Customer Reviews

Jiu-Jitsu University

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fairly comprehensive survey of the basics, covered in a belt-by-belt perspective. The photographic quality is emblematic of the new style of MA tutorials, with clear pictures, and techniques portrayed from multiple perspectives in a top-down, linear fashion. It's the same style used in Couture's "Wrestling for Fighting" and several other recent works.

There are scads of GJJ books on the market, so I will only cover what makes this one different from the rest. One noticeable difference is in the belt pedagogy. In the Gracie books, the techniques assigned to belt levels (if at all) are often apparently randomly selected and organized. Ribeiro, on the other hand, assigns a principle goal of each belt, and then organizes techniques in accordance with the goal. The main thing to realize is that many (most?) classes put defensive techniques and offensive techniquest together at each belt level, with proficiency, as well as learning some advanced techniques, being the key to getting the belt. Ribeiro, on the other hand, groups like techniques. Therefore, the reader's class will likely be out-of-step with this book. Ribeiro is presenting a pedagogy, not an encylopedia of techniques, so if you're considering this book, keep that in mind.

Amazon won't let you see the TOC yet, so I will break the chapters down.

White belt: The goal is "survival," which seems completely reasonable to me, at least as a focus. This chapter covers the correct positions to attain and to hold while you're under another player's mount (top, side, back, etc.). Ribeiro lists the mistakes he thinks players typically make when defending against submissions in these positions, and some of his techniques are slightly different from what I've seen taught elsewhere. The point here is that the new player hasn't learned, or at least, isn't proficient at, escapes or submissions yet, and he needs to learn how to survive while thinking of his next move. I found Ribeiro's pointers to be useful...things I wish I would have learned on my first day of class (instead of being thrown to the wolves).

Blue belt: The goal of the blue belt is to focus on escapes. Escapes are discussed from the the above positions, and, as in the earlier (and later) chapters, Ribeiro lists mistakes players typically make, as well as his own unique techniques.

One primary difference, then, is that this book provides no offensive techniques for either the white belt or the blue belt. That's okay from the standpoint of this book being a supplement to actual classes, but would be quite interesting if the book were akin to Ribeiro's classes. My school failed where Ribeiro succeeeds -- focusing on survival, or at least, defensive techniques, for the lower belts -- but my school was also, I think, more conventional in that it required excellence in dozens of offensive techniques in order for blue belt to be acheived.

Purple belt: The goal of this belt is to become proficient in the guard. The earlier pattern continues.

Brown belt: The goal of this belt is to learn guard passing. The earlier pattern continues, and a variety of basic and advanced techniques are presented.

Black belt: The goal of the black belt chapter is to learn submissions.


Anyway, the moral of the story is to be clear on what you want when choosing a supplemental text. This book presents sound techniques and an interesting approach to study, but one that is likely to be completely out of sync with what the reader needs to learn in order to get ahead in class. Other books present laundry list of techniques without any sense of order or purpose.

Hope this helps.

I just got Saulo's book and I am elated. It is definitely the best BJJ book on the market and will take a special place in my BJJ book collection.

This is why I gave it five stars...

Comprehensive: This book covers a complete system of white to black belt and is the first time I have seen the belt system put together in a way that makes sense. Saulo uses the belts as guidelines for what you should learn before you move to the next belt. I wish I had this book 3 years ago when I started. For guys like me that have been around a while, I plan on going back and brushing up on elements that I have missed. This is a great book when it comes to finding the holes in your game.

Troubleshooting: Just like Saulo's popular DVD series, he outlines the do's and don't do's of every move. He explains everything well and I have already had several epiphanies regarding moves that I thought were perfect. I thought these little pointers were game changers.

Scope: If it wasn't enough that Saulo covers the major positions of BJJ, he also adds plenty of "bells and whistles". I like how he shows many current positions and discusses the evolution to and from these positions. Instead of teaching how to pass the standard closed guard or spider guard, he shows how to pass some of the trickiest modern guards out there. Even better, he shows how to use similar body movements to beat just about anything. It felt like a trip into jiu-jitsu theory and application all in one.

I can't wait for Jiu-Jitsu University 2, though I am not sure how much material Saulo would have left. It looks like this one has a lifetime of knowledge invested into it.

Simply awesome! This book has it all. There are so many things about this book. The clarity of the instruction is great! Some books out there try to be too casual in the explanations and end up not getting the proper points across. This book however does get the points across. There are multiple angles of just about every move, so there are no detailes missed visually. The descriptions are very well written, that way no detail goes un-spoken. If you still have a hard time understanding, there are case studies in the book which help get the points across and give a very good demonstration of the techniques.

