Review: Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed by Eddie Bravo

Martial Arts Training Forums BJJ and Advanced Grappling Forum
1

I bought Eddie Bravo’s Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed the week it was released, and after months of putting it to use, I figure I’ve had time enough to give it a review. I’m not going to really go into things like the black and white photos or moves not having enough photos, since I didn’t have any trouble with these like some people. I found the text and descriptions clear and interesting, and the pictures served their purpose. What I really want to go over is what I’ve actually picked up from this book that I have been able to add to my game, since in the end, that’s what really matters. I’ve read plenty of glossy and expensive BJJ books that I end up taking almost nothing from. So let’s get down to it:

Probably the most significant addition to my game is the twister side control (a form of reverse scarf hold). I use it all the time now, even when I’m not looking to get a twister. The kimura from here is very handy too.

I use the twister half guard pass (where you face their legs) a lot now, and though I’d see passes like it before, the book got me to start using it more to go along with twister side control.

For a couple weeks after reading the book, I was getting a lot of twisters, banana splits, crotch rippers and calf crushes from The Truck (a control position when you’re on your way to the twister), but I stopped going for them as much lately. I ran into some trouble setting up the twister roll and decided to work on other things.

I was already doing well with half guard before this book, but I started using Old School more, and I picked up some new moves like the Half and Twist, Half Quarterback sweep and a couple other ones where you go to your knees while still trapping their leg.

I get the kamizake calf crush all the time. I try for the Apolo (arm triangle from under half guard to sweep) often enough but have yet to finish it on anyone. I’ll go for the electric chair (banana split from half guard) but usually just use it to go out the back or sweeping (which he says will happen, so no surprise).

I’ve made some use of Mission Control and New York and their triangle and omoplatas, but what’s funny is that out of all the rubber guard moves, I use the Meathook (triangle setup) and Crowbar (omoplata setup) the most, and they aren’t in the book (just Grappling Mag articles). I’ll sometimes pull off stuff like the Invisible Collar (shoulder crush), the Duda (biceps slicer from guard), etc. but not as much as I probably could (I’ve been working on a different style of guard).

There are a couple other moves in this book that I use regularly (x-guard, double under pass, no-hand pass, triangle arm bar) but I can’t credit it with them since I’d already been doing them before I read this book. They are still good moves regardless of where I got them.

Considering how much unique content this book contains, and how many of them fit into or added to my game, this is one of the best BJJ books out there, especially considering I spent less than $15 on it. Definitely pick it up.

2

One thing I didn’t understand in this book is the way he shows to catch the leg from twister side control.

He’s got them under his left side, and he’s waiting for them to bring their left leg over, like this:

In the book, he shows to first step over with your right leg, then hook under with your left. The left leg goes behind the other knee (figure-four), and the right foot goes around the front to grapevine the outside of their foot, for a reverse lockdown. You end up here:

(Photos from BJJ.com.au.)

That probably doesn’t sound too odd, but watching the Twister DVD, I only remember seeing him hook with his bottom leg first. Not his top leg.

Also, before I worked out exactly what the book was trying to show, the way it looked like he was catching their leg lead me to grapevine my legs the wrong way, so that when I did the twister roll, my lockdown would come off. I kept trying to make the way he showed work (hooking with my top leg, then bottom leg, then figure four, then grapevine) but I kept losing the move while I spent my time switching my legs around. I eventually gave up on that and went with the simpler way (hooking with my bottom leg, figure four and grapevine) and enjoyed more success.

Someone can correct me if I’m remembering the book wrong (I lent mine to a friend so I can’t check) but I couldn’t figure out why he showed to catch the leg the way he does, other than it possibly serving to “feed” the other leg in.

3

A brown belt was watching my spar last night, and when the round ended, he said “All you’ve done tonight are Eddie Bravo moves.” So you could say this book affected my game.

4

I still feel like I haven’t scratched the surface on the techniques in this book, but I love them never-the-less.

Working the halfguard stuff alone has been awesome and I’ve started using techniques in the book on a regular basis.

That being said, this isn’t a good book to buy when you are first starting submission grappling. Many of the techniques are a bit on the difficult side, and while the pics are good, to a person just starting out there is lots of room for confusion.

