# Book Review: When the Fight Goes to the Ground - Link: https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/ - Published: 2013-03-07T21:04:00-05:00 - Author: Brian Johns ### If you are wondering how to counter MMA techniques for street self-defence, look no further than Lori O’Connell’s book “󠀁[When the Fight Goes to the Ground: Jiu-Jitsu Strategies and Tactics for Self Defense.](https://www.amazon.com/When-Fight-Goes-Ground-Self-Defense-ebook/dp/B00B77AKBO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LZBSI8Z1FPVA&dchild=1&keywords=when+the+fight+goes+to+the+ground&qid=1596676076&sprefix=when+the+fight+%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1)󠁿” The book includes a DVD that illustrates the concepts. She is the head instructor of Pacific Wave Jiu-jitsu—[Martial Arts & Self-Defense](https://pacificwavejiujitsu.com/) in the greater Vancouver area. ![](https://i0.wp.com/brianejohns.com//wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020- 08-05-at-9.09.06-PM-688x1024.png?resize=688%2C1024&ssl=1) According to the biography provided by the book, > “Lori O’Connell Sensei holds a 5th degree black belt and full instructor’s license > in Can-Ryu jiu jitsu, having trained in martial arts for over 20 years and taught > for over 17 years in Canada and abroad. She has trained extensively in a variety > of other martial arts and she currently runs her own Jiu Jitsu dojo, operating > in the greater Vancouver area in Canada.” In the introductory section, she is > careful to note that she does not have a black belt in BJJ and has not competed > in MMA. That being said, that does not detract, in any way, from the fact that > this is an excellent book. According to her, her goal was to “learn what (she) > needed to equip (her) students for self-protection against the realities of modern > ground fighting.” ### “When The Fight Goes To The Ground” tackles a specific topic: how to defend against standard MMA techniques when encountered in a street self-defence situation? This book does a great job of covering concepts of defending himself/herself when on the ground due to a confrontation. Some of the topics that Sensei O’Connell includes are: * Understanding the Ground * Primary Tools for Ground Defense- Body Shifting and Control * Primary Tools for Ground Defense- Attacks to Vital Targets * How to Breakfall on Concrete * Applying Neck Restraints * Defending Against Common Neck Restraints * Applying Joint Locks Sensei O’Connell lays out the topics in a progressive and logical order. I particularly liked the emphasis on “_Body Shifting and Control.” _I considered_ _it the most important chapter in the entire book. ### Nearly every topic in the rest of the book came back to the principle of body shifting when on the ground. In that chapter, she discusses important topics such as “_Keeping Your Legs between You and Your Attacker_,” “_Bridging and Rolling_,” “_Shrimping_,” and “_Turtling_.” She also discusses the “Dominant Position Strategy, ” particularly useful for law enforcement officers. I was delighted that the accompanying DVD covered ground defence topics in detail. ### The accompanying DVD is a huge plus for this book. Tuttle Publishing decided to go with the book/DVD format even before they contacted Sensei O’Connell. One of my beefs about martial arts books is that photographs do not always convey the concept. As a result, the reader is left to decipher the action being depicted. No longer. One can pop the DVD into a computer. Voila! One can watch the appropriate section and better understand the ground defence concepts. In this case, the DVD covers all of the book’s topics, except for “_Attacks to the Vital Targets_” and“ _Defending against Multiple Attackers on the Ground_.” ### The book and the DVD do not cover every scenario. However, they excel in covering the major concepts that should cover most self-defence scenarios from the ground. Sensei O’Connell writes exceptionally well and clearly expresses her concepts. Her martial arts repertoire has evolved to include defences against MMA techniques. I cannot say the same for other martial arts books that I have read in the past. They can be riddled with misspellings, less-than-stellar grammar, and poor photography. Sensei O’Connell expresses herself very well and is clear in her teaching progressions. The DVD is a tremendous compliment to the book and I hope that Tuttle Publishing does this for other martial arts books in the future. ### I highly recommend “When The Fight Goes To The Ground.”⏎ for those wanting to learn the concepts of self-defence when on the ground. MMA players and martial artists will learn much from this book and DVD. I recommend reading the book one chapter at a time, perusing the photographs and studying the DVD of the corresponding chapter. I look forward to Sensei O’Connell’s future works. ## Additional Reading * [The Importance of Grinding!](https://brianejohns.com/2023/09/06/the-importance-of-grinding/) * [FMA Books](https://brianejohns.com/2008/06/11/blog-fma-books/) * [Review of Datu Kelly Worden DVDs](https://brianejohns.com/2012/07/28/blog-review-of-datu-kelly-worden-dvds/) * [Defending Against Angle 12](https://brianejohns.com/2015/08/03/blog-defending-against-angle-12/) * [Review of Master Chuck’s “Combat 2 vs. 1 ” DVD](https://brianejohns.com/2012/07/17/blog-review-of-master-chucks-combat-2-vs-1-dvd/) ### Share this post: * [ X ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/?share=twitter) * [ Facebook ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/?share=linkedin) * [ Threads ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/?share=threads) * [ WhatsApp ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/?share=jetpack-whatsapp) * [ Email ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Book%20Review%3A%20When%20the%20Fight%20Goes%20to%20the%20Ground&body=https%3A%2F%2Fbrianejohns.com%2F2013%2F03%2F07%2Fblog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground%2F&share=email) * [ Print ](https://brianejohns.com/2013/03/07/blog-book-review-when-the-fight-goes-to-the-ground/#print?share=print) ### Like this: Like Loading… ### _Related_