BJJ Book Review – “Jiu Jitsu on the Brain” by Prof. Mark “Westside” Johnson

I found myself “hooked” on BJJ after a couple of classes but it wasn’t after a couple of months checking out all the schools in my area …. until I cut the first check on a contract with a school, did I know that BJJ was really going to be a part of my life…at least for that year long contract…almost 5 years.  It wasn’t long before I was starting to feel the effects of my growing addiction to Jiu jitsu.  My symptoms were like many…heavy anticipation to go to class, perusing YouTube all day to learn new techniques, and an insatiable eagerness to learn more, faster.  I’m a guy that enjoys learning and thus reading is simply a part of my process so I turned to the bookstore (Amazon.com) and a host of BJJ related titles popped onto my screen.  However, one book stood out to me.  There was a guy on front of the book that looked like me.  He even had dreadlocks and his books title spoke volumes to my search…. the title, “Jiu Jitsu on the Brain,” by Mark “Westside” Johnson.

This is a collection of essays on…yup, you guessed it Jiu Jitsu, as seen through the eyes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Mark Johnson (Master Pedro Sauer).  If you’re new to Jiu Jitsu or been cranking the joints of younger opponents for decades, you will find this book an excellent tool to enhance your understanding on your relationship with Jiu Jitsu.  When I first bought the book, I was hungry for any Jiu Jitsu knowledge and completely consumed the book.  Mark writes about Jiu Jitsu in a way that helps you to understand the basic mindset one needs to really enjoy Jiu Jitsu while keeping the information light-hearted and humorous.

Remember, when you finally found a Jiu Jitsu school you liked? There was one (maybe more) upper belt that was just more patient with you and took the time to really explain the technique.  It was their patience and explanations that were the reason you learned to do something really useful in Jiu Jitsu. Mark writes his book like that upper belt.  Mark reflects on many of the thoughts I had during my first year on the mats.  From “the loops of the gi trousers goes in the front” (something I made the mistake of doing and still notice on other white belts) to competing and respecting the art form and one’s training partners.

You will find yourself laughing out loud and come to a realization that about your hobby/fitness regimen/profession has probably transformed your mental outlook on life’s struggles.  Reading the book will help you to improve your overall experience in the wonderful subculture of BJJ.

Mark breaks up the sections of his book on the four stripes of a Jiu Jitsu belt promotion that are received as a fighter progresses through the white belt phase, so by the time you finish this book you would have picked many of the progressive subtleties that one may experience during the first year on the mat.  I reread the book  about 4 months ago, when I started teaching a class and it reminded me of some of the finer points of Jiu Jitsu that I had allowed to drop from my practice.  It helped me to enjoy the comradery of BJJ and the uniqueness of the sport all over again.  It’s a fairly fast read and Mark touches on everything BJJ from gi selection, ego control, hygiene, the wares of abandoning patience for aggression, to some deeper thoughts on being a part of something bigger than one’s self and that you just do it until you can’t anymore while enjoying the journey.  This book is also an excellent tool to remind the Jiu Jitsu instructor of the ideas and unknowns that are running through the new BJJ practioners’ mind, which can assist in the design and execution of more effective lesson plans.

“Jiu Jitsu on the Brain” will not teach you the Hollywood techniques to make you the envy of your  “Neighborhood Watch” but it will make you laugh and after you finish reading it, I think you will find your connection to Jiu Jitsu and ability to enjoy the sport enhanced.