Essential Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this book to help me & my son learn more about BJJ. It has met all my expectations. It covers the history of BJJ, the physical & psychological benefits of martial arts, the belt system, then gets into basic positions and techniques. There are more detailed texts out there, but I prefer this book's organization and brevity. I skimmed several books before deciding on this one and feel confident I made the right choice. Expert instruction is, of course, preferred but this book makes a great companion reference.

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A first-class introduction to the techniques of the fighting art, Essential Brazilian Jiu Jitsu includes over 250 full-color images along with detailed descriptions on performing every move and countermove.

Marc Walder, an accomplished black belt trained by the legendary Gracie family and Mauricio Gomes, illustrates the techniques to attack, respond, defend, and control any match.

Through high-quality full-color photo sequences and step-by-step instruction, you will learn proven techniques for these skills:

-Submission techniques from various positions

-Controlling the top position

-Arm locks and other attacking maneuvers

-Defending from the bottom position

-Effective escapes and counters

Whether you're competing in traditional tournaments, studying mixed martial arts, or looking for a dependable form of self-defense, face your opponent with confidence and the arsenal of versatile and proven skills only Essential Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides.

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Thai Boxing Dynamite: The Explosive Art Of Muay Thai Review

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(More customer reviews)This book describes all the basic techniques in detail, but tapers off when explaining advanced techniques like jumping round kicks and knees. It has VERY concise explanations of the front kick (foot jab) and round kick. The elbow sections are dated, but informative. This book is from 1987, and most of the material has not been updated on the "westernization" of Thai boxing. Jab, Cross, Hook is NOT covered. The author has the habit of writing an introductory paragraph on a technique, a few lines on execution, and then a piece on fighting application. Most of the sections really should be expanded. This book has excellent pictures and background information. The summary of the training routine is excellent. You could easily set up a program with a partner using this book. Overall, taking into account the shortage of material on Muay Thai, I would recommend this book to the beginner. Don't fool yourself, though. You MUST have an instructor to learn Muay Thai!

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You're in the ring when three flashing kicks from the Muay Thai boxer knock you to the canvas. Muay Thai, the hottest style of kickboxing to hit the sports world, integrates the use of legs and fists in one clean, fluid, yet savage style. Get the facts on how to master Thai Boxing Dynamite.

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Dirty Boxing for Mixed Martial Arts: From Wrestling to Mixed Martial Arts Review

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(More customer reviews)Matt Lindland's Dirty Boxing for Mixed Martial Arts is surprisingly good.I didn't expect as much as I do from some Victory Belt manuals perhaps because I've got a bias against wrestling, perhaps because Matt Lindland comes with a lot of baggage.
Let's get that out of the way up front. Yeah, yeah, Lindland is the guy who put together a documentary about how he was being blackballed from the UFC because they fear him and then went out and got KTFO'd in under a minute in his very next fight. He got run out of the UFC in a dispute over a sponsor and he's funny looking. He got his position on the U.S. Olympic team by going to court to appeal a loss in the qualifiers.
All of that said, the guy won a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 2000 Olympics and has won more than 20 MMA bouts. In his twelve year MMA career he's beaten top fighters like Pat Miletich, Carlos Newton, Jeremy Horn, Ivan Salaverry, Travis Lutter and Mike Van Arsdale.
As one of the founders of Team Quest, along with Randy Couture and Dan Henderson, Lindland pioneered the path of elite wrestlers entering MMA. He also was among the first to prove that wrestlers could expand their game and successfully incorporate submissions and strikes into their MMA games. The even split of his wins between decisions, submissions and TKO's testifies to his well-rounded mastery of MMA.
Now let's talk about the book.
There have been some complaints that the book is misnamed. The critics are saying that it's a wrestling manual for MMA, not a text book on how to use Dirty Boxing in MMA. To some extent that is a fair criticism. The book's original title was "From Wrestling to MMA" and that might have been a more apt title. But at the same time, this is easily the best book how to apply Dirty Boxing in MMA, bar none.
Sure, only somewhat less than a third of the book specifically discusses striking. But the key thing is the context in which that discussion of striking takes place.
Matt Lindland's Dirty Boxing for Mixed Martial Arts details a complete MMA system for the standup game. Where Randy Couture's Wrestling for Fighting is a primer that outlines the basic techniques of getting and defending takedowns, Lindland's book provides a complete system. The closest comparison I've read would be Eddie Bravo's two books.
Like Bravo's books, this one provides the diligent student with a series of options from every key position. Lindland outlines the key standing control positions and shows how to transition back and forth between them so you can take advantage of your opponent's mistakes and avoid his strengths. The structure of the book is also logical and builds a strong foundation at the beginning that allows him to build a complex but sold system by the end.
Reading this book really reinforced by respect for wrestling as a martial art. It's as much built on skill, science and strategy as jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, Judo or boxing. Lindland's moves are fundamentally predicated on misdirection and deception. He shows how to bait your opponent into moving and then how to use that energy against him. In that, Lindland's approach to takedowns reminds me of nothing so much as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's approach to the sweep.
It's only once he's established the foundation and shown the reader how to use the techniques of Greco-Roman wrestling to thoroughly control your opponent's body that he elaborates on how to take advantage of that control with strikes, throws and submissions.
The book is the usual great Victory Belt production. The sections are color coded for easy reference in the gym. Each move is described step-by-step and each step is illustrated by color photos. I did notice that many of the action shots are a bit blurry, this is an unfortunate distraction but doesn't impact the educational value of the book as the shots that show how to set up the grips and positioning are crystal clear, it's only the mid-air shots of the throws that tend to be blurry. In trying to do my due diligence as a book reviewer, I did conclude that the lack of an index is regrettable, although the organization, color-coding and detailed table of contents go a long way towards eliminating the need for one.

