Renzo Gracie Mastering JuJitsu Book Review

Site Admin Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 1080

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From: Gumby

i don't see this one mentioned much, but out of all the jiu jitsu related products and instructionals I have seen and come across (and it's a lot) I consider Mastering Jiu Jitsu by Renzo Gracie and John Danaher to be a MUST HAVE?

Renzo Gracie obviously needs no introduction to anyone on this forum. "New Zeland" John Danaher is one of Renzo's top black belts (ask ANY of the students and competition memebers at his academy how good he really his), and furthermore wason his way to PHd in philosophy at Columbia before discovering jiujitsu, it his style of narrative and wit combined with the knowledge that Renzo has that makes this a unique book.

For starters, if you're expecting a glossy book filled with techniques, this isn't the book for you. The techniques that are shown are in black and white, and are the most basic of the basic moves and the book is text dense. What you do get however is a TON of history and practical theory on jiujitsu, it's moves and ultimate goals. If you're looking to get into the mindset of a fighter and discover why a certain choice or manuever is appropriate at a given time, then this is the book for you. It will change (or at least sharpen) your overall perspective of Jiu Jitsu in a way that showing you over a hundred techniques couldn't.

I'd re-read this book more often if my copy wasn't "borrowed" sometime ago. I recommend this book to everyone, but I have always personally recommended it to my friends and the highest profile atheletes in th sport.

Furthermore, you can get the book for under $14.00 at Amazon, which is an absolute steal at that price:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0736044043/ qid=1103131251/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/104-8547185-7236741

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From: rene.r

Gumby is correct. That book is excellent.

From: tarado4

Gumby has just armbarred the correct review

From: RodneyPoldrack

My favorite book. The Gracie Way comes in a close 2nd. If I was going to teach a college jiujitsu class Mastering JuJitsu would be the textbook.

From: estanmilko

I like it but I felt a lot of it was aimed at traditional martial artists as anyone who has trained in mma or bjj for a couple of years or someone with heavy interest in mma should know most of the info already.

I think Renzo felt the same way, hence "Mastering JUJITSU" rather than jiu-jitsu.

My favourite book is "The Triangle" by Rigan Machado.

From: rene.r

It is one of a series of books put out by the publisher, all with similar titles and formats (Mastering X), similar to Tuttle's Complete X line.

Publisher's get final approval of titles and covers and other stuff that effects marketing, and they like having series that look similar on book store shelves, even if one is Mastering Jujitsu and the next is Mastering Tai Chi.

From: Andrew Yao

I agree with estanmilko. I think it's good, but I didn't like it personally because I feel I already knew pretty much everything in the book.

From: JRockwell

Gumby is correct, great book. Enjoyable to read, solid techniques in multiple ranges.

From: Dragonlee

ttt for a good book !

From: Bull_in_chinashop

I like Danaher's writing style.

From: andrewn

I also liked this book. As mentioned, John Danaher writes very well. The historical and strategy/philosophy info is presented at least as well as any other MA history book ever written.

Not a great range of techniques, but those that are there are solid examples. Andrew Yao is probably correct in that this is a book for TMAers looking to cross over rather than for advanced practitioners, and most blue belts would know nearly all the techniques demonstrated.

I also have "The Triangle" book/DVD package, and regard it as excellent.

From: estanmilko

Well for me it wasn't the techniques that I knew already so much, it was the whole idea that there are ranges of combat etc. I had the same problem with Geoff Thompsons books, for some people it may have caused a massive shift in their perceptions but for me that shift had already happened so all I got out of it was an interesting read.

From: MartialArtsfan

Agree with Gumby. If I had to choose one martial arts book only this would be it. It's both a bjj book and vale tudo book. Renzo Gracie covers the theory of fighting (including street fighting at the end of the book), and how bjj and vale tudo fit in, like nobody else ever has.

Site Admin Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 1080

from jerseyshorebjj.com old forum

from: gokuryu

This the best book to explain to someone what MMA is and how to fight in a NHB match. It explains the theories behind ground fighting, clinch work, submissions, and diffrent styles. Its not one sided. He gives examples of fighters who use diffrent areas and suceed. Such as Chuck Liddel avoiding takedowns and keeping the fight on his feet. Or maybe a fighter who uses a good guard game. But he lets you decide what area you want to use.

Its not a book of 101 submissions. In fact each section only covers the basics. If you are looking for new moves then you need to get book/tape on the area you are looking for. This one only shows 3 or 4 moves per area. (3 knees from clinch, 4 sweeps, 3 submission from mount) Now you could do a whole book on just submissions from the mount. Or like the Triangle book, a whole book on 1 move! So you see this book a general game plan not a how too book.

but i give it a 9 out of 10.