Protect Yourself: Top 10 Lifesaving Self-Defense Techniques Review

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(More customer reviews)"Protect Yourself: Top Ten Lifesaving Self-Defense Techniques" by David Loshelder is a good book as far as picture "self-defense technique" books go. Loshelder does a good job of explaining the techniques through text and pictures. I personally don't agree with his top ten techniques, which I'll get to in more detail later in this review, but I do acknowledge that he provides some good advice and techniques in this book. Some of the techniques are similar to ones I teach, and I actually took the book to class one night to show my students the variations that Loshelder has in this book, and we practiced them and discussed the differences.
The introduction describes what the book is about, and provides some useful information on awareness, assessment, and action. This includes a couple of real life stories and some concepts such as having warrior spirit, action is better than inaction, and remain calm under duress. I also like that he makes a point of saying that learning self-defense techniques takes practice. Reading a book or watching a video is not enough. You must practice the techniques. Obviously it is better to practice with an instructor who can assist you with learning, but I still believe you can learn from book and videos if you get with a training partner and practice.
Next come the technique chapters. Each chapter contains techniques that fall within the theme of the chapter. These are: Evasion, Blocks, Target Points on Body, Hand Strikes, Elbow Strikes, Head Butts, Kicks, Wrist Releases, Defenses Against Neck Holds, Defenses Against Attacks From the Front, Defenses Against Attacks From the Rear, Back Pin Escapes, Combination Techniques, Advanced Techniques, and Everyday Objects as Weapons. Obviously from this list, the book contains more than ten techniques. The ten in the title are the favorite techniques of the author and are found throughout the chapters. However, many other techniques are also provided.
The top ten are: The Dodge, Block Against a Choke Hold, Palm Heel Strike, Backward Elbow Strike, Knee Strike, Wrist Release from a One-Hand Grab, Butterfly Escape from Front Neck Hold, Double-Thumb Eye Gouge Defense Against Front Bear Hug, Elbow Break Against a Rear Two-Handed Neck Grab, and Hip Heist From Pin. I'm not sure why the author chose these ten as his top ten picks. It's not that they are bad, but I would not call them the top ten. Number 7, Butterfly Escape From Front Neck Hold, was probably the one I disagreed the most with the author on. It's a defense against a front two-hand choke, and I think his next technique, Elbow Break From Neck Hold, is a better technique. Regardless if I agree with Loshelder's top techniques, he does a good job of explaining them and the accompanying pictures illustrate the techniques well. I think most people will be able to practice them with a training partner.
I also like that he included a couple pages on using everyday objects as weapons. The use of the cell phone as a weapon reminded me of a seminar years ago when Hapkido instructor Geoff Booth used a cell phone to put a guy on the floor in pain and asked, "Can you hear me now?"
Overall, this is a good "picture" self-defense book. I liked it and found a couple of Loshelder's variations interesting enough to try out and practice. But like any self-defense book, it won't do you any good unless you read it, and then practice what it teaches! Good addition to a self-defense library.
Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of the DVD set Streetfighting Essentials.

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Protect Yourself: Top 10 Lifesaving Self-Defense Techniques is a collection of over 84 techniques, including the author, David Loshelder's top 10 self-defense maneuvers, displayed in photographic detail. Based on a system developed by Loshelder, Protect Yourself equips you with easy-to-learn, life-saving defense skills. From basic movements to more advanced techniques, learn how to evade, block, strike, release from holds, and defend yourself in an attack situation. Finally, read the inspiring real-life stories of people who successfully fought and won the battle for survival!