Jiu-Jitsu University by Saulo Ribeiro, Kevin Howell
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Book Reviews of Jiu-Jitsu University
Book Review: A good book for your BJJ library
Summary: 5 Stars
JJ University is a good reference book. The photos are high quality and the author shows each technique from multiple angles. But this is nothing special; nearly all contemporary martial arts books are being published in this format nowadays, especially grappling books. This has become the standard.
What makes this book different is that the author includes sections on common mistakes or pitfalls. He also illustrates the preferred white belt survival positions, which I was never formally taught at all (and I attend a Gracie sanctioned school). It was something I learned piecemeal hundreds of submissions later. He also criticizes some very common BJJ techniques that are still taught in schools today and gives his reasons why the selected techniques should not be emphasized. This alone is worth the price of the book, at least if you are serious about improving your BJJ game.
As for the techniques, there is nothing new or special about the techniques he presents. He emphasizes the fundamentals, so if you are looking for new or revolutionary techniques than this is not for you. You can learn these techniques just about anywhere. But the book is organized differently from standard BJJ books, progressing up the food chain from survival to submissions:
1. White Belt = Survival
2. Blue Belt = Escapes
3. Purple Belt = Guard
4. Brown Belt = Passing the Guard
5. Black Belt = Submissions
If you are serious about BJJ and looking to improve your game, then this is a useful book to include in your grappling treasure chest.
Book Review: Highly anticipated - Very satisfied!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have blogged about BJJ for over 3 years and when "Jiu-Jitsu University" was getting ready to come out my fellow bloggers were salivating and couldn't wait to get their hands on this book. I was the same way. When it arrived I was immediately blown away by the scope and depth of the instruction. I am not kidding when I say that going through this book was like a religious experience and from the techniques I learned from this book I made many of my rolling partners have a "come to Jesus moment."
Okay, I may have gone too far with that last statement but for weeks the blogosphere was full of praise for this book. Not only does it offer technique but it provides a contextual understanding of the techniques' use as well as each belt level. It also stresses defense and what's fascinating about the defense instruction is that it breaks it down into parts. For instance, if he gets past your legs then you do this, if he gets past your hips then do this, etc. The book acknowledges that you probably will not be able to stuff all attacks so here is what you can do at various stages to counter the butt whipping you are receiving.
Excellent!
Posted by Bakari (Jiujitsu365) Akil, II, Ph.D., author of The Lazy Man's Guide to Grappling
Grappling for Newbies: What every new BJJ and Submission Grappler should know!
Book Review: Jiu Jitsu University: Very well worthwhile read
Summary: 5 Stars
The organization and format of this book is very good. This is not a glance-over book.
The photos are usually shot from several angles (laid out side by side) to help get a full picture of the particular subject of instruction and photos are also shown of DON'T pictures, which is also very helpful to a visual-oriented learner.
The text along with the photos is understandable and very instructive without being too wordy.
Judge Ribeiro also injects his personality into the instruction without being too heavy-handed on personal vignettes, but adding them very appropriately.
The organization by belt is very helpful in the sense of emphasizing those points that are most important at each level. Some other reviewers had questioned the organization by belts (in order from white belt to black belt: survival, escapes, the guard, guard passing, and submissions).
It seems, though, that the book emphasizes how important it is to learn the fundamentals in order to really progress. The book certainly never suggests that the reader cannot look at anything besides the point of emphasis for a given belt. The belt organization simply matches emphasis with belts.
The book never advocates dogma and frequently praises the continued evolution of jiu jitsu.
A very good book to supplement training: highly recommended.
Book Review: Not for No GI
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read through most of this book and have skimmed through the whole thing. It is a really good book for learning the intricacies of BJJ. If you roll in a Gi then you will definitely want this book. It gives very detailed instruction about all the things you wondered about and your instructor forgot to tell you.
I have many BJJ and MMA books and there is one thing that sets this one apart from every other book. It is the non-submission stuff. I have been saying for years that I want a book that talks about sweeps and escapes. Finally we have one. This book is the missing link for BJJ books. It tells all the stuff that all of the other ones don't.
The only bad thing is that it doesn't talk much about no gi. In all actuality a lot of the stuff is different then the way you would do it if someone were throwing punches at your face. But then again, it doesn't claim to be a MMA book. So it is true to it's word. I just wish it had a nogi section. If he comes out with any other books I will be the first to buy it. Best BJJ book out there!!!!
Book Review: Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
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!