Customer Reviews

Advanced Jujitsu: The Science Behind the Gentle Art

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Advanced Jujitsu, The Science Behind The Gentle Art takes us into the mind of a tenth degree black belt in jujitsu who shares with us the physics behind martial arts, the thought processes of a master, and the most efficient way to practice and execute techniques. This great book offers the serious martial artist extremely valuable concepts and insights that are the result of four decades of experience. It explains anatomy and kinesiology as they relate to all martial arts.
I expected a straightforward presentation of the next level of techniques in jujitsu. I got all that, and so much more. Advanced Jujitsu is a gift to the martial arts community. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Mr. Kirby!

Those who seek out this book hoping to find discussion of techniques will be disappointed, but only because Mr. Kirby trancends technique-talk and discusses some of the underlying forces that functionalize all techniques. Not only that, he also incorporates the relationship between principles and ethics, as well as meditative techniques. In this sense, his book addresses both the forces we must understand and the goals to which we should aspire. I particularly enjoyed his disucssion of the various axes with which we must be concerned when employing any martial application. His graphical depictions of the axes, to say nothing of how they combine to form spherical dynamics, is lucid and insightful. The martial arts community certainly needs more books along these lines!

Kirby's other books (beginning and intermediate) have been full of pictures and explanations of numerous techniques. His nerve book explores pressure points and how they are taken advantage of through a jujitsu framework. All of those books are great, and they are especially great when one is working towards shodan (1st degree black) or referring back to them for variations on techniques.

This new book gets to that next level of thinking that is required to move beyond merely memorizing and performing techniques. It attempts to adjust the practitioner's mindframe into thinking more about the why than the how. Rather than searching through your memory banks for one of 800 techniques to use in a self defense situation, this book adds a tool to your arsenal allowing you to think in terms of balance and levers, which should reduce your reaction time. The entry to a technique becomes less relevant as you simplify the art from a large pool of information into a core set of concepts.

As is often the case in life, balance must be achieved. If one were to focus solely on techniques and ignore the study of underlying principles such as balance, leverage, breathing, ki, etc., one would plateau after learning the techniques and be left to wonder how his sensei is able to apply them faster and with more power. Conversely, a study of only these core concepts without a thorough knowledge of techniques by which to apply them would leave the martial artist in a similarly undesirable position. Take this book for what it is, a judan in jujitsu sharing with us his advanced notes and thought processes. They may not line up with yours necessarily, but one would be foolish not to consider them carefully and take advantage of the knowledge that has been so graciously shared.

Professor Kirby goes into great detail explaining the math behind techniques/positioning. Understanding the WHY behind techniques is critical. Anyone teaching martial arts knows the difference is in the details. A small adjustment in positioning can make a huge difference in techniques effectiveness.

Straight forward and no nonsense approach makes this book a worthwhile read. In short, a must have for serious martial artists.

This is a Great book for "advanced thinkers" and practitioners of Ju-Jitsu, or any martial art. As stated in book's description and subtitle, it covers the SCIENCE Behind the art. It is not a visual "how to" book. It is a book of disclosure. Put simply, if you know how to accomplish a kick, a throw, or joint lock, etc... this tells you why it works. By exposing the physics of technique, the author helps us to deepen our understanding of "cause and effect" in relation to our movements.

George Kirby's Advanced Jujitsu is an excellent book on the why of how Jujitsu works. The book is also in excellent condition. I'd recommend this book to anyone studying/practicing Jujitsu.

Mr. Kirby always writes well but this one is his best work. He has made a fairly complicated and possibly dry subject lively and interesting. Any Sudent of Martial Arts would benefit from reading this book over and over again!

This book doesn't seem as applicable as Kirby's other 2 books, but that's probably because I don't know anything. Big fan of George Kirby though.

I'm not a mathematics major or anything but as a matial artist i know you can't explain what we do using math equations, That's exactly what this book is. I thought I was buying part 3 of his series of Jujitsu books but instead it a lousy math lesson w/ maybe a couple of techniques but with no real explanations. I don't think anyone would find it valuable as math or self defense.
The cover is totally deceptive. It make you think it's got advanced techniques & insight on human anatomy. It has neither