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Matt "The Law" Lindland is an all-American wrestler and Olympic Silver Medalist in Greco-Roman Wrestling. In Dirty Boxing for Mixed Martial Arts, he unveils for the first time the unorthodox and highly effective system of fighting that carried him to the top of the mixed martial arts mountain.Lindland provides the tools needed to be proficient in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and then demonstrates how to tailor these techniques to overwhelm your opponent in MMA competition. He covers fundamental control positions such as the two-one-one, underhook and head control, as well as numerous bone-crushing attacks from each position. Learn your opponent's most common defenses to your attacks, and then how to use these reactions to launch secondary attacks. Lindland also shows you how to strike your way into the clinch and, once there, he schools you on the art of dirty boxing, striking from close range, and a plethora of throws and takedowns.Whether you are a wrestler looking to compete in MMA or an MMA fighter looking tosharpen your game, Dirty Boxing for Mixed Martial Arts is the book for you.

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Production value is first rate; pictures are clear and explanations are excellent. This book and it's predecessor, "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:Theory and Technique" are arguably the best martial arts books ever produced in terms of overall quality.
Content is good but there is some of repetition of techniques that were shown in the first book, however this time performed without the gi. It is very thorough; responses to nearly any common attack are included- most are quite simple and easy to learn and remember. Defenses against common knife attacks and stick-ups (pistol) are also covered, as are a couple of stick defense and disarms.
Caveat to those looking to learn new grappling techniques: there are very few ground fighting techniques in this book other than escapes and counters to common headlocks and the like.
Why I gave 4 stars: The organization of this book is just plain bad. There seems to be no logical order that the techniques were grouped in; at least I can't see it. Similar techniques are randomly scattered through the book. If you want to find a particular technique, tou have to scan the list in the TOC or flip through the bok - no index! It would have been better to group similar techniques together into "chapters".
Overall pretty darned good, although I would recommend "BJJ:Theory and Practice" as being slightly better in terms of overall techniques and content.

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Brazilian jiu-jitsu has turned the martial arts world upside down by emphasizing real-life situations and results over the dramatic kicks and throws of formal competition, making it also one of the most effective self-defense techniques for non-athletes. This guide to the self-defense techniques taught in the classes of Royce Gracie, one of the biggest figures in the world of jiu-jitsu, provides lessons that anyone—regardless of strength or size—can learn to neutralize an attacker in seconds. It offers a variety of defenses to use against knife and gun attacks, as well as escapes from headlocks, choke holds, and other situations that attackers use on the street. Advice on practicing and falling and rolling make this book the next best thing to taking the classes that are popular with the United States military, police academies, and women's self-defense schools.