Saulo has a unique teaching style. In this book he either sets your foundation or re-works what you have. He goes into moves and explains not only how to do them, but how they work and very interestingly, what makes them not work! If you are looking for a good, one book collection, this is the book to get. If there was a Bible for jiujitsu, this would be it!

I have not much basis of comparison with other bjj books, however, I have seen plenty of instructionals and done my share of googling.

The thing I love about this book is Saulo's core premise - get good at defense first. In fact, get good at knowing what to do in the very worst positions first (e.g. under mount, under side control, under knee on belly, etc). After you know how to survive under those positions, learn how to escape. After you know how to escape those, learn what to do from guard (the best of the worst positions). After you know what to do from guard, learn how to pass it. After you can laze around all day in a superior position, learn how to submit. Hell, as long as you have dominant position and can hold it, you will win on points. In a real fight, you would be pounding on your opponent anyway, requiring little real finesse.

I came to this realization very early in my bjj career - I hated being smothered, I hated that it was difficult to escape, so it was crucial to learn how to escape. I did not even make the connection that there were survival skills to learn (e.g. what SR covers in his white belt section, or how to not get submitted while under dominant positions and spend minimum energy doing so) other than escapes. But now thanks to this book I realize that these skills have a fundamental importance - even more so than escapes. So it is gratifying to read something from a several time world champion who says basically the same thing, and extends my understanding.

Get good at the defense, and you will be like one of those weighted punching balloon dolls, always somehow rising to the top, causing your opponent endless frustration and demoralization. Technically, it might be possible to be so good at takedowns and guard passing that you never, ever wind up in an inferior position, but that's highly unlikely, and if you do you are stuffed. (Doing so would also make a person fearful and overly risk averse, knowing that you can't afford to make a mistake. That attitude is a prescription for choked, poor performance, not to mention slower learning.)

Ok, so great idea, great layout, great belt system. I think whether or not your club has a syllabus, adding these techniques to your own repertoire (a sort of secret syllabus, if you will) will give you an edge. For example, I will make it my mission to know SR's white belt and blue belt (e.g. survival and escapes) for my blue belt grading, which is coming up shortly.

Which brings me to the reason I rated this book four stars (it's probably more like 4.5 stars, but I don't have that option). If you practice bjj, you will find yourself under top control (north south). You will find yourself under side control with your partner blocking or holding the leg close to him with that arm (to prevent getting the guard). This position will transition nicely into north south anyway, from here your opponent can go from side to side, confusing you and often getting stray arms. You may also find yourself in side mount. Some people have guards that are devastating and feel like a dominant position in and of themselves, with triangles and armbars easily forthcoming.

How to survive these positions with minimal effort should be covered in the survival section. If there is a reason for this (maybe it's imperative to escape ASAP, or maybe there are no good options, or something I can't fathom), at least indicate this and have some comment.

For some reason, how to survive in these positions isn't covered and it detracts from the book. I realize that no bjj book can ever hope to be complete. However, for a book that claims to be a "university" and rightly stresses the importance of fundamentals, if even a compromise is necessary it would be better to remove a submission or two and flesh out the survival section some more. I hope a future edition of this book clarifies how Saulo would handle these situations.

I realize that Saulo has copped some criticism from others about the black belt section being the weakest of the book. I think that's missing the point. If you excel at the rest of the skills in this book (e.g. everything required to gain a dominant position), then a submission will be a fait accompli. There are plenty of black belts who have one "go-to" submission, e.g. a cross lapel choke, and need nothing more.

As I edit this review several weeks after first writing it, I will add that I have been methodically trying the survival techniques in my rolling. They work pretty well. The higher belts (blue and purple) will still get submissions on me, but it will usually take 5 minutes or so before they achieve one. I have also managed to escape and upgrade my position from time to time. I am usually able to stymie those of equal skill with these techniques.

So what is the point? This process has helped to remove the fear and desperation (including needless energy wastage) that comes with being trapped under a dominant position. And as I get better, I hope to be able to increase the time it takes for more experienced attackers to get a sub, or to prevent them entirely. This will increase their frustration, their impatience (and hence foolishness), and their energy usage, all of which will give me an advantage.

*Update*
So now this is 5 months or so after I first read this book. I think it is worth upgrading it to 5 stars, though my earlier criticisms remain. But I think it is worth 5 stars simply for nailing what every neophyte BJJer (and many higher belts) need to have down.

