I am in boxing training and so don't have time to go to a BJJ class as well, but I'd really like to get a good book on the subject and just try to pick up some of the fundamentals. Anyone? :bbb
Renzo's book seems really good, but definitely need a partner and there's no way it would be as good as finding a gym.
BJ Penn's book is a good one as well. There are too many subtleties in jiujitsu to learn from a book so you'll have to hit the mat with a good teacher at some point. If nothing else - take a weekend seminar or two and get some great hands on instruction.
Yea, to be honest a book isn't going to help you that much without training. If you want to do it without training, you won't get good results, but the better option would be videos. There are tons out there, Demian Maia's science of Jiu Jitsu 1 & 2 are good I hear. Check the gracies offical website, they have a lot of instructionals that are ment for begginers.
I don't know how much you could learn from a book. I think most of it will be geared towards practicing the techniques shown, and unless you have someone who will practice with you or a nearby club then I don't think you will learn much, if anything, that you can actually apply. When I trained JJ I never really managed to read a book and then apply a move in sparring, but just being shown it once in person meant that I was able to pull the move off (though perfection comes from a hell of a lot of correct repetition).
Well, I'd strongly recommend against using a book as the sole training unit for an art such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The reason why Jiu Jitsu is so effective is that people get to do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! You're constantly working techniques with an active resisting opponent. You don't get that with a book. Also, the HUGE pitfall in trying to learn from a book/video is that you can, very often and easily, be doing something incorrectly, and over time this incorrect movement becomes natural and you've now got a flaw that is very difficult to correct as it's natural for you. I'd STRONGLY recommend finding a good instructor who will work with you and prevent any type of small to large mistakes.
mate, seriously, just make time and get yourself down to 2 sessions a week somewhere up in Glasgow! Vids > Books, though. But if you want good books for basic jiu-jitsu (nothing wacky like The Rubber Guard, etc at this stage... not just yet, anyway). Renzo & Royler's book "BJJ: Theory & Technique" is imo the best. PM me, mate. ((BJJ: The Master Text is good but you'll get lost!)) in terms of vids, for someone with very little knowledge of the subject I'd recommend The original Rorion Gracie vids "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Basics" then GJJ Intermediate, then Advanced... are the best all-round series for learning the basics. But again, just get yourself down somewhere. Books & Vids, you'll barely need if you're getting down somewhere half-decent regularly! That's all I had seen (other than in fights ofcourse) as far as BJJ goes before I first stepped into a jiujitsu club .
You need a gym matey, learning JJ from books is like learning Kata Judo, its good to know but you are never going to use it, even if you want to.
