Real World Self-defense: A Guide To Staying Alive In Dangerous Times [Paperback]

Jerry Van Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jerry VanCook has trained thousands of police officers, military personnel and civilians in both armed and unarmed defense over the past 30 years. He spent 14 years in law enforcement with various agencies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581600445
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600445
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to the title, April 28, 2000

By 

T. Nichols (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Real World Self-defense: A Guide To Staying Alive In Dangerous Times (Paperback)

VanCook has written the best introduction to the field of self-defense since Franco's general work on the subject some time back -- and he's gone Franco one better for the ordinary Joe who wants to be able to defend himself, but doesn't necessarily want to be an athlete. My personal bookshelves have 4 feet of books devoted to this subject area, and I've read many more than I own. I can say without reservation that VanCook's work is the best general introduction to the field that I have read. Beyond that, it is a provocative and unconventional treatment of self-defense that has much to offer even to an expert. Real World Self-Defense covers mental preparation, legal issues, weapons from firearms down to OC spray, unarmed combat and training considerations. Further, his conclusions in all these areas take into account the findings of recent research on the body's capabilities under the severe stress of having to fight for survival -- a whole area of research that the self-defense field in general has failed to take into account. If you only buy one book on self-defense -- why anyone would buy only one book on anything, I don't know, but anyway, if that's you -- buy this book.

-T.R. Nichols

Class 1 Instructor, American Combatives

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Matt Temkin from NYC, June 19, 2001

By 

matthew temkin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real World Self-defense: A Guide To Staying Alive In Dangerous Times (Paperback)

I spent 20 years as a NYC court officer and I found the authors description of what to expect from the criminal justice system to be (unfortunately) deadly accurate. The rest of the volume is superb! Good, solid, pratical and, no doubt, hard won knowledge.This one rates right up there with the works of Rex Applegate and W.E. Fairbairn. Get this book!!!.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some Good Training Ideas, February 26, 2000

By 

Brad Parker - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real World Self-defense: A Guide To Staying Alive In Dangerous Times (Paperback)

Jerry VanCook has more than 30 years of experience instructing civilians, cops and military personnel in defensive tactics.  He has also spent 14 years in law enforcement as an undercover officer, which he claims gave him a better perspective on the self-defense needs of civilians vs. cops since he was usually in the same situation most civilians find themselves -- alone with no backup and restrictions on the type of weapons they can carry.  His system for self-defense is very much like mine and includes firearms, knife, impact weapons and unarmed techniques.  He also shares the secret of the "unbendable arm" trick.  Too bad, because I have been using -- and exposing -- that trick for a few years myself as a teaching tool.   I like this book very much and can recommend it highly for all levels of self-defense students and martial artists.

Brad Parker, Defend University