Jiu-Jitsu University
by Saulo Ribeiro, Kevin Howell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Kevin Howell, Saulo RibeiroEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-11-17
ISBN: 0981504434
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Victory Belt Publishing
Book Reviews of Jiu-Jitsu University
Book Review: Excellent treatise, some omissions
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Summary of Jiu-Jitsu University
Saulo Ribeiro?six-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion?is world-renowned for his functional jiu-jitsu knowledge and flawless technique. In Jiu-Jitsu University, Ribeiro shares with the public for the first time his revolutionary system of grappling, mapping out more than 200 techniques that carry you from white to black belt. Illuminating common jiu-jitsu errors and then illustrating practical remedies, this book is a must for all who train in jiu-jitsu. Not your run-of-the-mill technique book, Jiu-Jitsu University is a detailed training manual that will ultimately change the way jiu-jitsu is taught around the globe.
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