Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) [Paperback]

Royce Gracie (Author), Charles Gracie (Author), Tom Page (Photographer), Kid Peligro (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series | Publication Date: November 1, 2002

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has turned the martial arts world upside down by emphasizing real-life situations and results over the dramatic kicks and throws of formal competition, making it also one of the most effective self-defense techniques for non-athletes. This guide to the self-defense techniques taught in the classes of Royce Gracie, one of the biggest figures in the world of jiu-jitsu, provides lessons that anyone—regardless of strength or size—can learn to neutralize an attacker in seconds. It offers a variety of defenses to use against knife and gun attacks, as well as escapes from headlocks, choke holds, and other situations that attackers use on the street. Advice on practicing and falling and rolling make this book the next best thing to taking the classes that are popular with the United States military, police academies, and women's self-defense schools.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Perhaps the most talented martial artist in the world...he has inspired me greatly in my own life and work." -- Nicholas Cage

"Royce is the baddest man on the planet. If everybody trained like Royce, then everybody would be a champion." -- Oscar De La Hoya

About the Author

Royce Gracie shocked the world when he entered the Ultimate Fighting Championship (the largest pay-per-view event at that time) in 1993 as a 170-pound unknown—easily the smallest man in the competition—and defeated much larger opponents in record time. He went on to win two more UFCs and now runs the Gracie Academy in California. Charles Gracie, a jiu-jitsu champion in Brazil, is the winner of martial arts Superfights in the United States and teaches at an academy in San Francisco. Kid Peligro is a martial arts journalist and a black-belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu who has twice won the World Masters title. They all live in San Francisco, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Invisible Cities Press Llc (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931229279
• ISBN-13: 978-1931229272
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Would give 5 stars if it were better organized, October 17, 2002

By 

J. Scott (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) (Paperback)

Production value is first rate; pictures are clear and explanations are excellent. This book and it's predecessor, "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:Theory and Technique" are arguably the best martial arts books ever produced in terms of overall quality.

Content is good but there is some of repetition of techniques that were shown in the first book, however this time performed without the gi. It is very thorough; responses to nearly any common attack are included- most are quite simple and easy to learn and remember. Defenses against common knife attacks and stick-ups (pistol) are also covered, as are a couple of stick defense and disarms.

Caveat to those looking to learn new grappling techniques: there are very few ground fighting techniques in this book other than escapes and counters to common headlocks and the like.

Why I gave 4 stars: The organization of this book is just plain bad. There seems to be no logical order that the techniques were grouped in; at least I can't see it. Similar techniques are randomly scattered through the book. If you want to find a particular technique, tou have to scan the list in the TOC or flip through the bok - no index! It would have been better to group similar techniques together into "chapters".

Overall pretty darned good, although I would recommend "BJJ:Theory and Practice" as being slightly better in terms of overall techniques and content.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but be careful, February 9, 2003

By 

Jon Dogg (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) (Paperback)

This is a great book by the greatest fighter on earth. However, when I ordered this book, I did not read close enough, and I thought I had ordered a book on the competitive/sport side of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. However, when I received the book, I saw that it was self defense techniques for real life situations. It is still a great book with great techniques, but look for Renzo Gracie's book if you are looking for the sport.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is Much to be Gained from this Book, March 25, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) (Paperback)

I really like this book. Many of the self-defense techniques are from the true Gracie Jiu Jitsu curriculum. It's difficult and challenging to learn any Martial Art or Self Defense system from a book alone, but if you must, then this is the book to get. If you take lessons then this book is still a very worthy investment at such a small price. The layout and photos are awesome.

If you are going to execute these moves at home I highly recommend buying a rubber knife, rubber pistol, a stick, and lastly the official Gracie Grappling Dummy called Bubba. It's like having a 5'10 enemy with realistic joints that you can really practice the majority of the techniques. I have one and couldn't ever go back to shadow-practice. He even comes in a Gracie Gi uniform.