If you want practical solutions to the violence that permeates today's society, this book offers savvy advice for dealing with everything from an unwarranted attaack to the often ironic legal aftermath. Van Cook covers unarmed defense, improvised weapons, edged weapons, firearms and more and offers something of value for people from all walks of life.

"The Ultimate guide to unarmed self defense covers a comprehensive combination of techniques, training methods, and strategies designed to provide practitioners with highly efficient and effective self defense skills. in addition to physical techniques, non-physical awareness and prevention are also covered in great detail. The progression of techniques and training methods are presented as they would be taught in private lessons, and hundreds of easy to follow photos with directional arows and ghost imaging make learning easier than ever" -- page [4] of cover.

The surprising roots of the self-defense movement and the history of women’s empowerment. At the turn of the twentieth century, women famously organized to demand greater social and political freedoms like gaining the right to vote. However, few realize that the Progressive Era also witnessed the birth of the women’s self-defense movement. It is nearly impossible in today’s day and age to imagine a world without the concept of women’s self defense. Some women were inspired to take up boxing and jiu-jitsu for very personal reasons that ranged from protecting themselves from attacks by strangers on the street to rejecting gendered notions about feminine weakness and empowering themselves as their own protectors. Women’s training in self defense was both a reflection of and a response to the broader cultural issues of the time, including the women’s rights movement and the campaign for the vote. Perhaps more importantly, the discussion surrounding women’s self-defense revealed powerful myths about the source of violence against women and opened up conversations about the less visible violence that many women faced in their own homes. Through self-defense training, women debunked patriarchal myths about inherent feminine weakness, creating a new image of women as powerful and self-reliant. Whether or not women consciously pursued self-defense for these reasons, their actions embodied feminist politics. Although their individual motivations may have varied, their collective action echoed through the twentieth century, demanding emancipation from the constrictions that prevented women from exercising their full rights as citizens and human beings. This book is a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to one of the most important women’s issues of all time. This book will provoke good debate and offer distinct responses and solutions.

An examination of women's self-defense culture and its relationship to feminism. I was once a frightened feminist. So begins Martha McCaughey's odyssey into the dynamic world of women's self- defense, a culture which transforms women involved with it and which has equally profound implications for feminist theory and activism. Unprecedented numbers of American women are learning how to knock out, maim, even kill men who assault them. Sales of mace and pepper spray have skyrocketed. Some 14 million women own handguns. From behind the scenes at gun ranges, martial arts dojos, fitness centers offering Cardio Combat, and in padded attacker courses like Model Mugging, Real Knockouts demonstrates how self-defense trains women out of the femininity that makes them easy targets for men's abuse. And yet much feminist thought, like the broader American culture, seems deeply ambivalent about women's embrace of violence, even in self-defense. Investigating the connection between feminist theory and women physically fighting back, McCaughey found self-defense culture to embody, literally, a new brand of feminism.

For over a decade, Small Dojo Big Profits has guided martial arts instructors through the risky yet highly rewarding process of starting and running a highly successful and profitable martial art school. Eschewing the conventional wisdom that says you must have a huge school with 300 or more students to be financially successful, the author instead shows you how to take on less risk while working smarter and not harder by running a lean, mean, efficient martial arts studio operation. Author Mike Massie has started three successful martial arts studios from scratch, and has the distinction of opening his first studio with no start-up capital, zero credit, and in a town where he was a complete stranger. Yet, he was able to go from teaching in part-time locations to running his own full-time studio in under a year, and he achieved this while staying in profit from month one. The process he followed is the same one this book is based upon, and this updated version of Small Dojo Big Profits also draws on the author's experience in starting and growing two more successful studios during the recent mortgage crisis and economic recession. A common sense martial arts school start-up and business operations manual, this completely updated version of the classic martial arts business guide is perfect for anyone who wants to maintain their integrity while building a successful martial art school. If you're looking for the best source of complete information for starting, launching, growing, and running a martial art school from scratch, this is it.

With extensive, step-by-step photographs and instructions, this jiu-jitsu guide is an effective tool for mastering this ancient martial art. The original Japanese martial art developed by the elite samurai class during Japan's feudal era, Jiu-jitsu is the forerunner of Judo and the precursor of today's ultimate fighting styles, such as mixed martial arts (MMA). For centuries, this method of unarmed self-defense proved so successful in combat that it was kept secret and taught only to a select few. Based on the author's study with instructors at the Tokyo police academy, this martial arts book presents all the traditional techniques of Jujitsu, also known as Jiu-jitsu. These techniques teach you valuable restraining methods that force your opponent to submit without abuse by using pressure points. It shows you tips for search and seizure, and the almost extinct art of Hojojutsu--how to tie people up without using any knots. Japanese Jiu-jitsu: Secret Techniques of Self-Defense addresses and demonstrates the full range of Kaisho Goshin Budo Taiho Jitsu Ryu (Tokyo police self-defense). Learn specific techniques such as: The use of hands Throwing an opponent Attacking vital points with strikes and kicks The use of weapons (like the staff). This fascinating Jiujitsu book, designed as a training manual, also serves as a remarkable illustrated guide to the secret art of Japanese samurai self-defense.

Learn the fast escape maneuvers combined with powerful counterattacks that make Krav Maga the world’s most effective self-defense martial art. With its emphasis on instinctive movements and efficient counterattacks, Krav Maga is the ideal self-defense system for any woman regardless of strength, size or age. Targeting its easiest-to-learn and most effective moves, Krav Maga for Women presents techniques and tips that quickly give you the skills and mindset to defend yourself against an attacker. As the official defensive tactics system of the Israeli Defense Forces, Krav Maga has been battle-tested on the front lines and backstreets. With Krav Maga for Women, you can gain the physical and tactical tools to protect yourself and loved ones. With more than 300 step-by-step photos, Krav Maga for Women makes it easy to learn the world’s best self-defense system, including: Disabling strikes Effective escapes Real-world defenses

FTW SELF DEFENSE FTW Self Defense is a revolutionary text which addresses, in great detail, many important yet controversial topics which most instructors do not discuss with their students. Th is is the reality of self defense, and these topics are not entered into lightly. Intended for mature and open minded students only. This is the long awaited companion volume to the underground bestseller Hardcore Self Defense.

All you need to do when it comes to self-defense is create a magic moment. That's the moment that you can escape from an attacker or life threatening situation and survive. You need to interrupt the thought process and create that time when you can possibly escape a potentially bad or deadly situation. The World’s Most Experienced Tactical Trainer Mike Gillette reveals the top six categories of self defense products for women in this enlightening 38-page interview.

This no-nonsense self-defense system instructs law-abiding citizens on defending themselves against the rising threat of violent crime. It provides the practical skills, proven techniques and necessary confidence to avoid, defuse, confront or neutralize armed and unarmed assailants. When seconds count, you don't have time for mistakes.