Chris MatakasOn Jiu Jitsu

This is a great book and a reminder that Jiu Jitsu is a way to transform my life for the better. I like his philosophies and stances on what Jiu Jitsu does for him. I will be reading this book every year, as a reminder that Jiu Jitsu is a journey and not a destination.

This is a great book for jiu jitsu practitioners who are trying to improve their lives outside of the gym. This isn’t about jiu jitsu as far as techniques, but it teaches how jiu jitsu can improve your life outside of the gym within your personal relationships and sense of self.

Short book. Great easy read.Ironically efficient and effective.Dives into the dichotomies between pride and humility. And weakness and resolve.Also connecting the dots between what it takes to improve at jiu jitsu, is what it takes to improve yourself.Highly recommend this book to anyone.

I really appreciated the fact that the author tackled a different topic than the technique-based instructional books that line martial arts shelves these days. Being a lifer in BJJ, I recognize the importance of the mental game of jiu-jitsu. Not only that, but how BJJ can be a vessel for self-improvement, and a microcosm for life. This author gets it, and I'll definitely buy more of his works in the future. Bonus points for the correlations to Stoicism.

Typically I find short books to read to catch up on reading quantity goals. This one is indeed short but for me I spent as much time consuming it as any other standard length book. There is little to no fluff. Each sentence seems to be crafted with great care for maximum efficacy. I highlighted the majority of the book and littered the pages with marginalia. I often found myself not reading at all but marinating deeply in ideas I’ve experienced myself but lacked the wisdom to articulate. I think that above all is what I got from this book. The back cover description says this philosophical treatise is an attempt to codify the mechanisms in which Jiu Jitsu helps us grow as humans. And I think the author hit the nail on the head. It was humbling to read. Part of me wishes this was a book I had written. It’s clear my journey and reading have a lot of overlap with the author and so much of what he says resonated with me. I see now the dots I’m connecting are nothing special though. Jiu Jitsu is what is special. We’re all riding in the same vehicle but taking different roads to reach the same destination. I got 5 stars out of enjoyment out of this one but if I’m being purely objective I’d give it 4. The book is multi-dimensional but there were opportunities to dive deeper that left me wanting for more.

This book has no technical details regarding BJJ, this book shares insights that can be argued to be time tested truths. A short read that flows really well, and often times, by no devious plan of the author, compels one to stop reading and reflect on the poignant passages through-out this book.If you participate in JJ or are on the fence, this book is certainly belongs in ones library or stack of books.

Quick read but important life lesson snips that any coach or teacher could use for any sport or youth organization.

It is not a long read however, I loved what I read. I will read it again just to process better the depth of how Chris expounds on Jiu Jitsu experiences, and benefits and the deeper philosophy of what actually takes place as we learn Jiu Jitsu. I will share this book forward. A must read.

O autor aborda aspectos importantes sobre o jiu-jitsu que vão além do tatame.

As a BJJ practitioner and a rugby player, I can say from experience there is a lot of truth behind his claims. I can say with confidence that if you are looking for reasons to start or stay jiu jitsu give this book a read. It's well written, short and to the point.

My son has loved this book and cant believe how much he’s learnt from reading it.

Roughly 100 little pages written by big letters repeating the same 3/4 concepts from begin till the end. Except a few parts this book is nothing special. The reading is suggested on Kindle at 0 $

If you’re a JiuJitsu nut like the rest of us, this book is a must read. An articulate read that epitomizes the true value of JiuJitsu. A vehicle to develop our highest selves and ultimately to support our fellow man.