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No Holds Barred Fighting: The Kicking Bible: Strikes for MMA and the Street (No Holds Barred Fighting series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Mark Hatmaker series on submissions have been brilliant, practical, and informative. Unfortunately with this "Kicking Bible" he has crossed into a realm that he intellectualized but does not teach very well. Having trained under powerful kickers like Malaipet, Kongtalanee Payakarun, and grappling under Gokor Chivichyan, I think this book will cost many to develop bad habits in low kicks. He modifies the trademark low Muay Thai kick to lessen its power in the hope of increasing speed and avoiding over-rotation. Sounds good conceptually. However, looking at Cro-Cop, Anderson Silva, Chris Horodecki, Bas Rutten, Duane Ludwig, and other Muay Thai based fighters in MMA, they may modify the stance a bit to facilitate level changes in takedowns and takedown defenses, but they deliver the Muay Thai kick for the substantial power as intended.
Why does Hatmaker do this? I don't know the true reasons. Perhaps he felt the need to modify a proven technique in order to: (1) "originate" it or (2) to make it fit his paradigm of "non-Eastern-thus Western" form of fighting. Since without modification, Muay Thai is Eastern and doesn't really fit with what he describes as his "ESP" (i.e., his concept of a Western-art only system). (3) Perhaps he felt the need to improve what is already proven in order to emphasize his contribution. Some people are just like that. Whatever the case is, when people modify a proven technique, they should prove their new form in actual competition, and not just in the form of scientific analysis with countless demos on their students.
I share Hatmaker's views on many of the wrestling principles from previous books and DVDs, which he understood very well. Unfortunately, with this one, I'd go with the more proven kickers and learn the low Muay Thai kick as it was intended. Check out Anderson Silva's book, Duke Roufus' very detailed instructional DVD, or other fine books available from proven strikers if you want to learn it in the context of MMA or Muay Thai. Leave this book alone - you will cheat yourself of necessary power and learn a very bad habit (which once learned will be hard to correct; hence, the saying "old habits die hard.") On the plus side, there are some useful coverage of foot stomping.
To be fair, I must admit that this review was based on my opinion and experiences only. I am not a Hatmaker hater; in fact, as I said before, his previous works were brilliant. I am upset with this piece of work. In fact, I really disagree with this one. The low kick is one of the few subjects that I really understand. After all, would you learn how to run from a decathlete or a runner? Sometimes you just have to pick the expert over the jack of all trades when you want to improve a certain skill. Hatmaker tried too hard with this one to be a jack of all trades. At this pace, he'll probably come out with an encyclopedia on combat in fighter jets next.

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Beyond the Lion's Den: The Life, The Fights, The Techniques Review

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(More customer reviews)Having read "Inside the Lion's Den" years ago, I was very happy when this book came out. It makes Shamrock's first book seem like an abridged version of this one.
As in the first book, the first part is autobiographical. In it, Shamrock goes in depth about his troubled childhood, his time on the American pro-wrestling circuit (including a detailed description of the Nasty Boys incident), his time in Japan, and his return to MMA fighting up to his fight with Kimo. Without a doubt, some of the accounts are embellished or one-sided, but I think any fan of MMA, especially the early days, will be pleased at the insights Shamrock gives. My biggest complaint, as a pro-wrestling fan, is the constant misspelling of wrestler's names, but I don't think that'll effect most readers.
The second part of the book is on submission fighting. This is MUCH more detailed, technique-wise, than "Inside", but is noticeably missing sections on training, strategy and nutrition which were found in the first book. This section starts with stance and mobility and moves on to striking, including basic defenses, combinations, and striking from the clinch. Next he addresses takedowns, both offensively and defensively. He covers shooting, takedowns out of the clinch, takedowns off of the wall, takedown defense, takedowns to counter strikes, and many of his techniques end in a submission hold of some sort, allowing the fighter to finish his opponent off. After that is groundfighting, which is really Ken's specialty. He addresses, by chapter, the top guard position, side control and it's variations, the mount, the rear mound (including variations), and the bottom guard. In each section, he gives striking and submission options, proper positional control, and usually a bit on mobility and escapes. Fans of leg locks will love this part of the book.
Considering the length and cost of the book, I'd recommend it primarily for those interested in both the history and techniques of MMA. Though he's lost a few steps in the ring, there's no doubt after reading the instructional section that Ken still knows the techniques that work in an MMA fight. An excellent follow-up to his first book, and a very good book overall.


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This book highlights the fighting life of Ken Shamrock, one of the most popular professional wrestlers in the WWE and the second most popular combatant in UFC history. It covers Shamrock's beginnings in amateur wrestling, his bouts in the WWE, to his most recent return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It exposes the victories, injuries, and personal struggles behind Shamrock's failures and successes. Featuring descriptions of his most pivotal fights, this book is a perfect complement to Inside the Lion's Den and will let readers into the full story of the "World's Most Dangerous Man."Also featured is a complete how-to section that covers Shamrock's most devastating techniques. With easy-to-follow instructions and photographs for 70 techniques, this book teaches Shamrock's entire submission fighting system.

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Tap Out Textbook: The Ultimate Guide to Sumissions for Grappling Review

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(More customer reviews)Even though the author used "Ultimate" in the title, he has actually done a fairly good job with this book. So much so, that I decided not to ding him a star in my ratings, which I usually do, because of him using "Ultimate," "Complete," or "Bible" in the title and then having the information provided inside the book not even coming close to living up to the title. And even though this isn't really the "Ultimate" guide to submissions for grappling, it is a darn good one.
The author primarily covers three basic areas in this book which are;
1. Arm Locks
2. Chokes and Strangles
3. Leg Locks
Although he does briefly go over several other areas that are essential to the primary focus of this book.
I did feel that there could have been a bit more detailed text in certain areas concerning the various techniques demonstrated, but that was really a minor concern and one that perhaps wouldn't even be noticed by someone already involved in jiu-jitsu, but probably would be by the novice or beginner.
The photographs were very well done and showed the techniques being demonstrated very well, although it would have been nice to see some of the techniques from a couple of additional angles.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

