Showing posts with label self-defense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-defense. Show all posts

Low Kicks: Aiming Low For Maximum Punishment In Unarmed Combat Review

Low Kicks: Aiming Low For Maximum Punishment In Unarmed Combat
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Fred Hutchinson's Low Kicks is an excellent manual for training the body's most powerful anatomical weapons -- the legs. The manual's format is similar to John Sanchez's Slash and Thrust and Andrea Ferrara's Corsican Steel. (What these manuals share in common is the presentation of training exercises that are independent of style or system. The obvious result is that any reader can benefit from their information regardless of his/her own background, expertise, or combative preferences.) Low Kicks begins by identifying those kicks that Hutchinson considers most appropriate for self defense from the perspective of the reader who cannot train regularly in a dojo. The kicks he recommends are simple in execution and effective in application. Some kicks are drawn from traditional karate, and a few others come from French savate. At least two kicks Hutchinson uses come from WWII Military Combatives, a "style" of combat that has recently developed a large following in the US and Britain. The book then proceeds to reveal a variety of training methods used for making the kicks even more effective. The methods described are such that the reader can utilize them in his den or basement without relying on elaborate equipment or training devices. What is most unique about Low kicks is not only that the author has diligently selected those kicks that work best under a wide range of circumstances, but that the kicks fit in smoothly with the body dynamics used by diverse martial arts systems from karate and savate to ninjutsu and combatives. We have recently made Lopw Kicks required reading in our training halls, and unreservedly recommend it to anyone interested in practical personal protection.

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Street Tough, Hard-Core, Anything Goes Street Fighting Fundamentals Review

Street Tough, Hard-Core, Anything Goes Street Fighting Fundamentals
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Phil Giles's "Street Tough" system is a rough-and-tumble system based in part on scientific boxing, sport jujutsu, and MMA. He simply takes these various elements out of the ring and on to the street. The emphasis is on full-contact, live training and realistic drills. He begins with "Fundamental Fighting Concepts", introducing the clinch, the shoot-style takedown, clinching against a wall, weak points of the human anatomy (differentiating between lethal and non-lethal targets), drills for closing the distance vs. punching and kicking, and even a little on pre-emptive striking. The second section is "Street Boxing Concepts", and includes the basic position, how to generate power, and a basic arsenal of tools including both open-hand and fisted techniques, and the headbutt. His explainations of the use of his stance and the medical justification for not excluding the headbutt are worth reading. The third chapter is on "Mobility and Defense". He goes over basic footwork from his stance, and moves on to defensive body movements like the slip, and simple, scientific defensive techniques like the catch and Driscoll parry and Driscoll bridge. He includes examples of their usage and some drills for improving both footwork and defense. Covering almost sixty pages, his chapter on "Ground Fighting" is the longest. He starts off by stating that going to the ground is not desirable most of the time in a streetfight (good advice if I've ever heard it), and then proceeds to discuss the various groundfighting positions. He gives the reader several offensive options for each position, and usually some accompanying drills. He always reminds the reader that "dirty tactics" (biting and gouging) should be utilized whenever possible. He also includes striking for downed opponents, getting back to the feet from the ground, taking down an opponent from the "open guard", and various training drills. My only objection to this section is that, at least in the States, kicking a downed opponent is considered excessive and will most likely result in criminal charges being made. Overall, though, this is a very good book. The only thing that might be missing is basic weapons usage and defense. The techniques are very basic and essential, and the training seems quite practical. They seem very compatible with Jun Fan and BJJ/MMA. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to learn to fight, either for self-protection or even for sport/MMA.

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In this book, Phil Giles provides full-throttle instruction in how to prevail in a street or bar fight, from the proper combat mind-set to the first stand-up blows to when the fight gets down and dirty on the ground.This is some of the most aggressive self-defense training you are ever likely to receive, including the best ways to close with an opponent to smother his attack, how to slam someone up against a wall and really go to work on him, and vicious ground fighting tactics that will make an opponent instantly realize that he made a very bad mistake when he decided to assault you.A series of intense training drills performed at full power and full speed sets the Street Tough program apart from all other self-defense regimens.

