Customer Reviews

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Basic Techniques

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

 

 

I bought both the basic and advanced books and the techniques represented actually work! I train at a Relson Gracie Academy and Fabio's techniques are simply easy to follow and effective. He presents self defense and competitive BJJ techniques. My instructor is very harsh on most BJJ books but approves of Fabio's techniques. Again, you will not find flying arm bars or flying triangles in these books. What you will find are solid core BJJ techniques that were developed and taught by the Gracie Family. I believe Fabio has trained with both Rolls and Rickson. It's also cool to see Marcelo Garcia in the advanced book with Fabio.

Fabio Gurgel is an eight-time martial arts world champion and co-founder of more than forty academies around the world. He is president of the Professional League of Jiu-Jitsu which is based in Brazil and continues to teach at his own academy in Sao Paulo. Fabio therefore writes with a very special expertise in "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Basic Techniques", a superbly organized and presented, step-by-step, illustrated introduction to a very special and effective form of the martial arts. Fabio begins with a brief history of jiu-jitsu, a martial art that originated in India more than 4,000 years ago as a self-defense technique employed by monks. Ideal for the absolute novice, "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Basic Techniques" is a confidently recommended instruction manual. Also very highly recommended is the companion book by Fabio Gurgel and also published by Blue Snake Books, "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Advanced Techniques (97815893941669, $19.95) which goes on to instruct the reader in additional self-defense techniques including passing the guard, sweeps, side attacks, mounted attacks, rear attacks, guard attacks, mounted escapes, and throws. Together, both volumes of "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" comprise a complete and comprehensive course of do-it-yourself instruction.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well done this book actually was. The author did an outstanding job at covering a lot of the basic jiu-jitsu techniques in a very well thought out and easy to understand manner. This book was never intended to be a highly detailed examination of any particular technique, but more of a basic guide to the basic techniques that one would most often learn when first starting to learn the martial art of jiu-jitsu.

Now I will admit that I felt there should have been a bit more detailed text to go along with the exceptionally well done photographs, but when I remembered that this was meant to be a basic guide, I understood why the detailed explanations of the techniques were missing.

This may not be your first choice for a jiu-jitsu book to learn from if you already have an extensive background in the art, but if you are a beginner or someone who would just like to check things out and see what jiu-jitsu is all about, then this may very well be the book for you.

Shawn Kovacich

Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

While this book may not have as many techniques as some other books on groundfighting out there, it is nonetheless a good book, and a great manual for someone who is trying learn the basics. The material is well written and has very illustrative pictures that together make it a great tool for learning.

My copy is already starting to get dog-eared from use...

This is by far the worst BJJ book I have ever read. Fabio should just stick to competing. I was so let down by this product that I returned it. The photos were awful and the text may as well have been in Portugese.