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If you make your opponent tap out, he ll never forgive you and never forget you!Tap Out Textbook: The Ultimate Guide to Submissions for Grappling is packedwith hundreds of armlocks, chokes and leglocks that you can use to make anyopponent tap out. This book offers hardcore, serious and practical instruction on submitting your opponent in a wide variety of grappling and fi ghting situations.Whether you re a submission grappler, judo or jujitsu athlete or MMA fighter,this book will improve your armlocks, chokes and leglocks. Learn each submission technique from start to finish in both no gi and gi situations. Plus you'll get variations, alternate finishes and escapes so no matter what your opponent throws at you, you ll be ready.Author Steve Scott has over 40 years experience as a coach and athlete injudo, sambo, sport jujitsu and submission grappling. In this comprehensive training guide, he shares the same training tips, technical expertise and tactical advice that he has used to train 3 World Sambo Champions and over 200national and international champions in grappling sports.Written in clear, concise language with over a thousand photographs, Tap OutTextbook: The Ultimate Guide to Submissions for Grappling is like having your own world-class coach with you every time you step on the mat.

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The Ultimate Mixed Martial Artist: The Fighter's Manual to Striking Combinations, Takedowns, the Clinch and Cage Tactics Review

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(More customer reviews)I was skeptical when I first ordered this book because there were so many fighters in it. I thought there would be one or two techniques from each of the big names, but most of them have dozens of techniques. And despite there being so many guys, the organization of the book is really good. It covers so many striking combinations, both advanced and intermediate. It covers counter attacks, striking to the takedown, takedown defense, all sorts of ground techniques, and even many techniques that you can use off the cage wall. Perhaps the best part of this book is that each fighter offers the techniques that they are the best at. Shawn Thompkins, the striking coach at Couture's gym, shows the combos that he teaches to all his fighters. Forrest demonstrates those unorthodox techniques he is so good at. Couture and Fitch show their takedowns. And Anderson shows how to avoid the takedown while pinned up against the fence, and even how to turn the table on your opponent and execute a takedown of your own. the flow of the book is very good, with each technique leading into the next. As with all of Victory Belt's books, the photos are shot from multiple angles and in color. The only downside of this book is that I would have liked to see St. Pierre in it as well. I would have to say that this book is right up there with BJ's Mixed Martial Arts: the Book of Knowledge, but it is more comprehensive because it focuses just on the stand up element to fighting. I read that they are coming out with a second book that covers the ground game. I am looking forward to picking that one up. I have to say, if you into MMA training, you can't go wrong with this book.

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In The Ultimate Mixed Martial Artist, ten of the world's most accomplished MMA fighters combine forces to elevate your fighting skills to the next level. Through detailed narrative and more than 1500 step-by-step color photos, the best of the best in the fight game teach you how to overwhelm your opponent with advanced striking combinations, launch stealth counterattacking combinations, execute technical throws and takedowns, pummel your opponent from every clinch position and use various cage tactics to wreck your opponent's day. The legends of the sport unveil the secrets that allowed them to climb to the top of the MMA mountain.If you desire fighting techniques and strategies that have been proven to work time and again at the highest level of MMA competition, The Ultimate Mixed Martial Artist is for you.

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Mixed Martial Arts Unleashed: Mastering the Most Effective Moves for Victory Review

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(More customer reviews)Superb book written by a great team including MMA coach Mickey Dimic, UFC Champion Carlos Newton, BJJ whiz Mark Bocek and Britain's kickboxing/MMA star Gary Turner. This book is unique in that it actually explains WHY and HOW everything works. Excellent theory and practice book! Adds a lot of depth to your MMA! A big help in training!
When I ordered this book, I didn't know what I was going to get, but it looked good: written by a combination of UFC champions, amateur MMA champions and grappling and striking specialists in pro MMA, some in UFC others in other leagues. However, besides Carlos Newton, I wasn't too familiar with who the others were, but this is probably more due to my interest in MMA being more in participating than in keeping stats on all the fighters. But, WOW, the book does impress! It takes the mystery and confusion out of the sport by starting with the building block techniques like strikes, takedowns, pins, guard work and subs, and then shows how you link them together, and then how to strategize and train to maximize your chances against an opponent. What I really like is how, unlike it seems every other book out there, they prioritize moves, showing which ones are most common and effective, and not just throwing out an unorganized mess of moves that the player has to experiment with to see what he finds better than what. One other thing I really like is that the book is written for amateur players too. There are more restrictions on amateur events, and this book helps you to navigate through them. The drills in the book are very useful and even fun, and opened my eyes to more efficient ways of training. Many of them are situational based, and the book describes the most "go for" moves from each, for both attacker and defender, and how to do them. The book even discusses about how to transition from a base art, like wrestling, BJJ or Muay Thai, to MMA and what your major holes are that you have to fill when making that transition. This book actually explains everything and doesn't just throw a bunch of moves at you to figure out. Excellent book.

