I hate this book.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques
by Royce Gracie and Charles Gracie with Kid Peligro.
I like Royce Gracie – his performance in the first few UFCs was nothing less than amazing and inspirational. When I thought I’d see how they would apply their art outside the ring, I jumped and bought this book. I really wish I had sat down at the bookstore first and taken a look at it. In it you are treated to Royce dropping into a Horse stance…I mean base (page 20-21), or vanquishing a couple of deadly single wrist grabs (pages 24-27). Then a parade of generic self-defense techniques seen in Krav Maga, Kempo, Judo and even Tae Kwon Do books throughout the ages. Even a couple bear hug defenses, including one where Charles Gracie does a heel kick, and another where he drops into a horse stance, I mean base, and picks up the ankle using his butt as a fulcrum – just like I learned at a Fred Villari’s school.
Really, I regret buying this book. However, I do get a weird satisfaction seeing that the good defenses in the book are all ones I learned in Shaolin Kempo, and that I didn’t learn some of the ridiculous ones taught in the book. There were a few, but only a few new things I learned from the book, but at least it was a saving Grace. Buy it only to feel smug and superior.
