cities Press" which is all of them except "Matering JuJitsu" are very well photographed. I don't know the story behind this publisher but they do damn good work. "Mastering JuJitsu"'s photo are average at best, but they get their point acroos. This book is published by "Human Kinetics". They print lots of good books on sports.

That’s all I got…

I would agree with your reviews, but not your ratings, at best they deserve a B, none of them are A material ( though JJM one certainly gets the closest).

**Shams** · Posted On: 7/26/2005 11:40am

UHH Can you now write a review on BJJ videos we can buy ...............that would help too

**Captain Spaulding** · Posted On: 7/26/2005 11:50am

http://members.aol.com/bjj33/billmain.htm

The review of Gokor's set is pretty funny. Among others.

**Guerrero** · Posted On: 8/08/2005 9:42pm

QUOTE=RoninPimp]"Ultimate Fighting Techniques" Volume 1: The Top Game
by Royce Gracie with Kid Peligro
-This book is pretty new to me. It is a good one. Royce covers all the basics with excellent detail. The techniques in this book are how I try to design my game. That doesn't mean I try to copy Royce's fighting style. I just want to know all the techniques in this book in great detail. I do a lot of these moves in sparring and competition. My stand up game for striking is lacking so I do a lot of BJJ 101 to force a clinch too. The strategy for that is covered very well here by Royce. This is basic, but well rounded BJJ that covers the BJJ outlook from the top in great detail. I can't wait for Volume 2![/QUOTe]

I bought this book on-line @ Amazon.com and I was actually a little pissed off bcz the way they market the book leads you to believe that this is a straight up MMA/NHB type of BJJ book when in actuality the book is only about 20% NHB type of BJJ. But it still teaches some useful things and it's very well illustrated.

On another note, I highly reccomend "Brazilian Jiu-jitsu No Holds Barred Fighting Techniques" by Rodrigo Gracie. This book is packed with alot of NHB techniques, unlike most BJJ books, and very well illustrated like most of the Gracies' books.
Definately my favorite BJJ/NHB book in my collection.

**daigoro** · Posted On: 8/10/2005 2:16pm

Originally Posted by Guerrero

I bought this book on-line @ Amazon.com and I was actually a little pissed off bcz the way they market the book leads you to believe that this is a straight up MMA/NHB type of BJJ book when in actuality the book is only about 20% NHB type of BJJ. But it still teaches some useful things and it's very well illustrated.

On another note, I highly reccomend "Brazilian Jiu-jitsu No Holds Barred Fighting Techniques" by Rodrigo Gracie. This book is packed with alot of NHB techniques, unlike most BJJ books, and very well illustrated like most of the Gracies' books.
Definately my favorite BJJ/NHB book in my collection.

The most misleading thing is that it is all techniques with gi. Most people (except Royce unless you count his 2nd fight with Yoshida) think of MMA/NHB as being a no-gi fight. Still, the book has good plenty of good information.

Also, i love the "Mastering Jujitsu" book, but its is funny how it isnt titled "Mastering BJJ" and it focuses alot on NHB fighting. I wish the pictures were better and in color, but the text is very informative.

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 8/10/2005 2:45pm

I really should write a book. Not some kind of instructional with techniques that have already been covered ad nauseum. It will be a BJJ culture book. Filled with all the crazy **** that you learn over time, not out of a book.

Things like:
When your coach is yelling PORRA!!! it isn't out of love.
What NOT to do on your first day of class.
The belt system and all its myths.
Sizing, and what to look for in a gi.
What BJJ tournaments REALLY look like.
What is 'Brazilian' time?
Creonte, good or bad?

I think it would be awesome.