Fight Back: Arm Yourself with Mental and Physical Self-Defense [Hardcover]

Dominick DiVito (Author), Wynonna Judd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2005

A self-defense expert empowers readers with techniques anyone can use to fight back against a physical attack.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to defensive tactics expert DiVito, the first step in self-defense is being aware of the prevalence of crime: for example, in 2003, for every 1,000 people over age 12, there was one rape or sexual assault, and one assault with injury. Part one of DiVito's empowering book brims with statistics like these, as well as repetitive advice on safety, much of it obvious (though no less useful): listen to your gut, be aware of your surroundings, etc. But sometimes self-defense is the only available exit strategy. Via text and photographs, DiVito explains where to strike (eyes, throat or pelvis), how to strike (using the hammer blow, the shuto strike) and how to use "weapons that don't look like weapons" (eyeliner, high heels). He gives many possible assault scenarios (at home, in a mall parking lot, on campus), also offering tips on disarming an attacker or dealing with domestic violence attacks (the advice is targeted mostly toward women, though some scenarios show male victims). The amount of information can be overwhelming, and readers may struggle to recall much of the counsel in times of stress. Perhaps most useful is DiVito's insistence that confidence is key to survival. (Oct.)
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Review

"FIGHT BACK is empowering! This is the time, this is your life—learn to fight back!" -- — Naomi Judd

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; Har/DVD edition (October 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931722463
• ISBN-13: 978-1931722469
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,120,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Mental section, as for Physical...., January 21, 2006

By 

Joy Landa (North Plainfield, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fight Back: Arm Yourself with Mental and Physical Self-Defense (Hardcover)

I am a woman in my thirties, and I have taken a good few years of martial arts training (some good, some not so good.) I have been out of practice due to some physical trouble, and when I saw this book I thought it was just what I needed to refresh my mind (and ease some recent anxieties.)

The section on mental defense is great. It confirmed a lot of what I have felt and practiced, such as considering that an attacker with a weapon plans to use it. How do I know otherwise? I've heard tons of stories of compliant victims who wound up dead anyway--tied, gagged, and shot to death. An attacker may just want your compliance, but unless you took Mindreading 101, you really don't know what they plan to do with that weapon. Better to protect yourself regardless. Personally, I'd rather go down fighting than to do whatever perverse thing is asked of me and die anyway. We are no longer living in times where we can be compliant in hopes an attacker will get what they want and let us live. 9/11 changed all that.

I felt the confidence section was extremely important. I have personally had instances where a "mousy" look drew unwanted attention my way while projecting confidence kept troublemakers at a distance. I also found the awareness part important, as I always shake my head watching an oblivious woman yacking on a cell phone while walking in a parking lot at night. It also helped my own self esteem to realize my own high amount of awareness has been part of my self protection.

On to the reason I gave this three stars. I felt the physical defense section was lacking, and at some times unrealistic. Again, I've taken martial arts for a few years, and as an example, the demonstration of the punch leaves one's face wide open for attack. A proper punch would have both hands up--one to protect and one to strike. I've also attempted a few of these moves with my husband and found them difficult to work with (such as spinning around after being grabbed from behind.)

I feel this book is a good resource, but if you're serious about self protection, you need a good class (and I mean a GOOD class, not some tournament-training black belt mill like a place I once belonged to.) With proper training, the physical section makes more sense, and you can use its suggestions to mentally prepare for the worst. I wouldn't solely rely on it for self protection.

Most books on self protection or martial arts come up short in that they cannot take the place of the real-time feeling you get when you practice in person. There is a play of energy involved, and as much as you may feel confident you'll be able to do something, when the moment arrives, it's a whole other story. I've gotten popped in the head enough times to know that. This is a great supplement to self-protection practices, but it shouldn't take the place of hand to hand training.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely NOT missing the mark!!!, December 13, 2005

By 

Vivien Fedd "Vivien" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fight Back: Arm Yourself with Mental and Physical Self-Defense (Hardcover)

I am responding to Michael Dobony's opinion of Fight Back. He states DiVito's examples of criminal stories and relating self-defense techniques are unrealistic and resemble "Hollywood" type scenarios. Was he reading the same book I was? The incidences which Divito uses are definitely realistic, i.e., someone breaking into your house in the middle of the night, attempted date rape, being attacked in a parking garage. I am an average American woman, 30 years old, and I can tell you I have either been in or know of people who have been in the situations that Divito uses. Also, if you watch TV news or read the paper, you'll recognize the authors' examples mirror common criminal occurrences. There is nothing Hollywood about the attacks!

Additionally, as far as Fight Back's advice being deadly to the victim....One, the book quotes statistics that prove the effectiveness of self-defense. Two, the moves DiVito teaches are simple and are focused on areas of an attacker's body that are generally accessible and easy to find. For example...gouging an attacker's eye or striking him in the throat. These aren't fancy, difficult, or risky moves for a victim. I think the biggest risk would be to do nothing!

DiVito is honest and smart about not offering guarantees that self-defense works every time, all the time, however his method of defense combined with solid statistics and real-life stories prove it is better to fight back than to do nothing. The book is nothing less than empowering!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Introduction, November 28, 2005

By 

L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fight Back: Arm Yourself with Mental and Physical Self-Defense (Hardcover)

This book is a well-written, step-by-step introduction to self-defense. There is an interesting, albeit short foreword by Wynonna Judd showing how she benefited from Mr. DiVito's training and even a testimonial by Chuck Norris to show that the author really knows his stuff. The book is split into two components: mental defense and physical defense. I like the "did you know" boxes that highlight relevant statistics and pertinent vignettes. The introduction actually has a section for you to fill out your goal for learning about the subject, a useful exercise. If you are already a trained martial artist the first half of the book is still well worth the read. If you've never been introduced to the topic the physical concepts in the second half of the book are fairly basic but generally effective but you really should follow-up with physical practice under the guidance of a competent instructor. The various scenarios demonstrate how to apply the movements in realistic settings.

This book is a fantastic introduction to essential safety principles. The author demonstrates effective ways to avoid trouble when you can, fight back when you can't, and develop the mindset necessary to survive a violent encounter. Written primarily for women but sound advice for men too.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction