Product Description

The new expanded edition of this best-selling martial arts instructional book is a must for anyone interested in learning the techniques needed to become a successful grappler. This comprehensive encyclopedia features Gene LeBell's champion student, "The Armenian Assassin" Gokor Chivichyan, and many others. It is packed with photos and illustrations, and includes a complete glossary, index, and a list of resources and products. Some admirers have called Gene LeBell, a.k.a. "The Toughest Man Alive," the deadliest man on the planet. His wife says sarcastically, "He's just from another world." LeBell wears many hats, having grown up in boxing and wrestling gyms around the world and spending a lifetime studying many of the different martial arts. LeBell has won national judo championships, wrestled professionally for over 20 successful years, announced professional wrestling on television for 15 years, and refereed professional boxing and wrestling matches all over the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #419383 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-06
• Released on: 2000-12-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Martial Arts Training Magazine - May 1999
When you browse through Gene LeBell's new book, Grappling World; The Encyclopedia of Finishing Holds, the first thing that enters your mind is pain. No, not the kind of pain that results from a bad experience. On the contrary, this is a great book. It's just that the techniques he demonstrates look like they cause pain - a whole lotta pain.

Next, you'll find yourself laughing out loud at LeBell's wonderful sense of humor. Not only are his facial expressions absolutely classic, he has also written some funny descriptions of his techniques. For Example, in the section on "Grips and Handles" LeBell writes: "The pain is much more excruciating if you grab your opponent's testicles rather than his penis." In parentheses, he writes: "(Only works on men.)"

You'll also be touched by the foreward. LeBell writes: "When a teacher dies, a world of knowledge is lost forever. That's why I have no secrets. So when I die, cast my ashes to the four winds. For as long as my students live and teach, I will live" The book which features more than 1,000 finishing holds, is excellent. Get your hands on a copy as soon as you can.

Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated - August 1999
A whole lotta fun. Is there anyone on the planet who isn't grappling? Oh, we're sure you might be able to find somebody somewhere. The next time you go to the mountains look under a few rocks. You might find somebody there. Other than that, forget it. Everybody's rolling.

If you'd like to get a few more finishing holds under your belt, check out Gene LeBell's new encyclopedia. Don't let the word "encyclopedia" scare you off. This book doesn't have anything to do with the middle ages, chemistry or the geography of Peru. This is Gene LeBell's new book Grappling World: The Encyclopedia of Finishing Holds. This baby has 500 + pages and more than 1,000 finishing holds. It's got everything.

Unlike some encyclopedias, this one is a whole lot of fun to read. Unless you're a real sourpuss, you'll find yourself laughing out loud at LeBell's hilarious sense of humor.

From the Publisher
Gene's techniques are the most copied in all of the martial arts. This is because there is no one more qualified to teach grappling than the man proclaimed by all to be "the toughest man alive" (Most recently Black Belt Magazine, January 2000 on which he graced the cover and took martial arts into the 21st century.)

Customer Reviews

Neat reference, but mostly pro wrestling junk
This book is interesting, it's not really an instructional, it's more of a reference for a variety of pro wrestling holds that you don't see much anymore.

There are some good techniques that work on live opponents, but there is almost no explanation on how to perform any of them. Most of the techniques require multiple complicated moves and would not work on a living, conscious opponent.

Not what I expected
This book really appealed to me, as Gene LeBell is a legend in American Judo and early MMA (very early, like 1960s). I expected an encyclopedia that consisted of a variety of submissions with various entries into them shown, from a variety of positions. Instead, it's a cartoonish collection of often completely unrealistic finishes, some of which are almost pro-wrestling-esque. No set-ups, no mentions of how you might actually catch someone in one of these moves, a lot of repetition as well with only slightly different holds being given separate sections. I was really disappointed. I am a black belt in Judo, as well as a former BJJ fighter, and I didn't get a single useful thing from this book. Don't buy it.

Grappling master!
Judo Gene continues to show us all what true masters of martial arts are, and he uses humor to illustrate his techniques. As a fellow martial arts instructor this book has more than helped my ground technique, but also reaffirms my belief in being humble.Judo gene and his crew are the BEST, i have had the pleasure of meeting them, they are even nicer in person.