I've read through the thread on Galvao's new book, seems like everyone loves it.
I've been thinking about purchasing a BJJ related book and I can't decide between Saulo's, BJ Penn's or Galvao's (Or any two of the three).
Any suggestions?
How much experience in bjj do you have? If you're relatively new I'd say go with Saulo all the way. Galvao's book is amazing but in my opinion you should probably be a relatively serious bjj player with at least a year under your belt. BJ's closed guard book is an advanced technique book and probably won't be necessary until high blue/purple belt.
I'm a new blue belt, ~ 1.5 years.
Everyone at my gym recommends Saulo's book. I have most his two gi instructional series, so I figured there wouldn't be too much content in the book that I don't already have access to.
Tough comparing apples and oranges. I haven't gotten all the way through Galvao's, but I have no problem going on record as stating Saulo's is one of the best books ever on BJJ.
I'd start with Saulo's only because I feel like it filled in a lot of gaps in my game.
Get them both!
havent seen the galvao book yet
but saulos book wouldnt even need any photos or and instruction and would be a great to any bjj practitioners mindset. His thoughts alone are worth the price. I think you rarely find that in an instructional where someone tries to actually speak his experience to others.
All three books are excellent, but all three have very different goals.
Saulo's is a vast overview of the art, giving you a progression of technical and conceptual growth from white to black belt. He gives you some of his favorite and what he believes to be fundamental techniques for all the belts, as well as common mistakes.
BJ Penn's book takes a microscope and examines the closed guard, one position only. The moves he shows aren't flashy, just solid, detailed fundamentals. It's very well done and if your closed guard game needs work, this is a great resource.
Galvao's book (just got it last week) is a resource for movements, transitions, and drills. Don't get it thinking you are going to learn a lot of new techniques. But it is excellent in that he lays out a detailed plan for drilling the movements that will make everything else actually work later on down the road.
I would get Galvao or Saulo's first, then BJ Penn's, if I had to choose.
I think I'm going to pick up Galvao's first. I think I would benefit more from drills and movements. Not quite sure if I can learn technique from a book.
Muffinho - I'm a new blue belt, ~ 1.5 years.
Everyone at my gym recommends Saulo's book. I have most his two gi instructional series, so I figured there wouldn't be too much content in the book that I don't already have access to.
no videos and book are significantly different
Penn's book is good for a white belt IMO but if your a solid blue I don't think your going to get much from it. It was all basic closed guard which you should be learning from your instructor already regardless of school.
Its a well written book though and if you want a book on closed guard buy it.
Check it out at Barnes and Noble to see if there's anything in there for you.
If videos and book are significantly different, I will pick of Saulo's book alongside Galvao's.
I have an alright closed guard, it's just not something I use very often. I mean, it's not like I don't know what to do from there, I just open my guard immediately.