A Fighting Style for the Real World Learn the techniques that are revolutionizing the martial arts world Defeat larger and stronger opponents quickly and efficiently More than 100 maneuvers demonstrated step-by-step in full color The past decade has seen a massive shift in the world of the martial arts. Beginning in the early 1990s a number of mixed martial arts (MMA) events, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, were staged in the United States in which different styles of martial art were pitted against each other with very few rules in order to answer the ultimate question: In real combat, which fighting style is best? To the surprise of the vast majority of martial artists, punching and kicking power, speed and strength, ferocity and aggression were not the keys to victory. Rather, the ability to take an opponent to the ground and use grappling skills to force him to submit was what won matches. Foremost among this revolutionary development were the exponents of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In the arena they consistently demonstrated a dominance and tactical brilliance that almost overnight made their style the most sought-after in modern martial arts history. The Brazilians, headed by the famous Gracie family, had learned that the pattern of real fights is simple. After an initial period of punching and kicking, the two fighters quickly went into a clinch, grappled with each other and fell to the ground. It was on the ground that the outcome of the fight was decided.

Unfortunately most martial arts deal only with the initial punching and kicking stage of combat. Brazilian jiu-jitsu's emphasis on ground-grappling enabled it to easily dominate its rivals in MMA competition. Now, for the first time, two of the most legendary figures in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Renzo and Royler Gracie, have created a book that will define this most in-demand combat style for years to come. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses more than 800 photographs to demonstrate step-by-step all the techniques used in this martial art, and also explains the theory that lies behind its tremendous success. It offers readers the hard-won knowledge that will allow them to greatly increase their combat effectiveness, regardless of their current style or level of experience.