The Grappler's Handbook Vol 2 by Jean Jacques Machado

If you want to learn the best submission escapes around from the world’s greatest teacher of grappling, then you owe it to yourself to get a copy of Jean Jacques Machado’s The Grappler’s Handbook Vol. 2: Tactics for Defense (Black Belt Books 2011; softcover; $26.95). The Grappler’s Handbook Vol. 2 demonstrates yet again why the best offense is a good defense.

Mastering solid defense skills in grappling requires dedication and a willingness to invest the required blood, sweat and tears. In addition, you have to be willing to confront your martial weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The effort, however, is well worth it.

If you’re up for the challenge, you’ll find the results transformational.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, says Machado, will challenge not only your body but also your mind. Yes, it will make you physically stronger and more agile. Yes, it will toughen you. But serious BJJ practitioners discover that their mental resolve greatly improves not only on but also off the mat.

“It is often said the best defense is a good offense. While this statement is certainly true, you should not overlook the fact that developing a solid defense is an integral part of your overall foundation…When you understand what you must do to defend yourself, you will also understand what you need to do offensively to prevent your opponent from applying those defense techniques against you.”

How to Become a Better Grappler

Machado’s approach forces you to let yourself be placed in the worst-possible ground situations and methodically learn how to escape from them. You will learn how to defend against virtually any submission hold you will encounter.

The Grappler’s Handbook Vol. 2: Tactics for Defense introduces readers to the fundamental movements and concepts of BJJ including:

Basic defensive concepts
The importance of hip movement and the shoulder roll as key to submission escapes.
How to defend when your opponent is behind you
Defending from and against the guard
Leg-lock defenses

The Untold Truth about Tapping Out

Machado also sheds light on the real significance of “tapping out,” which he calls “the most misunderstood act of jiu-jitsu.”

The reality is that tapping out is a sign that you are willing to train outside your comfort zone. “Everyone taps out, event at the highest levels,” says Machado. “Never forget that is it always better to try and fail than to not try at all. If you can maintain this attitude, you will see your game grow by leaps and bounds.”

“The tapout is the most important tool you have in your Brazilian jiu-jitsu training. When you tap out, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your opponent is better than you. It does, however, indicate the areas of your game that need more work.”

Another remarkable feature of The Grappler’s Handbook Vol. 2, is its production features. The photographs are clear and crisp; the sequences logically laid out; the descriptions of each movement precise and informative.

Machado has a formidable BJJ background. Born with only one functional hand, he nonetheless is today one of the most respected BJJ practitioners in the world. He began his study of BJJ under Carlos Grace and later his son, Carlos Gracie Jr. and eventually won every major BJJ title in his native Brazil. He has continued to set records locally and internationally and is one of the most sought-after grappling instructors in the world.

You always want to learn from the best. They don’t get better than Jean Jacques Machado. Nor does The Grappler’s Handbook Vol. 2: Tactics for Defense. It’s a must-have for BJJ practitioners and anyone else who wants to take their ground game to the next level.