MMA Training Book Review: Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu: Revolutionizing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Written by Mike on September 26, 2008 – 12:50 pm -Dave Camarillo is the jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts trainer at Amercian Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. He, along with other trainers, provides instruction for fighters based at AKA like Josh Koscheck, Josh Thomson and his latest jiu-jitsu black belt, Jon Fitch. He also wrote a book, Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu: Revolutionizing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, not too long ago. As is consitent with Victory Belt published works, full color and detailed photographs shed much light on the author’s teachings.
MMA Training: Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu by Dave Camarillo (choking brother Dan in the cover)
This instructional book was made by a high level judo and jiu-jitsu competitor. Years of experience in both arts have made Dave Camarillo into a champion judoka feared for his submissions and a champion in jiu-jitsu feared for his throws. As such, this makes the author uniquely qualified to combine techniques from both arts and teach them to those doing bjj or training mma.
Dave’s book starts in the first chapter, Incorporating Judo and Jiu-Jitsu with fundamental judo techniques on how to roll, fall, grip, break an opponent’s balance and do the standard throws. These are of course, available in any basic judo instructional. In this section, Dave also includes stopping a wrestling shot, balancing on one leg during a single leg takedown and how to counter the single leg into judo throws (e.g. single leg to inner thigh reap or uchimata). These are techniques that should also be part of submission wrestling and mma training. Also included are ways to throw an opponent who is standing in a low position or even kneeling. Dave adjusts the grips for both gi and no gi.
The second chapter is Throws to Submissions where grapplers can learn how to better position themselves for submission attempts after a takedown, definitely something good for mma training. Camarillo does this through the Impact Control Position, where one can easily attain a position for an easier submission attempt. This is through knowing a partner’s body position after a takedown.
Camarillo’s last chapter is on flying attacks, which though rarely done in sport jiu-jitsu or in mma is a work of art when it is successfully performed. Now not all martial arts practitioners are athletic enough to perform such maneuvers. However, Dave Camarillo was able to do these innovative aerial moves in international judo and bjj competions by training flying armbars over and over. So constant training as well as the right instruction is needed in order to pull of the moves at bjj or mma training.
So Guerilla is one of those nearly perfect martial arts resources. In this case bjj guys aren’t the only ones who benefit but judokas as well because of Dave Camarillo’s wealth of experience. Judokas can turn the throws they do in their sleep into excellent submission transitions. BJJ fighters can also learn some stand-up techniques from the book and easily transition into more familiar ground positions. And of course, flashier athletes can adopt the flying maneuvers into their repertoir.
Cons? Not much but I guess the lack of lower limb attacks (e.g. footlocks. kneebars) and no sections on actual defense to the flying armbar are negative aspects. And I suppose the really old-fashioned practitioners of judo would frown on the flying attacks.
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