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Taekwondo Self-defense: Taekwondo Hoshinsool Review

Taekwondo Self-defense: Taekwondo Hoshinsool
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The pure self defens aspect of Taekwon-Do is often taking a back-seat to formal techniques and competition (and in some extent even fitness)in modern training halls.
This book presents a good collection of what I consider to be traditional TKD self defense techniques. Many of them definitly require quite a lot of practice to be performed effectivly against a real attack and some of them may even be onsidered low percentage techniques. Wether this is a positive or a negative would probably depend on what you are lookking for. This is not a quick-guide to the simplest and most effective TKD self defens techniques. It is however a good introduction to both basic self defens theory and the application of a lot of techniques typhical to TKD - the kind of techniques I would teach as soon as my students had showed mastery of the simplest and safest) self defens strategies. I got quite a few new ideas an technical variations from the book.

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In Taekwondo Self-defense: Taekwondo Hoshinsool,Sang H. Kim adapts traditional Taekwondoskills for the modern day Taekwondo classroom.The self-defense techniques presented blendTaekwondo kicking, blocking and striking skillswith locks, throws and takedowns drawn fromother Korean self-defense arts.Learn how to use your Taekwondo skills todefend against a wide variety of common emptyhandattacks including holds, locks, chokespunches, kicks and pins. Plus, learn defensesagainst an attacker wielding a blunt weapon,knife or gun.Each defensive scenario is illustrated with highquality photos and explained in step-by-stepdetail that includes key points to successfullyapplying advanced techniques, multiple ways ofdefending against the most common attacks andalternative responses to help you prepare for thefl uid reality of a real-life self-defense situation. Taekwondo Self-defense is an invaluablereference for the dojang, promotion testing,demonstrations, and your personal protection.

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Knack Self-Defense for Women: Strategies, Moves & Everyday Tactics to Gain Confidence & Stay Safe (Knack: Make It easy) Review

Knack Self-Defense for Women: Strategies, Moves and Everyday Tactics to Gain Confidence and Stay Safe (Knack: Make It easy)
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This is by far the most honest look at self-defense (male or female) that I've read. It is a no-nonsense approach and hits the often ignored points of awareness and preparedness which are just as, if not more important than the techniques shown.

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The statistics are spine-chilling: One in four women will be assaulted in her lifetime. With Knack Self-Defense for Women, the female gender finally has a comprehensive, picture-driven guide to personal security that covers all the essential strategies to maximize personal safety. Full-color photos accompany step-by-step, detailed instructions on each move. You'll learn easy ways to improve your everyday security, and the book's hands-on chapters provide you with simple and effective tools, culled from more than twenty martial arts, that could prove vital during an assault. Post-assault strategies and crisis management are also covered, rounding out this indispensable resource to your new empowerment.

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Self-Defense: Steps to Survival Review

Self-Defense: Steps to Survival
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I took an intensive self-defense class over a decade ago, and lately I've been feeling concerned that I would no longer be able to protect myself if I were attacked. Getting this book has made me feel confident again, reminding me that I do in fact have a lot of skills.
Katy Mattingly's writing style is friendly and encouraging. Rather than frighten you with statistics about how scared you should be, she debunks myths about violence and rape, and then walks you through simple techniques that have been proven to work. You don't have to be a martial arts specialist, or even in good physical shape, to use them.
Don't be put off by the not-too-inspiring cover. Inside, the layout is clean and attractive and B&W photographs clearly illustrate the moves.


