Jiu-Jitsu University – ‘The Book of Tweaks’

I have had the book Jiu-Jitsu University by Saulo Ribeiro, and let’s not forget Kevin Howell, for a few weeks now. It has created quite a buzz for some of my fellow bloggers.

I have been silently implementing the advice in the book each class since I had the book, with great success. Here is why I think the book is so fascinating. The book doesn’t necessarily teach you anything new about BJJ. But it will DEFINITELY help you fill in any gaps and holes in your game. Further, the advice offered has been tested in the highest levels of competition so it is also trustworthy. I don’t know if this was intentional or it is just the way that Saulo Ribeiro instructs. 

Reading this book is like taking the equivalent of a private session each time I go through a technique. Ribeiro and Howell emphasize the importance of an extra tight defense until you are able to counter, knowing that your defense is working if your opponent starts to muscle you and/or the higher belts have to dig deeper in their quest to submit you through your defensive efforts. 

From the first day I started to integrate the advice from the book into my game I received compliments from rolling partners and the inner satisfaction from knowing that I thwarted someone’s plans. I’ve been told that I have good neck defense, I’ve seen my rolling partners have no options available to them from a dominant position and they had to totally change direction. It has also prevented me from being tapped out by a person who usually taps me every time we grapple (not my instructor).  

I have a feeling that this is going to be a book that is going to raise the grappling skills of the entire BJJ community and implement a sea change similar to Eddie Bravo’s approach to grappling. However, it won’t be with flashy moves, but through the promotion of air-tight basics on which all Jiu-jitsu is based. The philosophical underpinnings which form the basis of this book also will give the reader tremendous insight. This book has demonstrated to me that you can know many or even all of the moves, but knowing how to do them correctly is the ultimate goal.