Time there have been several wonderful reviews on your new book on the MMA's Underground Forum.

Congratulations!

Robert

Bacharcher,

What's MMA?

What's MMA's Underground Forum?

And is the new book "Passing the Guard," or is it another?

Thanks Robert.

Mike,
MMA= Mixed Martial Arts.

The Underground Forum is a discussion site on MMA.

The new book is "Passing the Guard."

Michael Jens is a BJJ Blackbelt under Brazilian Joe Moreira and American BJJ black belt Roy Harris. He recently did a book review for the Underground MMA forum:



"Passing the Guard: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Details and Techniques" was written by BJJ brown belts Ed Beneville and Tim Cartmell. I know Ed as he is under Joe Moreira. I have never met Tim, however, he is under Cleber Luciano.
Chapter 1 covers the the basics of posture and opening the legs from the knees. Chapter 2 covers passes from the knees. Chapter 3 covers standing passes. Chapter 4 covers defenses and counters to common sweeps and submissions that you opponent may attempt when you are in their guard. Chapter 5 covers passing the half guard. Chapter 6 covers submission you can do while in your opponent's guard. Chapter 7 covers attacking the turtle position as the opponent sometimes turns to his knees when you pass his guard. Chapter 8 covers solo drills.

Production: EXCELLENT. Printed in full color with one person wearing a blue gi and the other person wear a white gi, the pictures are clear and easy to understand. The layout is neat and easy to follow. The text is laid out in a manner that it is clear which picture it refers to without making things look cluttered.

Organization: EXCELLENT. Anyone how knows my teaching style knows that organization and structure is very important to me. This book follows a very simple and logical path the leads you from the absolute basics of passing the guard to countering an opponent's various positions or attacks. This book is not just a collection of techniques throw together.

Techniques: EXCELLENT. I believe this book can be beneficial to the beginner and intermediate BJJ student. The authors cover many of the most common positions/techniques you are going to face when in your opponent's guard. All practical and high percentage techniques, not flashy eye-candy.

Details: EXCELLENT. This book includes many great details on guard passing techniques. What is great is that the book doesn't contain long boring descriptions that make you fall asleep when reading. The clear pictures, close-up pictures, pictures from alternate angles, cirlces and arrows highlighting details, and summaries of the complete sequence make it really easy to understand what is going on.

When it comes to how techniques are presented in a book, this book has truly set the standard. You can tell a great of thought was put into producing this product. Gene Simco, Royler/Renzo, John Will, and Rigan Machado's book all have different areas of focus in comparison to this book (as this book is mainly just guard passing), however, when it comes to the ability of the presentation and layout to teach techniques, this book is definitely at the top.

If a person want to learn how to pass the guard, I would probably recommend this book over most instructional videos on the market. If this is how they presented guard passing, I think everyone should look forward to these authors cover other aspects of the game.

Some people might be skeptical about investing in this book as they may think, "Who are Ed Beneville and Tim Cartmell" or "They aren't black belts?" or "What competitions have they won?" My answer to those questions..."Why the •••• does it matter?" This is an excellent book regardless of how any of those questions are answered.

If anyone is interested in this book, you can go to their website at www.grapplingarts.net

Thanks again Robert.

There is a new review of our "Passing the Guard Book" here (near the bottom of the page).
http://www.combattrainingreviews.org/pages/7/index.htm

Yet another review of our book:

http://www.geocities.com/global_training_report/passsandoaguard.htm

Does anybody know where to get a copy of this book these days. On Amazon UK, the cheapest copy is going for 69 pounds which is nearly 120 dollars.

Needless to say I am now regretting not buying a copy when it came out.

Thanks

Richard

Hi Richard,

The book is completely sold out of stock. There are plans to update it and publish a second edition, but no date of release as of yet.

Tim,

How big was the initial printing? Maybe with the obvious success of the first edition, you can convince your publisher to run higher amounts of the next edition and/or other books.

The book went through three printings, at several thousand copies a run.

Hopefully there will be more the next edition. I don't really have much say in the number of copies printed, I just write the stuff.

several thousand copies per run at $120.00 each... I've gotta get on the ball and finish my books.

Bob#2

I believe they retailed for $25-30 bucks. ••••, someone want my copy, I will seel it for $125!
Jake

Several thousand copies per run at $25-30 still means Tim is rubbing elbows with the other Forbes 499.

Bob #2,

It doesn't quite work that way, but don't let that stop you from publishing.

Thanks Tim,

I'll try not to miss it next time.

Cheers


Richard

Try contacting Barnes and Noble(.com) they usually have a copy on their shelves (I travel frequently and have seen it on lots of shelves).

Later,
Shane

ISBN-10: 0972109757

Just do a search on this number. The book is still available for under $40