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Get what it takes to win-and unleash the ultimate fighter in you

Think you know your way around the cage? Think again. Mixed martial arts powerhouse Mickey Dimic, two-time middleweight world champion and Hall of Famer, kicks your game into gear with this no-holds-barred guide to grounding and pounding, sprawling and brawling, and boxing dirty like the toughest contenders.

Breaking down the fundamentals of mixed martial arts competition, Dimic brings his decades of MMA experience to teach you the various skills of boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, judo, and Jiu-jitsu, arming you with an unstoppable arsenal of weapons sure to yield maximum damage to any opponent. With Dimic's cage-tested tips and drills, you'll learn to:

Hone your body with proper training
Punch and kick with power and precision
Beat down your opponent with a merciless full mount
Escape from the tightest traps
Force submissions with vice-grip grappling holds
And strategize your way to victory in every fight

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Judo for Mixed Martial Arts: Advanced Throws, Takedowns, and Ground Fighting Techniques Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow. I thought this would be all throws. There are throws, counter throws, a whole soi age seciton, a whle osoto gari section, Tai Otoshis, Harai Goshis, and Uchimatas galor from all kinds of setups andcounters. Tere are a handful of throws off of the Kimura hold. There are even some good old double and single leg takedowns. There are methods of clinching and even striking to get the clinch. There's a section on Judo pins. Mount, Side Control, Scarf, reverse scarf,and north-south all have their own sections on transitions and sumissions. There are a lot of unique Hayastan/Gokor style subs I have NEVER seen in 13 years of MA training. The book ends with Ground and Pound techniques.
If you want to fight like Karo, this IS the book for you!

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In Judo for Mixed Martial Arts, world renowned judoka and UFC fighter Karo Parisyan unleashes the secrets of how to toss an opponent eight feet into the air and then finish him with a bonebreaking submission the moment he hits the ground. Covering thirty of the most practical throws and more than sixty submissions, this book is guaranteed to become the bible amongst MMA fighters.

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Closed Guard (Book of Knowledge) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was hoping it would be more exhaustive / detailed, since it deals with one particular -- albeit very important -- aspect of BJJ. One example is in the posture-breaking section: how hard would it have been to show options when your opponent's hands are on your biceps, or else if he's postured up with both hands on your belt? Instead, all of only several posture-breaking techniques assume your opponent is using a staggered grip on your belt and lapel. It's a little thing, but BJJ is all little things.
What this book had going for it, potentially, was to provide a really inclusive roadmap of the closed guard, and I think it's lazy in that regard. You can find all the stuff in this book plenty of other places.

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The Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual: Striking Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been eagerly anticipating this books release since I first heard it was coming out a few months back. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.
The layout and format for this book is very well done and it abounds with literally hundreds of full color photographs printed on glossy paper to ensure their richness and clarity, and this is just the aesthetic properties of this book, and I haven't even got to the quality of the actual content, which is nothing short of fantastic.
For the most part, the techniques themselves are described in very good detail to go along with the numerous photographs depicting the actual technique. However, there were a few instances were I felt that a little bit better description would have been appropriate. But please don't let this even be anything more than a minor inconsequential annoyance compared to the wealth of material that is presented here. The author does a very good job of providing a lot of good solid information on a variety of subjects, although no great amount of in-depth discussion is really given to any one subject.
The following is a list of the main topics and the sub-topics which are discussed in this book.
1. STANCES & FOOTWORK
A. Stances
B. Footwork
2. COUNTER MOVEMENT
A. Evasive Techniques
B. Parries and Blocks
C. Checking Techniques
3. STRIKING TECHNIQUES
A. Punches
B. Elbows
C. Kicks
D. Knees
4. ATTACKS
A. Same Stance
B. Opposite Stance
C. Feints
D. Striking to the Clinch
5. COUNTERATTACKS
A. Same Stance
B. Opposite Stance
C. Countering Kicks
Each section is loaded with sound well-rounded information and goes over numerous techniques and combinations. This is definitely a book that any aspiring MMA fighter wants to own in order to improve their fighting skills in the cage. I would highly recommend this book without any reservations whatsoever. Here are two other books that I would also recommend.
Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way
Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

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In Mixed Martial Arts Instruction Manual, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva unveils more than 150 striking techniques that have been proven in the Octagon. Detailing everything from basic punches and kicks to complex combinations through 1500 step-by-step color photographs and descriptive narrative, this book will become a bible for both beginning practitioners and seasoned mixed martial arts veterans.

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Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way Review

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(More customer reviews)Randy "The Natural" Couture has recently shocked the MMA world by winning and then defending his UFC Heavyweight Title in two fights where he was an underdog. One of the major keys to his victories is his incredible use of wrestling inside the Octagon. In this book, he shares his best wrestling techniques, and how to use them in MMA competition.
After an introduction that chronicles his career in wrestling & MMA, Randy beggins to delve into the techniques that have won him five UFC titles. The book is devided into three parts: wrestling basics, Greco-Roman techniques, and wrestling for MMA. Randy teaches you how to wrestle first, before anything else. Each section beggins with an overview of what will be learned, and is color-coded.
The first section is on wrestling basics, and goes over the four basic takedowns (double, high crotch, low single & high single), then focuses on ways to finish the high single-leg possition. After that, Couture goes on to the basic tie-ups for the upper-body and how to execute takedowns from those possitions. Learning these setups are crucial to successful takedowns. He finishes the first part up with takedown defense.
In the middle section, on Greco-Roman wrestling, we are introduced to the skills that Randy excels at. Greco-Roman wrestling concentrates exclusively on upper-body wrestling, and Randy feels it's better for MMA compared to Freestyle & Folkstyle. This part beggins with basic pummeling, which enables one to gain control of your opponent's body, then moves on to some basic Greco takedowns. The next part is on armdrags, a favorite of mine, and includes drills and various entries to get the takedown. The second section finishes up with underhook defenses, but not before "The Natural" introduces the reader to some of the most crowd-pleasing Greco throws, including the arm spin, headlock throw, and bodylock suplex.
The third and last section is on utilizing the skills in the previous two sections in the MMA environment. This section shows the reader how to combine takedowns and clinch work with strikes and strike defense, and how to take down someone who's against a cage. It also includes some of Randy's favorite ground 'n' pound techniques and a few submissions from the headlock possition.
If there's any negative side of this book it's that Randy doesn't cover basic striking, striking defense, or ground possitions. This might sound like a large gap, but the purpose of his book isn't to teach a full MMA curriculum, but to show basic wrestling techniques and how they're used in MMA.
On a side note, I've been very pleased with the quallity of books that Victory Belt Publishing has put out. This is my fourth book from them, and they consistantly do great work. This book, like most of the others, has quallity photos, step-by-step instructions, and multiple camera angles of a single step. I look forward to their upcoming publications by Couture, Eddie Bravo, BJ Penn, Dave Camarillo and Marcelo Garcia.
I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to learn wrestling moves and apply them to the MMA environment.

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Randy "The Natural" Couture is the most respected and celebrated MMA combatant in the history of the UFC. A UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, and a UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture's reputation and fighting style are among the best in the world.Now, with Wrestling for Fighting: The Sport of Mixed Martial Arts, Couture presents the techniques and strategies that allowed him to devastate the world's best strikers and grapplers time and time again. His unique fighting system, a mix of martial arts, wrestling, boxing and jiu-jitsu, is broken down clearly and concisely for amateurs and seasoned veterans alike. Couture also includes important information on creating fight game plans, and a variety of training tips you won't find anywhere else.

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Fedor: The Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA Review

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(More customer reviews)Written by Jacob Regar
There is no one hundred percent fail-proof recipe for unarmed combat. Practitioners must learn all they can to prepare themselves for any possible fighting scenario. Techniques alone do not ensure victory in the modern fighting chess match that is MMA. Subtleties like footwork, combinations set up off of evasive movements and offensive feints, and timing, are the essence of fighting success. These variables are difficult to perceive, let alone define, and the ability to fuse them with game-tested techniques against a skilled and prepared opponent marks the clearest indication of a modern fighting master.
In FEDOR: the Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA, the martial arts public can finally find answers to their ongoing question: how does Fedor Emelianenko do what he does in the ring? He writes in the introduction to the book's section on "counter attacks:"
"The goal in any fight is to constantly remain on the offensive and either rack up enough points to earn a judges' decision or put your opponent to sleep. If your opponent is timid or dramatically outclassed, achieving your goal can be quite easy. You simply beat on him until he drops. However, the majority of opponents you face will climb into the ring or cage with the exact same goal as you, which means you'll have to contend with his attacks. The only way to remain offensive against an opponent who is also offensive-minded is to learn how to counter his attacks. By attacking, evading his strikes, and then immediately launching counterattacks, your opponent will be locked in defense mode even though he is throwing every strike in the book at you. And as long as he is constantly defending, you'll be winning the fight."
The above excerpt is just a taste of the abundant nuggets of world-class fighting philosophy that can be found in FEDOR. His thoughts are expertly drafted into workable instructions with the help of famed MMA writers, Glen Cordoza and Erich Krauss. The book is filled to the limit with clear photographs of Emelianenko displaying the precise body movements necessary to execute each featured technique. Additionally, most featured techniques are accompanied by a section of highlighted "key concepts" to keep in mind.
While studying the book, you will undoubtedly recognize many of the same movements and techniques that have worked for Emelianenko in his fights against the world's best heavyweight fighters. In addition, the book includes many new and exciting techniques like the "Reverse Bridge Summersault Escape" from mount where he literally summersaults horizontally over his shoulders to roll his opponent over to the bottom position.
Widely known for possessing some of the fastest and most devastating hands in the business, Emelianenko presents an in-book clinic on his powerful striking techniques. You will notice in the book's photographs his familiar tendencies to maintain head movement; shift his feet to compensate for his changing offensive angles; and deliver his strikes with his fists rotated beyond the traditional norm. His explanations are not so much a surprise, but they will aid readers in adopting his unorthodox style into their own game.
FEDOR covers every area of MMA: from fundamental striking and slick submissions, to fight-effective takedowns and mindfully defensive techniques. What once could only be ascertained through careful analysis of his legendary fights can now conveniently be learned step-by-step in his first instructional book. FEDOR is both intriguing and brilliant. A must have for any serious martial artist. It is the new standard for MMA instructional books.


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In Fedor, the undefeated, undisputed heavyweight MMA champion of the world unveils for the first time his trademark striking and grappling techniques through descriptive narrative and more than 2500 step-by-step color photographs. Detailing dozens of throws, punching combinations, cardio workouts and ground and pound techniques, this book leaves no stone unturned.

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Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts: The Stand Up Game Review

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(More customer reviews)Anyone familiar with MMA - mixed martial arts - is doubtlessly familiar with Greg Jackson. Jackson is one of THE top trainers of elite MMA fighters. He coaches the guy many consider the best pound for pound fighter in the world - Georges St-Pierre, now simply known as "GSP." Jackson's Albuquerque NM Submission Fighting camp features a veritable Who's Who of the elite martial artists at the top of their respective games. He is the MMA equivalent of E.F. Hutton - when he talks, people listen.
Co-author Kelly Crigger is less known but is emerging as one of the top MMA writers around. He is the author of the highly entertaining "Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts" and writes regularly (and adroitly) for FIGHT magazine. Together, these two experts have fashioned a powerful one-two punch and text for refining the standup game.
Their useful, practical and hand-on book proves to be a successful collaboration. Their book is organized into six major sections:
*Developing a fight strategy
*The Fundamentals
*Basic Strikes
*Combinations
*The Clinch
*Takedowns
*Street Fighting, Multiple Opponents and Weapons
THE STANDUP GAME, by its very title suggests that this is not just a textbook on the "sweet science" of boxing. You will not find Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao researching a spinning backfist or a front snap kick. The range of fighting techniques addressed here highlights the context of MMA fighting. THE STANDUP GAME refers to one of the main pillars or components of mixed martial arts.
The latter, popularized by events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, require successful practitioners to have fluency in wrestling, boxing, kicking, and jujitsu submissions. Practitioners who can seamlessly blend transitions from one fighting style to another and combine a balance of effectiveness in these areas learn the recipe for success in the ring or the octagon.
Jackson and Crigger's book provides a useful synthesis of narrative text and succinct instruction through effective use of color photographs in illustrating various components of the standup game. They cover in virtually encyclopedic detail every conceivable combination of standup fighting, including techniques utilized in Muay Thai, a dynamic form of kickboxing (with elbows and knees thrown in) popularized in Thailand. The sections on strategy and street fighting differentiate THE STANDUP GAME from most other books of this genre.
Further, in the final chapter, Jackson and Crigger leave behind the boxing ring and octagon and move to the street (or bar room). The book is worth the price of admission alone for its Chapter Six, which provides useful tips on personal self defense, including: seizing the initiative, countering your opponent's move, breaking chokes, dealing with weapons such as baseball bats, knives and guns.
THE STANDUP GAME is a useful -- and likely an absolutely essential resource -- for recreational or competitive boxers, or anyone engaged in mixed martial arts at any level. Even for those individuals not falling into either of the preceding categories, the book is also useful as a resource and reference for self defense techniques.
As is the case with any book, however, it is not realistic to expect that anyone will learn fluency and skill just from reading a book. To this extent, THE STANDUP GAME by Jackson and Crigger is a superb reference text to augment -m but not replace -- the need for skilled hands-on instruction from a knowledgeable instructor.
If you're interested in boxing, mixed martial arts or self-defense, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of THE STANDUP GAME!


