The Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual: Striking [Paperback]

Anderson Silva (Author), Erich Krauss (Author), Glen Cordoza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2008

In Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva unveils more than 150 striking techniques that have been proven in the Octagon. Detailing everything from basic punches and kicks to complex combinations through 1500 step-by-step color photographs and descriptive narrative, this book will become a bible for both beginning practitioners and seasoned mixed martial arts veterans.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anderson Silva is the UFC Middleweight Champion of the world. He will be starring in two major motion pictures. www.spidersilva.com

Erich Krauss is a professional Muay Thai kickboxer who has lived and fought in Thailand. He has written for The New York Times and is the author of nineteen books.

Glen Cordoza is a professional Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter. He is the author of eight books on the martial arts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Victory Belt Publishing (November 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981504418
• ISBN-13: 978-0981504414
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Mixed Martial Arts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic MMA Technique Book for Aspiring Fighters By A World Champion Human Being, November 26, 2008

By 

Shawn Kovacich "Shawn Kovacich" (The Greatest Little City in the World) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual: Striking (Paperback)

I had been eagerly anticipating this books release since I first heard it was coming out a few months back. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.

The layout and format for this book is very well done and it abounds with literally hundreds of full color photographs printed on glossy paper to ensure their richness and clarity, and this is just the aesthetic properties of this book, and I haven't even got to the quality of the actual content, which is nothing short of fantastic.

For the most part, the techniques themselves are described in very good detail to go along with the numerous photographs depicting the actual technique. However, there were a few instances were I felt that a little bit better description would have been appropriate. But please don't let this even be anything more than a minor inconsequential annoyance compared to the wealth of material that is presented here. The author does a very good job of providing a lot of good solid information on a variety of subjects, although no great amount of in-depth discussion is really given to any one subject.

The following is a list of the main topics and the sub-topics which are discussed in this book.

1. STANCES & FOOTWORK

A. Stances
B. Footwork

2. COUNTER MOVEMENT

A. Evasive Techniques
B. Parries and Blocks
C. Checking Techniques

3. STRIKING TECHNIQUES

A. Punches
B. Elbows
C. Kicks
D. Knees

4. ATTACKS

A. Same Stance
B. Opposite Stance
C. Feints
D. Striking to the Clinch

5. COUNTERATTACKS

A. Same Stance
B. Opposite Stance
C. Countering Kicks

Each section is loaded with sound well-rounded information and goes over numerous techniques and combinations. This is definitely a book that any aspiring MMA fighter wants to own in order to improve their fighting skills in the cage. I would highly recommend this book without any reservations whatsoever. Here are two other books that I would also recommend.

Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way

Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book from Anderson, December 10, 2008

By 

Lance D. Freimuth "Student" (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual: Striking (Paperback)

I just recently got a chance to read one of the newest books from Victory Belt publishing, Anderson Silva's "striking" volume in his upcoming book series. Firstly I want to say this is one of the better striking instructional manuals I've seen. I've never seen any book break down angles, concepts, and strategies like this book. First thing the book stresses is the importance of learning to strike from both stances, because whether you're fighting opposite stance or same stance really determines your angles, your strategies, and in general what techniques you can execute. Secondly it stresses the difference between a high and a low stance, and how the degrees of separation between the two stances will determine what techniques you can execute more easily than others. The third thing this book stresses is good foot/head movement. All the footwork and body movement (slips, bob/weave, ect) sections are very simply displayed, and any subtle movements are made more clear with graphical arrows to demonstrate the movements. And as mentioned before, the importance is stressed between inside movement and outside movement, as well as proper movement during same stance fighting and opposite stance.

The first few chapters of techniques are all movement and defensive based. Checks, parries, slips, foot work, blocking with high guard, and circling out are all covered in thorough detail. The next few chapters cover all of Anderson's striking techniques. These chapters focus on the base technique it's self (without combos or counters). The pictures show in multiple angles with and without opponent, to show the accurate way to execute these techniques. The attacks cover the entire range of strikes you'll see from Anderson Silva, or anyone else for that matter. Everything from inside cut kicks to spinning rear elbows are covered. There's a chapter for punches, elbows, kicks, and knees covering each in heavy detail.

The final few chapters are meat and potatoes of the book in my opinion, and it's also what other books I've seen haven't covered. The sections are broken down in attacks and counter attacks. And each set of attacks and combos are broken down by same stance (say orthodox on orthodox) and opposite stance (say orthodox to southpaw). The same with the counterattacks. If you've never really sat down and analyzed the difference between the two situations, you will likely be amazed by this section. Anderson really covers all the scenarios between each different circumstance. The counter-attacks section is the same. There are huge differences between how you slip a punch and counter a southpaw and an orthodox.

The technical information in this book is right on. Technical notes through out highlight important features that may not be covered in the set of still photos such as lead foot placement, maneuvering around your opponent, and proper counters through switching stances. I'm not sure where it mentions that punching and round kicking range are the same, but that's a valid technical point. If you're practicing muay thai and kicking with your shin (which is the proper technique) your kicks range will about the same or maybe only an inch or two longer than your punches range. Overall it's a great book, and any martial artist will be able to pick up a thing or two to add to their game. I highly recommend reading this book if you get the chance.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST STRIKING BOOK EVER, November 14, 2008

By 

Muay Thai Student "Josh" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual: Striking (Paperback)

It is really difficult to find a good book on striking. Most of the time, they just show a couple of moves that you can find in every other book. Not in Anderson Silva's instruction manual. He shows the proper way to throw basic and advance strikes, and then goes on to show dozens of ways to set those strikes up through movement. He covers advanced footwork, advanced counterattacks, and dozens of the combos he's pulled off in fights. There are literally thousands of step-by-step photos in this book. I don't think there is anything on the market as far as striking that comes close to this book.