Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge by BJ Penn, Glen Cordoza, Erich Krauss
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Book Reviews of Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge
Book Review: Finally, a single comprehensive MMA book!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Fantastic Book On MMA By A Fantastic Fighter and Instructor!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most notable pieces wisdom that one can take from this book is also one in which I have been a firm believer in for many years, and which is best explained as follows; One should have a core art that he practices and then incorporate those aspects in which the individual is comfortable with from the many different styles available. In other words, if you core art was boxing, then you would want to pick up different techniques that you were comfortable with from different styles and then learn to incorporate them into your core art, which in this case is boxing. You don't want to separate them, but learn how to get them to flow together into a seamless blend of techniques in which you are proficient in. Great advice! Shame that not too many people follow it though.
The book itself is well put together with loads of color photographs printed on glossy paper really stand out and add tremendously to the overall quality of the book.
The author does a really nice job of presenting a wide range of striking and grappling techniques that one would find very beneficial competing in the MMA arena. Obviously this isn't the only book on the subject, and there are others out there that are just as good, but this book would definitely make anybody's Top 10 List of MMA instructional books.
I would highly recommend this book along with Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way and pretty much anything by the Gracie's to improve your MMA repertoire of grappling techniques. Here are just a few.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)
Gracie Submission Essentials: Grandmaster and Master Secrets of Finishing a Fight (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Submission Grappling Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Book Review: www.knucklepit.com
Summary: 5 Stars
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS - THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE
by BJ PENN
with Glen Cordoza & Erich Krauss (Victory Belt)
© Marc Wickert January 1, 2009
www.knucklepit.com
BJ Penn is the grand sorcerer of ultimate fighting who blends together a lethal brew of strikes, takedowns and submissions, making him the true alchemist of mixed martial arts.
This former UFC Welterweight Champion is not only one of MMA's most respected practitioners, but BJ captured the imagination of all martial artists around the world in 2000 when he became the only non-Brazilian to win the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships.
"BJ Penn is one of the most talented athletes I've ever had the honor to train with. Any techniques you learn from this book will be time well spent," says Randy Couture.
In Mixed Martial Arts - The Book of Knowledge, Penn divides his publication into two parts: `The Stand-Up Game' and `The Ground Game', thoroughly explaining both areas clearly to his apprentices.
One of the main features of the book is that BJ doesn't try to convert people to any particular fighting style, but works with the reader "Meshing techniques from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, and wrestling... that beginners and experienced practitioners can follow," says Penn.
And while The Prodigy encourages athletes to develop a well-rounded game he also encourages them to work primarily from their home base, whether that be stand-up or ground warfare.
"If you're already an accomplished grappler or kickboxer, you don't have to go searching for your base. It is important that you rely upon the techniques that have been ingrained into your DNA... Now, if you're entering the sport of MMA without a background in wrestling or kickboxing or jiu-jitsu, you're going to have to find what aspect you gravitate toward."
BJ also presents a number of different programs for circuit training that are MMA sport-specific, and after providing a wealth of knowledge on offensive techniques, Penn then supplies the antidote for these techniques to his readers/students.
A superb book from this incredible master of the fighting arts.
Book Review: Excellent Primer for Transitioning from Grappling to MMA
Summary: 5 Stars
I should preface this review by clarifying that I don't train much MMA - I'm much more of a straight BJJ/submission grappling athlete. With that said, this book is an excellent perspective into BJ Penn's MMA repertoire and the basic theory behind his fighting style. For fighters who come from a striking background, the book may not be quite as applicable. Only a few basic punches are covered, and they are treated primarily as a means to set up a clinch or takedown, with the eventual goal of passing to a dominant position and winning by submission. As mentioned by a previous reviewer, no kicks or leglocks are covered. The book is not designed to be an encyclopedia of every fighting technique one could possibly use (indeed, Penn specifically disavows this purpose in the book itself), but it is a great introduction for grapplers who are curious to know what kind of strategies and techniques could work for them in an MMA context. I use the book primarily as a reference to explore different approaches to situations that I often find myself in just in BJJ/submission grappling, and have found it to be very useful. For example, BJ has an excellent description of how to tighten up the technique on your sprawl and use it to transition naturally to back control. He also has useful tutorials on an alternative technique for the double-leg takedown (as opposed to the standard wrestling shoot where you come over the knee of your lead leg and cut to the inside from a crouched position) that is helpful to know regardless of whether you actually do MMA. Whether you are a pure grappler looking for some insight into the techniques used by one of the best or someone looking to transition into MMA, this book has something for you.Book Review: The Basics Blended and Shoved Down Your Throat
Summary: 5 Stars
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.