First off, I want to emphasize that this is the most detailed book I have ever read on the specific principles and factors which make up unarmed combat. It is also not a book you would want to read for recreation and pleasure. This is not a criticism of the book. This text was written like a college level text book. It has ten sections and over 50 chapters, as well as 351 pages in its 11 by 81/2 size format. In fact, it is impossible to intellectually absorb the amount of detail given in each section without studying this book with the same intensity you would give in a college physiology and kinesiology course. Though many life time students of the martial arts may be familiar with many of the concepts and principles, this book makes you think even more deeply on any preconceived ideas you may have on physical combat. This book also explodes some of the many myths concerning the value of certain martial art practices. In this respect, it deals with the reality of combat.The ten sections in this tome include: The basic principles, body posture, movement and footwork, striking, defending against strikes, transitions, takedowns, ground fighting, miscellaneous topics and the psychology of combat. The illustrations are clear drawings showing the principles of a technique; however, in my opinion there should have been even more illustrations for this size text. However, this is the only real criticism I have of this amazing book.
If you truly desire to understand all the complex factors involved in unarmed combat, you will want to make this book part of your martial art and self-defense library. There is a store house of knowledge contained on the pages of this excellent book.
In conclusion, if you are a serious and dedicated student of any type of physical combat system you will want to study, and not just read this book.
Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Monadnock Defensive Tactics System)
I have been a practicing martial artist for the past three decades and an instructor for 25 of those thirty years. I currently hold the rank of 4th degree black belt in the martial art of Taekwondo, not the sport version, as well as a 4th degree black belt in Karate. I have also spent a sizable portion of the past 15 years focusing more on self-defense and combatives techniques including; Krav Maga, knife combatives, firearms training, etc. During these past three decades I have worked in a variety of violence prone professions such as; eight years as a law enforcement officer, three years working at a state run mental hospital (and No, I wasn't a patient), worked various security jobs as a bouncer in various bars, nightclubs, concerts, and strip clubs. So in a nutshell, I have been around the block a few times and have seen more than my fair share of the dregs of society and the horrible things that people do to one another. And with that final thought, on with the review.
NOTE: This is a book that focuses on the more important aspect of principles and concepts over actual techniques, which as any knowledgeable proponent of the martial arts and self-defense will tell you is vastly more important than a particular punch, strike, kick, or joint technique.
This is one of the most thoroughly thought out and detailed books that I have ever seen concerning the various principles involved in various aspects of martial arts and unarmed combat. And while not perfect, I would have to say that it rates on a scale of 1 to 100 as probably 90% complete, and I would have rated it even higher had the author included a lot more illustrations and photographs to enhance the literary portion of this book instead of just having the few and sparsely placed computer images of a human body. So with that one small glitch in an otherwise outstanding book I feel that EVERYONE who is involved in the martial arts and self-defense field should own a copy of this book. It literally is that well done!
The author breaks the contents of this book down into ten major sections with numerous sub-sections under each section. Those ten sections are as follows:
1. The Basic Principles
2. Body Posture
3. Movement and Footwork
4. Striking
5. Defending Against Strikes
6. Transitions
7. Takedowns
8. Ground Fighting
9. Miscellaneous Topics
10. The Psychology of Combat
This book comes in at well over 300 pages and it is a full 300 plus pages of very sound information that can not be read in one sitting and it not intended to be read once and then put on the shelf to collect dust. The author fully intended to have the reader take this book and read one section at a time, numerous times, in order to slowly process the information and then incorporate it into your existing training regime. Like I stated earlier, I have been doing this for three decades and I learned a lot reading this book. Some of the information was new to me, while the vast majority was known, but not in as much detail as I previously thought I knew it. While there were some bits of information that I tended not to agree with completely, although that was far and few between.
The information provided in this book is applicable to anyone practicing any martial art or combative system anywhere in world. Granted some of the information may be more pertinent to your particular discipline than others, but it is all sound and all relevant even if it doesn't all directly address your particular style. For example; the sections on ground fighting and grappling may not be of rabid interest to a Taekwondo practitioner, but that doesn't mean that the information isn't relevant, especially if the Taekwondo practitioner suddenly found himself up against a wrestler or BJJ fighter.
I highly recommend this book without reservation or hesitation!
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Krav Maga Instructor
Author and Creator of numerous books and DVD's.This is a general book on principles for all unarmed fighting arts. If you want more techniques to be shown then do not get this book. However, if you want to know the why and how the purchase this product for your library.
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