Customer Reviews

Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge

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4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
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The two most valuable lessons to take from this book is that first, a style of Mixed Martial Arts fighting should be built off of one main discipline with techniques from other styles added to complement the base style. Second, that the style should be an integrated blend, not a disintegrated patchwork hybrid creation. Penn warns us against developing the habit of separating grappling from striking, switching on the fly from one to the other. Rather, he says, we should always be doing both. The techniques in The Book of Knowledge are presented as whole MMA techniques which blend striking with grappling.

Bj's book is made up of techniques that work for him and would be usable by most people. There are no kicking techniques and no leglocks. What is shown are basic techniques, which if done properly, are always dangerous. Nothing fancy, just master the basics and shove them down your opponent's throat until you beat him.

All basic positions are covered, standing and on the mat with multiple angles of clear color pictures on coated paper. The sections are color coded and tabbed. The book is physically of a high quality.

The only problem might be for absolute beginners. Knowledge of some of the most basic concepts and positions is assumed. Even so, with some extra careful study and though, the total beginner would pick this material up.

This is the first mixed martial arts book to give all the detail a true fighter (or trainee) needs, and it is written by one of the most accomplished and colorful fighters in the sport. Not only does Penn cover all aspects of the MMA game -- from striking to takedowns to setting up submissions and finishing -- but he does it all step-by-step. Whether you're just starting out in the sport or already a BJJ blackbelt, this book will become your bible. Just beware, at over 300 pages, it might take some time to digest all of the techniques.

I really appreciate BJ's honesty in this book. He shows what works for him but also shows how you can incorporate your own techniques. He leaves the door wide open to expand on these techniques and make them your own. He also shows the progressions which is missing from alot of the other books out there.
Though I doubt I'll ever stand in an Octagon or Cage I think this book was of great value to me and will be useful to any martial artist. BJ shares his journey through the martial arts from street fighter to professional, through wins and how to handle losses. The challenge for all of us is how to take all this knowledge we've received from our instructors and make our own expression of the techniques so that we can fluidly "converse" with another opponent.
The bottom line is it is a good book, great quality, with excellent photography and worth adding to anyone's collection.

In terms of his experience his application of kickboxing, wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, and raw talent, BJ Penn is the best pound for pound fighter in the world. This book is simply a guide to his knowledge, experience, and talent. There's no other book in existence that will provide the necessary tools for being a complete mixed martial artist.

-Dave Camarillo
Head Grappling Coach
at American Kickboxing Academy.
Trainer of UFC Fighters

I've been pleasantly surprised by the quallity of books published by Victory Belt, and this one is no exception. For starters, the use of color pictures and multiple angles of a single frame, in addition to color-coded chapters and subsections, really enhances the learning experience. Then, of course, there is the authors. Penn is one of several world-class grappling and MMA experts to share his knowledge. This book covers it all, from standup strikes to takedowns to the ground game to cage tactics. More importantly, it teached one how to blend the various elements into a single strategy that encompases the totallity of MMA combat.

The intro to the book is insightful, as BJ Penn gives the reader an idea of what it takes to develop their own fighting style around a base style. He also offers some wisdom in the form of sharing his experiences in competitions, and what he learned from his losses. Wrapping up the intro are some ideas for circuit training, which runs from straight conditioning excercises (medicine ball workouts and the like) to sport-specific circuit training, such as a minute of strikes followed by a minute of the clinch and so on to round out a full 5-minute round, just like an MMA fight.

The next section is on the standup. While Penn is known more for his ground game, this section was very well-informed and could have been written by someone with a specialty in striking. This section includes two kinds of stances, basic strikes, striking to the takedown (single- and double-leg), countering punches and kicks, takedown counters, clinchwork, cagework, and striking a downed opponent from a standing possition. As I mentioned earlier, BJ likes to blend strikes with grappling; for example, the cross counters include two striking combinations and two takedowns. Noticable in this section was that the author included leg strikes to the head of a downed opponent, which are illegal in the US, but are legal in other parts of the world including Japan.

The third and final section is on the ground game. BJ picks up where he left off and teaches you what to do if you're on your back with your opponent standing over you. He then moves on to the various possitions, including mount, guard, half guard, turtle/back, and side-control, showing both offensive and defensive tactics. As before, Penn blends striking with grappling, often setting up submissions and guard passes with punches. He also shows how to use the cage on the ground, when applicable.

Overall, the book is very good at giving the reader some very detailed basics for MMA. While it's not the be-all end-all of martial arts, as a single volume it's the best MMA book on the market. Other, more detailed books on striking and grappling may augment this text, but won't replace any of the information here-in, and certainly won't bridge the gap between striking and grappling as well as Penn does. For any aspiring MMA fighter or for someone looking for empty-handed self-defense, this text is a must.

