Advanced Jujitsu: The Science Behind the Gentle Art (Paperback)

~ George Kirby (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW YOUR SENSEI SEEMS TO CAPTURE AND REDIRECT HIS OPPONENT’S ENERGY SO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFORTLESSLY? In this new book from American Ju-Jitsu Association (AJA) co-founder George Kirby, you will learn why and how your sensei seems to have access to strength and energy that goes beyond his verbal explanations. Transcending the mere memorization of kata, forms and techniques, Kirby takes you into advanced concepts that will actually simplify your training, help you learn new techniques faster and grant you deeper access to the inner workings of jujitsu. These concepts can be applied to the entire spectrum of martial arts, as they address the fundamentals of technique, physics, anatomy, relaxation, humility, self-confidence and open-mindedness. More than a mere technical manual, Advanced Jujitsu: The Science Behind the Gentle Art is an insightful guide to the fundamental concepts that can transform the martial arts practitioner into a martial artist—or even a sensei.

Product Details

• Paperback: 131 pages
• Publisher: Black Belt Books (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897501527
• ISBN-13: 978-0897501521
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #308,295 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Martial Artists Will Benefit From This Book, February 11, 2007

By	Dave Clark (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Advanced Jujitsu, The Science Behind The Gentle Art takes us into the mind of a tenth degree black belt in jujitsu who shares with us the physics behind martial arts, the thought processes of a master, and the most efficient way to practice and execute techniques. This great book offers the serious martial artist extremely valuable concepts and insights that are the result of four decades of experience. It explains anatomy and kinesiology as they relate to all martial arts.
I expected a straightforward presentation of the next level of techniques in jujitsu. I got all that, and so much more. Advanced Jujitsu is a gift to the martial arts community. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Mr. Kirby!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kirby Advances Principles, February 6, 2007

By	S. Pearlman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Those who seek out this book hoping to find discussion of techniques will be disappointed, but only because Mr. Kirby trancends technique-talk and discusses some of the underlying forces that functionalize all techniques. Not only that, he also incorporates the relationship between principles and ethics, as well as meditative techniques. In this sense, his book addresses both the forces we must understand and the goals to which we should aspire. I particularly enjoyed his disucssion of the various axes with which we must be concerned when employing any martial application. His graphical depictions of the axes, to say nothing of how they combine to form spherical dynamics, is lucid and insightful. The martial arts community certainly needs more books along these lines!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balancing perspectives, February 5, 2007

By	B. Davis - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Kirby's other books (beginning and intermediate) have been full of pictures and explanations of numerous techniques. His nerve book explores pressure points and how they are taken advantage of through a jujitsu framework. All of those books are great, and they are especially great when one is working towards shodan (1st degree black) or referring back to them for variations on techniques.

This new book gets to that next level of thinking that is required to move beyond merely memorizing and performing techniques. It attempts to adjust the practitioner's mindframe into thinking more about the why than the how. Rather than searching through your memory banks for one of 800 techniques to use in a self defense situation, this book adds a tool to your arsenal allowing you to think in terms of balance and levers, which should reduce your reaction time. The entry to a technique becomes less relevant as you simplify the art from a large pool of information into a core set of concepts.

As is often the case in life, balance must be achieved. If one were to focus solely on techniques and ignore the study of underlying principles such as balance, leverage, breathing, ki, etc., one would plateau after learning the techniques and be left to wonder how his sensei is able to apply them faster and with more power. Conversely, a study of only these core concepts without a thorough knowledge of techniques by which to apply them would leave the martial artist in a similarly undesirable position. Take this book for what it is, a judan in jujitsu sharing with us his advanced notes and thought processes. They may not line up with yours necessarily, but one would be foolish not to consider them carefully and take advantage of the knowledge that has been so graciously shared.