Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #494645 in Books
• Published on: 1995-05-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 364 pages

Customer Reviews

An Essential Instructors & Student Reference
Having practiced Jiu-jitsu for over 21 years i found the book a great source for picturesque names for techniques i was already familiar with (Old man bows to general etc...), some i hadn't tried before and very useful for cross-reference generally. Some of Dr Yangs demo photo's show an 'open gate to the family jewels' on occasion and there is the usual 'the Japanese learnt it all from Us' jingoism, but i can forgive him these lapses for the comprehensive nature of the info. [Thanks Doc - i use the 'shoulder and head touch the floor or up on his toes' rule all the time in teaching classes.] If you are at all interested in locking/joint breaking methodology then i can recommend that you buy this book sight unseen. If you picked it up in a book store you would HAVE to have it!

review
personally, i have found the book very useful as a reference for various locks. it has also helped in my study of bunkai from karate kata.

i think that this book would interest those with quite a bit of martial arts experience rather than the beginner. it is applicable to all styles and most of it will be nothing new to anyone with an aikido, jujitsu or hapkido knowledge.

it is clear and, in the main, well set out and is what it claims to be - a guide to locks, which is only an aspect of a martial art and the book shouldn't be viewed as a bible on practical defence.

the author's videos on chin na are very good and give a better idea of the actual application of how and when to initiate the locks.

Buy this book if you're serious about joint locking
Another great book from this author - inspiring, motivational, precise, practical...I could go on. Dr Yang's book lives up to his reputation as a true master. Everyone knows you can't learn any full system of martial arts from a book, but this (and the author's Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na) book is absolutely jam-packed with clear photographs, incredibly thorough yet easy-to-understand narrative, and a wealth of useable techniques, so integrating the knowledge in this book into your own training, regardless of system, should really be foolproof.

There are comments below that it fails to focus on entry techniques. Well, the nature of any art dictates you will have to bridge with your opponent at some point, so do this according to your own system. What this book will do is massively enhance your options when there.

Honestly, I would be shocked if you didn't think this book was worth one hundred times what you paid for it!