With that out of the way, for any person that likes to grapple, and for the price this book goes for, I totally, 110% recommend it.

5

Best Jiujitsu book ever. I did a rubber guard omoplata last night on my instructor (didn’t finish it of course), and after we finished rolling he asked me if I had been reading Eddie Bravo’s book. It’s definately a useful book with distinct moves. I’d recommend it to anyone.

But then I’m a noobie white belt.

6

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5777734114158126798&q=eddie+bravo

7

Fucken Aeso making me spend money again!

:suicide:

8

This is one of the few books that are worth owning.

Almost everything in there I have put to practical use, even against much larger opponents.

9

This video is why this grappling forum is good for everyone. The obvious BJJ nut riding is kinda dumb but the technique pictures and videos are good for anyone.

BTW, the pictures and video help us Judo guys that don’t understand BJJ terms well.

10

Most BJJers don’t understand Bravoisms very well.

11

It’s like secret ninja knowledge or something, at least until they catch on…

12

Would you say this book is suitable for grapplers of any level or is there a set of prerequisites to getting the most out of it? I’m likely going to get Ed Beneville’s The Guard and Helio’s master text after the holidays but if this book has expanded your game that much I’d be interested in buying it too.

13

It’s worth it if you’ve found you can already pick up techniques from books and you put in the time to work it out and drill it, and you’re not afraid of unusual moves. If you’re just getting into BJJ though and want good books, just go with Ed Beneville’s latest, but I recommend something like The Triangle by Rigan Machado or any of Jean-Jacques’ book over Helio’s overpriced coffee table cover.

14

Ah, I heard the “coffee table” label bring thrown around with regards to Helio’s book but that’s another thread entirely. I already have the video from The Triangle and I’m pretty comfortable learning moves from various media and using them in class, but they tend to be pretty basic (i.e. guard openings, sub escapes).

Maybe I’ll try to build up my flashier material with Leozihno’s videos first.

15

I picked up this book recently and I’ve found it very helpful thus far. Especially the half guard material. Though I’ve found that several details have been glossed over for the intermediate grappler. Like the following.

A question about the Twist Back move on pages 36-37. Especially step 3, picture 3. Hopefully someone will be able to provide me with some insight into accomplishing this step. At this point in the move the lockdown is released and you have their leg pulled back with your left leg, you are attempting to get your right foot hooked around their knee to establish leverage to twist their leg and facilitate the sweep.

In attempting to drill this technique I, and my partners, found it terribly difficult to establish the right foot hook on your opponents right knee. Does anyone have any tips on gaining that hook? In all likelyhood I’m missing the proper hip positioning to tuck my foot around or under the knee.

16

So do you practice these moves outside of just rolling (as in drilling the moves with a partner) before really landing them on others? Because yeah I don’t see myself picking up moves without some time spent drilling it oustide of a free rolling environment just yet (from a book or an instructor).

I lent my copy to one of my instructors and he liked the book. He’s got some similar half guard moves (he’s got a move called the Hog Tie that’s similar to the Electric Chair) that he’s going to show me as well, though. I figure I’ll just learn the right way (from an instructor in person) then worry about the book later. But I’m already working on setting the rubber guard, even if I lose/abandon it to go for more familiar moves. Just to get a feel for later on.

check. I’ll see what I can scrounge up before resorting to online shopping. I do mostly no Gi stuff and truly suck at the triangle. Is Machado’s The Triangle good for both gi and no-gi, or are there a lot of sleeve and collar grabbing setups?

17

the half guard info helped me out abit. i just learned a pretty good sweep from that postion as well.

18

Aeso,
I went to the seminar where those photos were later taken which was about 2.5 years ago. I remember Eddie saying that he had good flexibility and so could have his left knee on the ground and his ankle up high in the air. For those of us with less flexibility, it’s easier to use the right foot to hook behind your opponent’s knee and then bring the left leg through to figure-four the legs. I also think it would be a stronger move since you can put weight on your right foot to stop him dragging his leg back, and then bring your left leg through.

19

Johnny, thanks for the clarification. Having sorted this out, I may start using the twister again since the reason I dropped it was having too much trouble with this step.

20

I just got this book and I think it is fantastic. I was wondering if anyone could explain how to do the “jailbreak”?