IGX

http://formosaneijia.com/2008/10/30/rev ... -violence/

This above is my longer review. Short version is this is one of the best books I've seen on how martial arts approach real violence. It's written by Rory Miller the author of the Chirontraining blog: http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/

He's a former prison guard, tac team trainer, and expert in traditional JJ. He's apparently now training our guys in Iraq.

He positively skewers TMA and some aspects of MMA for how they fail to deal with self-defense in a realistic fashion. I found it an umcomfortable read for that reason but he makes a very persuasive case. He suggests many things that would go a long way to curing MA of its mistakes regarding violence but as you might guess, most of them wouldn't go over well with the public.

It's basically the best MA book I've read in a long time.

Did you read this book? "Put 'em Down, Take 'em Out!: Knife Fighting Techniques from Folsom Prison" (one of the best about knives what i read)

Jack wrote:I've tiered self defense this way for years. My gun, my knife, my fast get away live another day, and if my get away is blocked - then the raging will to kill, kill, kill and live to see my family again. If MA happens while that transpires, then I guess I prepared well.

That's actually pretty well done. I've done things like that, meditating on certain triggers where you are instantly going for the kill, like being surprised in my own home. No time to think or plan, just murder dem.

I tend to be overly thoughtful and analytical, so I like to have prepared responses to certain things so I don't have to deliberate.

Jack wrote:You don't need endurance for this kind of thing, just the will to do it and not hesitate.

That's another good point. In sport MA, endurance is king but in the street, strength and power. It'll be over in less than a minute, one way or another.

Fat Cat wrote:

Jack wrote:You don't need endurance for this kind of thing, just the will to do it and not hesitate.

That's another good point. In sport MA, endurance is king but in the street, strength and power. It'll be over in less than a minute, one way or another.

Not necessarily. Endurance has been important to me in self-defense. I once had to hold someone down while the police came. It was the longest and most difficult pin of my life. Ten minutes can feel like forever.

I'll buy that, but I've seen a lot of non-sport fights and none of them went ten minutes so...once in one guy's entire life isn't going to revolutionize my thinking on this. Endurance training is also more important for long term health, so it has plenty of value.

Fat Cat wrote:I'll buy that, but I've seen a lot of non-sport fights and none of them went ten minutes so...once in one guy's entire life isn't going to revolutionize my thinking on this. Endurance training is also more important for long term health, so it has plenty of value.

Rory covers that well in the book. He talks a lot about how sudden power is king in self-defense. But endurnace training is self-defense against heart attacks. :) That's pretty important too.

I skimmed the book and will end up purchasing it. It seems like it had quality analysis of violent encounters and it is way overdue.