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Greg Jackson is the most accomplished and celebrated mixed martial arts coach in the world. In Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts, he brings you into his stable of fighters, which includes UFC Welterweight Champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, UFC Light Heavyweight contender Keith Jardine, and UFC Middleweight contender Nate Marquardt. For the first time, he unveils his methods for developing fight strategies, detailing everything you must accomplish from the moment you sign the contract up to the time you step foot into the octagon. Next, he shares his arsenal of stand-up striking techniques that allow his fighters to dominate the world of mixed martial arts. He shares dozens of striking combinations, counterstriking combinations, takedowns, and throws. Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts also includes something no other technique book offers—a chapter on street fighting that was developed over several years of trial and error. If your goal is to rise to the top of the MMA mountain, Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts is a mandatory tool because it's written by a trainer who's taken several fighters there.

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Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge Review

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(More customer reviews)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.

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Mastering Jujitsu (Mastering Martial Arts Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)No, that's not a quote from Gichin Funakoshi or Moriei Uyeshiba.
That's from Ian Fleming's "From Russia with Love."
The Gracies agree. The bad news is that we're told that 'There is no Santa Claus' against multiple opponents, so wannabe James Bonds are out of luck.
The good news is that when Royce Gracie entered the 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' he was able to do what most martial arts promised but could not deliver; consistently defeat much larger men.
At 170 lbs soaking wet, Royce kept winning against Sumo, Greco-Roman wrestlers, Boxers and Karateka-- as did the rest of his family.
Fleming would have approved of their methodology. The Gracies had tons of eperience, Brazilian law did not forbid no-holds barred challenges.
A bit of a throwback to the 19th century catch wrestling matches, if not quite The Wild West . . .
This book covers the beginning of the Gracie clan's ascencion to prominence. The authors make the point that martial arts which teach 'deadly moves' e.g; eye-gouging, shuto throat strikes and such are weaker than those which practise safe techniques--an easily explained paradox in their view, since the 'deadly' ones (Karate and Ryu-style Ju-Jitsu) have to remain theoretical--not too many students being willing to get their throats crushed in practise; whereas boxing and Judo spend most of their time in sparring safely against a training partner-that is not being cooperative.
Thus they have nothing but the highest praise for Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo. Indeed their 'lineage'is traced back to him via Mitsuyo Maeda,(1871-1941) a Judoka who saw Judo lose to the Fusen-Ryu school of Jujitsu. This was the first time Kodokan Judo had EVER lost against the 'theoretical' schools
Fusen Ryu employed ground grappling.
Kano added this to Judo and Fusen Ryu was 'incorporated' into Japan's official national sport--but not before Yukio Tani, a Fusen-Ryu stylist traveled to England around 1900 and defeated all comers, sometimes fighting as many as 50 a week. He only weighed 125 lbs.
In any case Maeda moved to Brazil followed Yukio's example and quickly adapting to foreigners who wrestled without a gi, boxed, etc.
He then met and befriended Carlos Gracie, and the rest, as they say is history. . .
---------------------------------------
This book shows some of the most basic (read effective) holds, takedowns and submissions in BJJ.
It also treads on some toes by stating that the cherished concept in JKD about 'ranges of combat' (kicking, boxing, trapping and grappling) has proven to be false. A flying knee can be long range and a grappler who has his mind set on a clinch and takedown from 15 feet away, will indeed, take you down.
A possible weakness is the dogma that 'all fights end up on the ground' which the authors sometimes amend to 'most fights between usnkilled opponents' etc.
The reality is that BJJ confesses to having no defense against two or more opponents save running or looking around for 'improvised weapons'-- See chapter 10, JuJitsu for self defense.
But there is a lot of data in which a boxer a karateka or a good street fighterhas indeed prevailed aginst two men---and more. Ask around your friendly local barroom bouncers, LEO's , and MP's.
Come to think of it, many in the military police and other similar organizations think the world of the hand to hand combat developed by the likes of Fairbarns, Sykes and other commando trainers from WW2--which are indeed 'theoretical' Furthermore with the introduction of 'Redman' and other protective suits and gear, the gap between theoretical and practical is closing.
Lastly, and I know I'm nitpicking--I think the world of the Gracies--Bruce Lee would be somewhat taken aback by the statement that the roundhouse " Can be safely regarded as the 'king of kicks' ". Here the authors are referring to Thai low roundhouse using the shin to attack a boxer's leg.
I'm surprised the authors did not follow their own logical conclusion, that the low side thrust kick to the leading leg of the opponent does not exist in Thai boxing because it's too dangerous and thus is 'theoretical', but might prove quite handy in a real fight , just as Bruce thought.
In any case, all martial artists can be gratefull to the Gracies for putting back some perspective into what works and doesn't, as well as for founding an organization where it does take years of hard work to earn a 1st degree black belt, as opposed to--well I'm too much of a gentleman to name names but if you've been around the MA scene, you know the score- and where possesing one actually means that yes, you can handle yourself in a fight-- WHAT A CONCEPT !
Outstanding book.

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