Guerilla Jiu Jitsu, By Dave Camarillo with Erich Krauss
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:27 am
Picked this up today. Was going to buy it off of Amazon used, but wasn't willing to wait once I had started reading a copy this afternoon.
This is not a beginners book per se. For the complete Judo or BJJ novice it would be better to put the book down for 12 months and then read it. For the BJJ or Judo player with a year pr more of experince this book will open your eyes to new and old Judo strategies and techniques that will help your BJJ game or help a Judoka transition to the BJJ game.
An alternate titles could have been Judo throws and strategies for BJJ players or How to adapt your Judo throws to the BJJ game. This book is written from that perspective.
The Good:
Doesn't try to teach every single Judo throw, but sticks with the high percentage meat and potato throws; seionage, Osoto gari, kosoto gari, Uchi matta, Ouchi gari, kouchi gari, foot sweeps, basic combos.
Talks about transitions. How to position your throw so that not only do you get the takedown, but you are in such a position and in grip control to transition into a dominate ground position and on to the choke or submission.
Talks about grip fighting and how to set up your grips to control your opponent.
Talks about how to force to stand up, ie moving a BJJ opponent from the crouching position to an upright position for a throw. Plus, he discusses techniques to take advantage of your opponents low crouching position.
How to conter common wrestling and BJJ takedowns. His Uchi matta counter to a single leg was pretty neat.
Does an excellent job of explaining flying arm bars and triangles and how to train for them
The Not so Good:
Doesn't explain the concept of Kazushi (breaking balance).
While this is something that all good BJJ and Judo players do (BJJ in their ground game and Judo players with throws) The concept is very important for executing Judo throws and should be discussed in more depth for the benefit of the BJJ player. Most BJJ players are coming from a background where the takedowns are very wrestling oriented, ie the rely more on strength. Now don't go hating on me. I know that good wrestlers depend on proper technique and body position also. It's just that throws and take downs are not a BJJ specialty, therefore they depend more on strength. Explaining this concept to those with a BJJ background will help shorten the learning curve for them.
Setting expectations
JUdo throws can be extremely hard to execute and therefore have a longer learning curve. Letting BJJ know this and giving some tips will help them stick with it. Although, his foot work drill for forward throws is an excellent drill for BJJ as well as Judoka.
Overall a very good book. I agree with his main premise that Judo and BJJ complimernt each other in many ways.
BB2/75
This is not a beginners book per se. For the complete Judo or BJJ novice it would be better to put the book down for 12 months and then read it. For the BJJ or Judo player with a year pr more of experince this book will open your eyes to new and old Judo strategies and techniques that will help your BJJ game or help a Judoka transition to the BJJ game.
An alternate titles could have been Judo throws and strategies for BJJ players or How to adapt your Judo throws to the BJJ game. This book is written from that perspective.
The Good:
Doesn't try to teach every single Judo throw, but sticks with the high percentage meat and potato throws; seionage, Osoto gari, kosoto gari, Uchi matta, Ouchi gari, kouchi gari, foot sweeps, basic combos.
Talks about transitions. How to position your throw so that not only do you get the takedown, but you are in such a position and in grip control to transition into a dominate ground position and on to the choke or submission.
Talks about grip fighting and how to set up your grips to control your opponent.
Talks about how to force to stand up, ie moving a BJJ opponent from the crouching position to an upright position for a throw. Plus, he discusses techniques to take advantage of your opponents low crouching position.
How to conter common wrestling and BJJ takedowns. His Uchi matta counter to a single leg was pretty neat.
Does an excellent job of explaining flying arm bars and triangles and how to train for them
The Not so Good:
Doesn't explain the concept of Kazushi (breaking balance).
While this is something that all good BJJ and Judo players do (BJJ in their ground game and Judo players with throws) The concept is very important for executing Judo throws and should be discussed in more depth for the benefit of the BJJ player. Most BJJ players are coming from a background where the takedowns are very wrestling oriented, ie the rely more on strength. Now don't go hating on me. I know that good wrestlers depend on proper technique and body position also. It's just that throws and take downs are not a BJJ specialty, therefore they depend more on strength. Explaining this concept to those with a BJJ background will help shorten the learning curve for them.
Setting expectations
JUdo throws can be extremely hard to execute and therefore have a longer learning curve. Letting BJJ know this and giving some tips will help them stick with it. Although, his foot work drill for forward throws is an excellent drill for BJJ as well as Judoka.
Overall a very good book. I agree with his main premise that Judo and BJJ complimernt each other in many ways.
BB2/75