When I recently read Victory Belt's publication 'Mastering the Rubber Guard' with Eddie Bravo, I was impressed. It made considerable strides in improving over his last book 'Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed' and gave a detailed insight into one of the most misunderstood positions in today's Jiu-Jitsu world. Well, as far as I'm concerned, Victory Belt has done it again with BJ Penn's 'Mixed Martial Arts - The Book of Knowledge'.

Giving a book a title like that one is a fairly bold move. Those words suggest that this is more a tome - or even "bible" - than a book. And at first glance, it looks like it might be the goods. The black and grey reminded me of later editions of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding' - a book with a similarly anticipative title. At 308 pages, it also fits the bill size-wise, as well.

Opening up at the contents pages, you'll soon see that the book is very comprehensive. After the introduction, you see that the book is divided into two parts - 'The Standing Game' and 'The Ground Game'. Each of these parts is then subdivided into positions and then further into techniques. One of the things I most enjoyed about the book is the introduction. Most newer martial art books open with a discussion from the authors, but Victory Belt's introductions seem to speak to me a little more.

In this case, the introduction gives you about ten pages of BJ's philosophy and how he arrived where he is. From his early days boxing with "old, ratty gloves" through his eventful MMA career, he gives a little insight into his life. He talks about the sport and how he trains for it. He discusses his philosophy for both technical and physical training and gives some broad ideas the reader can take on board.

I won't get into too much detail about what you'll find in the two fighting parts of the book. I will say this, though. While it looks like a "technique catalogue", it's not really. The book shows BJ working many techniques and combinations against opponent's from his gym. However, each technique fits into his particular fighting structure. What you see here is a collection of the techniques BJ Penn actually uses in a fight and how he strings them together.

If you want to see what BJ would do if he finds himself on his back against a skilled ground 'n' pound guy, the answer's here. So is how to use your striking to set up a takedown (a subject not discussed often enough) and vice versa. Another thing I like is that we see what BJ does from a defensive perspective. We see a lot of defensive postures and escapes, which suits me fine as I'm often the one getting hit. Too often, books like this ignore that part of the strategy and just assume your awesome technique will win out.

As I'm not much of a standup fighter, nowadays, I can especially see myself making use of the simple strategies in the section 'Striking for the Takedown'. That is pretty much my weak point. Honestly, though, there's something here for everyone. You'll see how the various open guard positions play out in MMA. You'll see how to minimise your exposure if you're weak in one area with the more defensive oriented techniques. You'll also learn how Penn counters some very common and tough positions.

From a quality perspective, I didn't notice any grievous spelling or grammatical errors (a small problem I had with 'Mastering the Rubber Guard'). All pictures are colour and are clear and easy to interpret. The descriptions are also quite clear to me, another bugbear I've often had. Although the entire field is getting a lot better in that area.

All up, I really like this book. From this point on, I consider this essential reading for anyone considering a foray into Mixed Martial Arts. However, it's probably more important for coaches and athletes who need to move their game to a multi-dimensional approach. That's something Penn himself has done and done well. I think this makes my "Best of the Best" category.

Finally someone made a book that was all encompasing. If you train in MMA then you NEED this book. If you want to train in BJJ then you need this book. If you want to train in Muay Thai then you don't need this book. This is even a good book for learning street fighting because most of the stuff in the cage is aplicable to street fighting. The most unique aspect of this book is how it connects stand-up to take-down to submission to defense to ground and pound. It is unprecidented in combat instructional books. This book is hands down then only book you will need to buy for MMA. Now if you want BJJ I recoment Gene Simco's "The Master Texts". If you want striking, Hatmacker's Striking book.

This is a great training aid for someone with grappling experience looking to transition to MMA or for someone currently training in MMA.

The techniques and explanations are very well written, and the photos show the techniques from multiple angles. The latter are exceptionally helpful as many of the techniques would be considered advanced or MMA specific and the book does not focus on the basics at all.

The book does give some insight and strategy - spcifically BJ's - in regards to fighting and technique, but is not at all preachy.

This is a great resource with quite a few neat tricks worth learning.

The book is straight forward. BJ shows the reader how to hit the submissions from two views...the front and the back view. Before he shows the move he gives the reader background information or the mindset he's in before and while he executes the move. Good book. Recommended for anyone interested in no-gi fighting. This book is for anyone who competes in mixed martial arts or grappling competitions.

I have been doing BJJ and Kickboxing for some time now and this book has been very insightful on ways to break the gap and bring the opponent to the ground. The left hook to the double leg attack has been working for me. Thank you BJ Penn, "The World Is Yours".