Combat Jiu-Jitsu [Paperback]

Norman Leff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2001

Norman Leff has been training in the martial arts for half a century. Back in the days when martial arts were still considered mystical and mysterious in this country, Norman was already earning his first black belt. His training took a dramatic turn in the 1960's when, living in South America, he met a former Royal Japanese Marine who revealed to him the secrets of combat jiu jitsu - a non-sport oriented style of jiu jitsu used by the Japanese military in hand to hand combat situations. Later, as a bouncer in New York, Norman learned to apply these techniques in a real street encounter. Learn the atemi-waza strikes, takedowns, finishing holds and fight stoppers of combat jiu jitsu.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Unique Publications (August 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865681902
• ISBN-13: 978-0865681903
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,019,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent practical jiu jitsu book, April 1, 2005

By 

magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Combat Jiu-Jitsu (Paperback)

Although brief, this is a very practical and useful book on jiu-jitsu by Mr. Leff, whose training has an interesting history. While a foreign language teacher in South America, he met a Japanese instuctor by the name of Tanaka who taught a very aggressive form of jiu-jitsu that was still not widely taught to the public. Mr. Leff became a student and eventually a master of this system. He also worked as a bouncer for many years in New York city, where he learned that what he had been taught worked in real life situations.

In this style of jiu jitsu, atemi waze or strikes and kicks are well integrated with the more typical throws and holds and locks. The chapter on "Fight Stoppers" shows this very well, which usually involve a more serious countering technique or blow combined with a hold or lock and/or takedown or throw. Other chapters shold holds and locks throws, and other techniques. The system is very self-defense oriented, which Leff mentions in the introduction was always a focus of his, and often his instructors didn't seem to emphasize it, especially the karate instructors, but also the judo and jiu jitsu ones as well.

Mr. Leff also has some very sage advice about not resorting to violent behavior unless you absolutely have to, as a result of the possible legal fees and fail time. Although you might feel justified in defending yourself, it's possible the courts might not see it that way. Also, he points out that going to the ground, which one hears so often these days, is a very dangerous piece of advice and should not be done under any circumstances unless one falls or trips, since placing yourself on the ground just insures that if the guy has any companions that they will kick or stomp you on the ground.

This is an excellent book on self-defense oriented jiu jitsu with many useful and practical techniques. My only complaint is that I would like to have seen even more of Mr. Leff's very practical and effective system and would like to see him do a book covering his complete system someday.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of money., October 19, 2001

By 

bluheron (framingham, ma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Combat Jiu-Jitsu (Paperback)

Although Norman Leff has superior talents writing is not one of them. The writing is ponderous and the photographs are useless. There is nothing to be gained by purchasing or reading this book. Save your money and buy something else.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MARTIAL ARTS LEGEND, January 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Combat Jiu-Jitsu (Paperback)

HAVING READ THIS BOOK AS A MARTIAL ARTS PRACTICTIONER I FELT IT WAS AS DETAILED IN THE MANUEVERS AS A BOOK CAN BE. IT LEFT ME WISHING FOR A VIDEO TO SUPPLEMENT THE PICTURES. MASTER LEFF WENT BRIEFLY INTO THE HISTORY OF HIS JIU JITSU KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND WHICH WAS INTERESTING, MORE OF THE FORTY YEARS OF MARTIAL ARTS TALES WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE. A LARGER, MORE DETAILED BOOK WOULD BE NICE, BUT IN COMPARISON OF THIS VERSES OTHER MORE EXPENSIVE BOOKS, I FOUND THIS BOOK COMPREHENSIVE, EASY TO FOLLOW, AND BASICALLY A GOOD MARTIAL ARTS GUIDE. I LOOK FOWARD TO A MORE DETAILED BOOK WITH POSSIBLY MORE OF THE HISTORY OF THIS DYNAMIC SYSTEM AS WELL AS STORIES OF HIS LIFE,( WHICH I'M SURE MUST BE INTERESTING WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF MARTIAL ARTS STORIES, ECT..) AS WELL AS MORE COMPLEX MOVES. OVERALL AN EXCELLENT BOOK FOR THE PRICE..........