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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series) Review

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense Techniques (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)
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Production value is first rate; pictures are clear and explanations are excellent. This book and it's predecessor, "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:Theory and Technique" are arguably the best martial arts books ever produced in terms of overall quality.
Content is good but there is some of repetition of techniques that were shown in the first book, however this time performed without the gi. It is very thorough; responses to nearly any common attack are included- most are quite simple and easy to learn and remember. Defenses against common knife attacks and stick-ups (pistol) are also covered, as are a couple of stick defense and disarms.
Caveat to those looking to learn new grappling techniques: there are very few ground fighting techniques in this book other than escapes and counters to common headlocks and the like.
Why I gave 4 stars: The organization of this book is just plain bad. There seems to be no logical order that the techniques were grouped in; at least I can't see it. Similar techniques are randomly scattered through the book. If you want to find a particular technique, tou have to scan the list in the TOC or flip through the bok - no index! It would have been better to group similar techniques together into "chapters".
Overall pretty darned good, although I would recommend "BJJ:Theory and Practice" as being slightly better in terms of overall techniques and content.

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Brazilian jiu-jitsu has turned the martial arts world upside down by emphasizing real-life situations and results over the dramatic kicks and throws of formal competition, making it also one of the most effective self-defense techniques for non-athletes. This guide to the self-defense techniques taught in the classes of Royce Gracie, one of the biggest figures in the world of jiu-jitsu, provides lessons that anyone—regardless of strength or size—can learn to neutralize an attacker in seconds. It offers a variety of defenses to use against knife and gun attacks, as well as escapes from headlocks, choke holds, and other situations that attackers use on the street. Advice on practicing and falling and rolling make this book the next best thing to taking the classes that are popular with the United States military, police academies, and women's self-defense schools.

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Black Medicine, Vol. III: Low Blows (Black Medicine) Review

Black Medicine, Vol. III: Low Blows (Black Medicine)
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This is one of the best self-defense manuals available, at any price ("Cheap Shots" by MacYoung, and "Hardcore Self-Defense" by Jahn are also most excellent), which is high praise indeed, considering how flooded the market is with this type of material. I have read every book in the "Black Medicine" series, and this is the best of them all. The others in the series tend to be a bit more specialized, but "Low Blows" is intended to be read, and applied, by anyone -- regardless of their level of experience. The focus here is more on instantaneous reaction to unprovoked attack, rather than rigid traditional martial arts moves, or macho "ninja commando" garbage. Very workable techniques, with lots of flexibility for differing personalities and body types. A realistic overview of the subject. I was very impressed.

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Learn more Black Medicine, as Mashiro shares his favorite techniques for bringing the body into violent and painful contact with an opponent's vulnerable areas. Presents devastating responses to all kinds of attacks, including wrist holds, choke, knife and club attacks. The chapter on fighting a standing opponent from the ground that could easily save your life!

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Fighting in the Clinch: Vicious Strikes, Street Wrestling, and Gouges for Real Fights Review

Fighting in the Clinch: Vicious Strikes, Street Wrestling, and Gouges for Real Fights
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I once had a "keyboard warrior" try to convince me that eye gouges don't work. His proof? They've been banned by the UFC. Yeah, dude really wrote that. Clearly some people just don't understand the difference between a sporting competitions and a real fights. Not so these authors. They've been there, done that, and have the scars to prove it. Like the subtitle says, Christensen and Mireles demonstrate vicious strikes, street wrestling, and gouges for real fights. Some of this stuff would get you disqualified (and possibly banned for life) if you tried it in the ring, yet it could mean the difference between life and death on the street.
As usual for these guys, the book is very well laid out. It begins with the nuts and bolts of clinching, then moves on to describe the functional combat stance model, wrestling concepts, outer-perimeter takedowns, close-contact clinch, clothing attacks, striking with the hands, forearms, elbows, shoulders, knees, and legs, pinching, ripping, and pressing, and, finally, head-butting. It is thoughtfully organized and beautifully illustrated (if you consider groin strikes, dislocations, and eye gouges things of beauty anyway). Clear photographs and logical progressions supplemented by pithy text that explains important nuances and critical details make the information easy to follow. It's the next best thing to training with the authors in person
This is a very well written, potentially lifesaving tome that I recommend without reservation.
Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction, co-author of The Way of Kata, The Way to Black Belt, and The Little Black Book of Violence