For several months I did almost nothing but practice surviving from bad positions. I ended up getting my back taken a lot, and practicing the scoop escape. I ended up getting really good at turtling (what Saulo calls "All-fours survival" IIRC), exactly as is shown in the book. Basically any time I felt my guard being close to passed, I'd twist chest down and bring my legs up - turtle.

If I was under side control, the side control survival position really lends itself to twisting your hips so that you land on your knees, and go to turtle. Or if you are leaning away from your opponent, just roll further and go to turtle. From the turtle you can either go to scoop or a double leg (you won't do this when you first learn, but after you get comfortable with turtling you will look for attack opportunities). Either scoop or double leg ends you up in side control, which is an excellent foundation for further attacks.

Everything works as he says - keep your hands close, and don't move them around much - just stymie. Keep your elbows tucked deep inside your thighs. When in back control, suck in those elbows and don't give them underhooks. If you don't give them underhooks and keep your hands up to stop the choke, they will not choke you and they will not armbar you. And you will eventually scoop yourself out of trouble.

Good survival frustrates the **** out of people. I had a blue belt say that "this isn't judo" when confounded by my new turtle skills, which is ironic seeing as I'm applying something straight out of a book by a 6 time BJJ world champion.

The mount escape and side control survival we have covered multiple times in class (maybe not in those words), but it is the back control/turtle survival that has given me tools other people in my class don't have. I'm also really glad I haven't looked through more than the introduction to each chapter. Sure, it has taken me 6 months and I'm not even halfway through the techniques of the second chapter. And that's how it should be - perfecting each technique and making it your own takes time. Getting good at BJJ is a marathon, not a sprint.

This book is probably the best book yet written about sport Jiu-jitsu. Most books on the market are little more than technique databases which, while entertaining and useful for learning, always seem to neglect one of the most important aspects of grappling: proper positioning. This text contains a wealth of knowledge and may well redefine the reader's perception of BJJ.

My book came in the mail on Saturday and I have been pouring over it non-stop. There are so many techniques in this book - there is no way you can get through it in one sitting. My favorite part of it is that Saulo goes over the common mistakes people make when learning techniques, and then tells you how to fix them. I am now working to reconstruct my entire game to try these new takes on the old basics.

I have been waiting for this book to come out since I heard rumors of it's conception. It is well worth the wait! I have not seen a more comprehensive, in-depth technical manual on the market. Saulo Ribeiro is well-known for his success in competitions and lately we have seen him jump into the master instructor role. His legendary skill-set is finally recorded on paper for everyone to learn. Jiu-Jitsu University is the book BJJ has been waiting for!

If this is not the best book on Jiu-Jitsu then I want to buy whatever is better.

Everyone has pretty much given the run-down on this superb book so I will just touch on a few points that are of particular importance to me:

The breakdown by CHAPTER==BELT COLOR==GOAL, e.g., white=survival, blue=escape, is ESPECIALLY useful for those just starting jiu-jitsu or those teaching.

The white belt "survival postures" and the blue belt escapes from those postures are worth the cost of the book alone. Saulo Ribeiro has managed to keep the survival postures to a minimum (even for side mount where there are numerous top pinning styles and arm positions) and they all seem to work off the same principals and even a similar pattern.

Frequently, Ribeiro shows a better (according to him and his also multi-time world champion brother Xande [shandee]) way to do common techniques, and also shows the common mistakes including what is wrong with the usually given methods for that same technique.

This book immediately made me almost happy to have my back taken (by a similarly experienced and sized opponent) since the very simple defenses and escapes to those positions worked on the first try even though I messed up some of the details. (Really! -- my training partner is a bit stronger, heavier, younger than I am and he has quite a bit of judo training, but he can no longer hold me FROM THE BACK.)

Although the book stands alone, it is especially useful if you have any of Saulo Ribeiro's Jiu-Jitsu Revolution 1 or 2, or Freestyle Revolution DVD sets. Although you don't "need" one to benefit from the other, the text gives the few CRITICAL points which is good for memorizing the techniques, while the videos show the moving details in case you are having trouble or something doesn't make sense.

Although the DVDs and book overlap, their is no sense of wasting time or money when using both.

(BTW, he in no sense means that you must wait to become a purple belt to learn the guard, but rather that the FOCUS is on a particular goal or position for each belt level. In the case of a purple belt, he is saying this is where you focus on MASTERING the guard.)

