Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) Paperback – October 1, 2001

At 255 pages, this volume on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu eclipses virtually every other book on the topic. The amount of knowledge is superb, the presentation is terrific. Color photography throughout, an average of 6-10 photos per technique (including close-ups), and easily understood narrative descriptions which cover not just how to move, but why to do certain "little things" that make the difference between an effective technique and wasted energy.Although this book groups techniques by belt (recommended knowledge from white to blue, purple, brown, and black), authors Renzo and Royler Gracie, John Danaher, and Peligro describe rank in BJJ as an informal proceedure which does not include formal tests or specific techniques required, but rather continuous displays of proficient application and understanding which can be gleaned only through continuous and dedicated practice. It seems that BJJ, with its emphasis on ability rather than (buying) belts, is where other martial arts in the US, Canada, and Japan were 40 or more years ago.The only omission I can think of would be tournament rules for BJJ, but that again is something one would pick up from going to tournaments and classes regularly. This book is a terrific value, the best of the grappling books on the market today, in my estimation. A quality product well worth the asking price. I hope there is a volume II somewhere in the works, maybe even a biography of the Gracie family (looong overdue!). My other recommendation for those with an interest in NHB / MMA history would be the recently published "Brawl" by Erich Krauss. Good reading & good practice to you!

I have been involved in the martial arts for most of my life and I teach both Judo(black belt) and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu(blue belt) and this is the best book I have every seen on Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. In fact this is one of the best martial arts books I have ever read, period! The quality is top notch, color pictures, great background information, theory, excellent explanations of over a hundred techniques, and authored by two members of the Gracie family. Since the Gracies created Brazillain Jiu Jitsu you can't get a better source.I am at a satellite school under Rickson Gracie and I do not always have a black belt to ask questions so this book is an excellent reference. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu or grappling. If you are a Brazillian Jiu Jitsu practitioner then this book is a Must! Usually I do not write reviews but this book is so good I thought I should.The only drawback to this book would be if you just want to learn grappling without a kimono(uniform). All the moves are based on using the Kimono. Although there are explanations on what you would do to modify some of the techniques to be used without the uniform. I would still recommend this book even to those who just care about kimono-less grappling(no uniform). Most of the moves can still be used without the uniform you just have to know how to apply them.Brazillian Jiu Jitsu has the changed the face of the martial arts. This book will teach you what makes this art so effective.

This book and its companion (grapling techniques) has good photography in its well explained martial arts sequences. You can, indeed, distinguish the key points of a technique and one photograph follows another without surprising the reader as of how the movement in between went.The presentation is very good although (and this is not the book`s fault) none can actually learn a martial art style just by reading. It is a good reference if you already are training.The book names several tecniques according to the Gracies nomenclature and implies them to be Gracie's creation. In reality most (if not all) are Judo techniques (after all, it was a judoka, Meada who taught Carlos Gracie) and have standard japanese names. Some variations on main techniques are variations you would learn in Judo and not care to have a specific name for them. I also dislike how the book diminishes Meada's influence in BJJ or states how BJJ overcomes Judo's (and Jigoro Kano's) limitations.BJJ is a nice art (I am a BB in Judo and a Jujitsu practioner of different styles) and there are several lessons in strategy to be learned from it, but it is, nevertheless, a subset of Judo, specially if you consider the competitive shiai (combat) forbidden techniques (striking, kicking and special chokes and locks).I like the book and would say is a fair reference. I don't love it as I do love, for example, Vital Judo from Isao Okano (which, by the way, is a shame it hasn't been reprinted) or the Canon of Judo from Kyuzo Mifune.

found this book an excellent resource of knowledge, the techniques are solid and very well explained. The details covered here are probably better than any other book available, the Gracies have a deep knowledge in the art, BJJ.The only and probably the worst problem with their books is their organization, which I have to say that is poor! They divided the book by belts, this was a very good aproach, because at blue belt you must have a deep base on fudamentals, but they simply put a lot of moves in blue belt section, I think would be better if they break the moves into position. For example, they explain a guard pass and then go into guilliotine escape and then to a sweep.The techiniques are very good, without any doubt, but I think that the BJJ books could be better if authors break into:1 - Takedowns and Throws2 - Guard Pass3 - Pinning3.1 - submissions3.2 - escapes4 - Guard work as:4.1 - Guard submissions4.2 - Sweeps5 - Rear mount5.1 - submissions5.2 - escapesBecause this is the aproach of BJJ, you take one to the ground, pass his guard, atain a superior position and finish him! The book put the moves without any organization.This book contents is worth of five stars, but I give it four because it's poor organization! Even so, it is worth to have!