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Brawling doesn't get any closer or uglier than when you're struggling to tear yourself out of a street attacker's clinch. Authors Loren Christensen and Mark Mireles know this from painful experience: with a combined 75 years of martial arts study and more than 40 years of working the mean streets as city cops, they have had many opportunities to develop their techniques for both powerfully breaking a criminal's determined grasp and hanging on to a suspect desperately trying to resist arrest.This book is not about banging around with training partners - it's about surviving a frantic street fight. It's filled with techniques for that gritty place where there are no tap-outs, referees or rules. If it's illegal in competition, it's in here. If it would get you jailed if you weren't legally defending yourself, it's in here.Christensen and Mireles present dozens of tried-and-true clinch escapes using clear, uncomplicated instruction and step-by-step photos. Let these veterans of countless violent street fights give you the edge you need to break out of a dangerous situation.

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Extreme Joint Locking And Breaking: Restraint and Submission Techniques for the Street Review

Extreme Joint Locking And Breaking: Restraint and Submission Techniques for the Street
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I'm a long time fan of Loren Christensens books and DVDs. This one is exceptional and exactly waht I was looking for.
Christensen shows effective techniques that he and others he knows have used on the street in street fights and in his job as a cop. He shows you how to bring on the pain and then if the situation calls for it, he shows how to cause extreme damage to a person's joint or bone.
He calls his approach walking the body, which means he shows how to hurt fingers, wrists, elbows and so on through all the joints all the way to the ankles and toes.
If you're looking for street realistic techniques, this is a good one.

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This book isn't about sport fighting, flashy moves or how to become a better person through a martial art. It presents realistic grappling techniques designed to control and restrain through the application of pain to the joints. Its purpose is to provide today's modern warrior - the self-defense oriented martial artist, combat soldier or law enforcement officer - with easy-to-apply techniques that first restrain and then, if taken to their maximum potential, inflict severe physical injury, including torn ligaments and tendons, broken bones and even paralysis or death in extreme cases.

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Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense Review

Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense
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I did two plus years of krav maga pretty religiously, to green belt level. I got this book, and I would say it is very good. It is the only book out there that details basic krav maga techniques, and for that, I think we should thank the author. I was a bit surprised to hear the Israeli guy say it is not real military krav maga, because I trained several times here in the U.S. with Israeli Seals and paratroopers and I see no real difference between their system and what David teaches (plus, the krav maga I learned is the exact program designed in Israel by Imi for the IDF). Yes, there is a lot of "politics" in martial arts (!), and yes, it is very "par for the course". The author states that he travelled to Israel to learn krav maga, so I also found it odd that someone would say he doesn't know the "Israeli version of krav maga". I found this book to be a really solid intro. to krav maga. It is just, there is nothing like the intensity of a krav maga class. If you have been in a class, the intensity is just so real and important, and you can't get that from a book. I recall doing like 30 seconds of hard knees into a pad someone was holding, with 3 krav guys yelling at me to "stay in the fight". I recall being in a darkened room, with people with pads pushing in on me, with my eyes closed, and someone yells "gun !!", and you have to fight your way out past the people and find the gun guy and defeat him. I recall the adrenaline, the stress, the sweat. You of course can't get all those "military" things in a book, but you can at least see the krav maga program. I think this book is a good introduction to krav maga.

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Master the moves of krav maga--the international self-defense and fitness sensation Increasingly popular around the world, krav maga is the renowned hand-to-hand defense system designed by the Israeli military forces. Swift, powerful, and simple, it is an effective method for fending off any kind of attacker--and it is also an amazing workout.Regardless of size, strength, and fitness level, anyone can master the essentials of krav maga--and reap the rewards of increased safety, confidence, and conditioning. With moves you can learn in as little as five minutes, or train and practice for long-term success, Krav Maga will show you how to:*Protect your body's vulnerable targets*Use an opponent's momentum to fuel your counterattack*Escape all kinds of grips and holds*Combine training punches, kicks, and other moves into a powerful conditioning workout---to lose weight, increase core strength, and improve muscle tone *Use specially designed drills and a 12-week training program to become a kravist---a smart and prepared fighterWritten by one of America's foremost krav maga experts, this exciting new guide opens the door to an empowering and important set of skills that you or anyone can master.

