Brazilian Jiujitsu

April 1, 2012

Gr 4-7-Students who are fascinated by martial arts will find much to enjoy in this series. Each volume includes an overview of the featured sport, its history, equipment and techniques, and a glimpse into national and international competitions. While Gareth Stevens's "Martial Arts" series (2004) focuses more on form, the emphasis here is on popular culture. Past and present champions are highlighted, along with movies and games where the martial arts are featured. Because of the popularity of mixed martial arts, and the fact that in this sport competitors employ a combination of the other arts, there is some overlap in the content of the books. All the titles mention the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Action-packed photographs and interesting sidebars will keep readers engaged.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2012
Grades 5-8 Brazilian jiujitsu is a sport rooted in Japanese judo and refined in Brazil. Unlike the Japanese form of the art, which has more stand-up, self-defensive poses, Brazilian jiujitsu is done mostly on the ground, and students practice moves especially helpful to smaller people defending themselves against larger attackers. This compact volume, heavily illustrated with photographs of participants in many poses, also covers the history of the sport, its relationship to a peaceful and harmonious life, the founders of Brazilian jiujitsu, and the spread of its popularity. There are also descriptions of equipment (not much) and techniques (many). The U.S. Army selected Brazilian jiujitsu as its martial art of choice, adding an extra bit of bragging rights to the sport. Kids wanting to know more will find useful information at the conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)