Is there anything wrong with it? No index, but the contents is so good this is not a deficiency and the book runs the content RIGHT to the last page wasting no space. Crappy font for cover title but how picky can I get? A VERY FEW mistakes in left-right or picture correspondence -- or maybe clarity and I misunderstood, but that isn't very detracting, although I would offer to edit the 2nd edition if they ever re-publish it.)

The techniques WORKS right out of the box (i.e., book) and if you practice it then it is even more valuable.

Much of it is SPECIFICS on HOW to grapple using the techniques as examples rather than as the only answers -- he is teaching grappling using techniques, not JUST a bunch of (useful) techniques. Saulo is teaching us to fish (do jiu-jitsu) WHILE he feeds us some very fine fish (techniques).

If you are a low rank jiu-jitsu play you MUST buy this book if you buy anything.

If you are teaching jiu-jitsu, you owe it to yourself and your students to have and understand this book.

I am reasonably sure that anyone in between (i.e., teacher and low level) will find this book superb, and probably the best, as well.

After much research, I decided to purchase this book over the much older, introduction Gracie books. Great layout, high quality photos and good sequence/angled demonstrations. I like the "belt system" setup, which helps you rate your own skills and progress. When training at a school, sometimes the simplest concepts like "how to survive" are overlooked or glossed over or you get them later. Learning submissions, escapes, passes simultaneously can get overwhelming at times, and this book gets you back on track and gives you a good idea where your skills are at and need to be.

Some nice touches -- the two athletes wear white and blue Gi's which make it easier to see what is happening and follow (seems like common sense, but the Gracie books, white on white, can be hard to follow and see details). For the most part the blue Gi athlete is who you should be mimicking in that particular move.

Why not 5 stars? Well, some suggestions and criticism. There is NO standing game. No throws, takedowns, submissions on your feet. This will come in the next edition I hope? No rubber guard, offensively or defensively. Some defenses and submissions are left out. Rear naked choke? How to defend Americana? I know of 4 good ways to defend the triangle choke, but only 1 or 2 are shown. Hard to be comprehensive, but there are some holes.

Last criticism is that for some odd reason, once and while the white/blue Gi protocol is switched -- the athletes are the same but now you are supposed to mimick the white Gi athlete. Not sure why they would do this, it would be nice to always mimick Saulo (blue) and not Xande (white).

I was a decent blue belt when I was told about this book,,,,
I studied the white and blue chapters religiously
then my defense got solid, the other whites. blues. purple browns could no longer finish me, only the good black belts.
This opens the door to ESCAPING!!
I then worked on escapes and sweeps, NO LONGER WORRYING about being tapped out. The escapes, sweeps and counters got better and then I was in position to submit others.
I am now a purple on the verge of getting a brown, in less than 4 years, training with world, adcc, pan am champions.
The GAME is now at my feet, it is so much fun and only getting better
This book is great in its ability to define what each belt needs to be working on, I call it the "BJJ Job Description", tell me my job in detail and i will work my ass off...

THANKS you to Saulo!

BUY it and study it daily, and you to will see how much fun BJJ can be,
best part is I am 45 years old. hanging with the younger stronger kids...lol
Black is now a reality...

JIU-JITSU UNIVERSITY
by Saulo Ribeiro
with Kevin Howell (Victory Belt)
© Marc Wickert December 8, 2008
www.knucklepit.com

Saulo Ribeiro became a six-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion and a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club champion under the tutorage of Royler Gracie. Of Ribeiro, Royler says, "Without a doubt, Saulo is the best black belt I ever graduated in these 24 years of teaching!"

Jiu-Jitsu University sums up Saulo Ribeiro's offering perfectly: It's more of a correspondence course than just a book. Saulo takes his readers/students on a journey from white belt through to black belt, explaining the significance of each grading under his expert tuition.

Word of recommendation: When you purchase a copy of Jiu-Jitsu University, be sure to start reading from the beginning and don't flick through pages. Saulo Ribeiro is not a man to waste words, so every sentence is important.

What makes Ribeiro's book stand out is that his BJJ is thorough and a complete grappling system rather than just a collection of submission techniques. "Most instructors do not spend enough time talking about the importance of keeping the position and defeating your opponent's defense. I see submissions as the result of certain situations where you are in a completely advantageous position and you can choose the proper way to make your opponent give up," says Ribeiro.

Royce Gracie used Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to dominate the early UFCs and no fighting system featured more strongly than BJJ at UFC 91. Saulo Ribeiro is a grappling grand wizard, and Jiu-Jitsu University leaves no thunderstone unturned.

Here is an opportunity to study Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the best and know that your training in BJJ is second to none.