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Solo Training: The Martial Artist's Guide to Training Alone Review

Solo Training: The Martial Artist's Guide to Training Alone
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There is no secret to skill in the martial arts. If you want to get better at something, you have to spend time practicing it. In Solo Training, Loren Christensen provides literally hundreds of solo drills and routines for practicing a wide variety of martial arts skills and developing the physical and mental attributes necessary to apply them effectively when it counts.
Although many martial artists may be familiar with a large number of the drills and exercises in the book, I believe that everybody will find dozens of new ways to improve their solo training among the hundreds covered, or ways to make their solo training more interesting.
If you're not doing extra training on your own outside of your classes, you should be - you lazy slacker. This book will help to get you started, and keep you motivated. Other books by Loren Christensen you should check out are The Fighter's Fact Book and The Way Alone.

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Krav Maga for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to the World's Easiest-to-Learn, Most-Effective Fitness and Fighting Program Review

Krav Maga for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to the World's Easiest-to-Learn, Most-Effective Fitness and Fighting Program
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As I stated in the title of this review, both the title and contents of this book (for the most part) are pretty much accurate as far as this book being a, "step-by-step guide to Krav Maga for beginners." However, I do feel that the authors went a bit overboard with their subtitle, "the world's easiest-to-learn, most effective fitness and fighting program." That however is merely a minor annoyance compared to the amount of good and great information within its pages.
This book starts off with the obligatory front matter which consists of basic Krav Maga philosophy, principles, history, and so on, along with more unique and personal information such as; important considerations to consider concerning Krav Maga and dealing with a violent encounter. All subjects worthy of much larger sections, however, not in this book, which is designed to showcase basic skills for beginners.
The authors break this book down into four (4) sections as follows:
1.Krav Maga Basics
2.Combatives
3.Defenses
4.Ground Fighting
KRAV MAGA BASICS
Under this section, the authors go over a variety of warm-up and conditioning exercises, as well as various training positions. All of which are designed to get your ready for the next section, combatives.
COMBATIVES
Under this section, the authors go over a variety of skills and principles such as; the various fighting ranges, vulnerable areas, etc. As well as the proper mechanics of executing a variety of punches, elbow strikes, kicks, knees, and even a headbutt. Now I do have to say that this section, in any other book, would have been to brief for my liking. However, the authors have already qualified the briefness of the material presented in this book by emphatically stating that this book is a, "guide for beginners." And therefore, should be treated as such.
DEFENSES
Now rather than go into all of the different defenses shown in this section, I am instead going to talk about the way each of the defenses was presented. Which by the way, I thought was done very well.
Each defense is laid out in the following way:
Attack: This is where the author describes the type of attack coming at you.
Immediate Danger: Here the author emphasizes the attacker's intent with his attack.
Secondary Dangers: This is the results of the attack if it is successful.
Solution: Here the authors present a possible defense.
Initial Counterattack: Like the title says, this could be your first responding counter.
Neutralizing the Attacker: Additional counters that should be made after the first one.
Key Points: Important things to consider in the scenario given.
Commonly Asked Questions: Enough said!
GROUND FIGHTING
In this section, the authors go over a variety of common ground fighting tactics that are fairly easy for the beginner to grasp and eventually become proficient enough in to actually utilize them if the situation warrants.
Even though I am not a beginner when it comes to self-defense and combat, I really enjoyed this book and found it to be very useful and would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in not only Krav Maga, but any legitimate self-defense program.
Here are a few other books on the subject that I would also highly recommend:
Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 200 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques
Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense
Advanced Krav Maga: The Next Level of Fitness and Self-Defense
Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault
Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force
Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

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