21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Complete As it Gets; Empower YOUR "Inner Sally"!!!, January 7, 2007
There are two parts to this book: prevention tips (Attitude/Awareness/Avoidance) and self-defense techniques (Action).
First, the prevention: The author provides a very comprehensive set of personal safety tips to address/avoid almost every dangerous situation you could imagine yourself in...and then some! (Is there anything he hasn't thought of?) Although I've always thought of myself as a "careful" person, I realize now, I could be doing a whole lot more to make myself and my family safer. As I read the book, I repeatedly found myself wondering WHY???...I wasn't already doing the very things being suggested.
About a week after reading the book, I realized I had started looking at everything (my house, my workplace, my daily routine, etc.) differently...from a more "safety conscious" viewpoint. I wasn't really thinking about the book, but one day, I caught myself pausing, assessing a certain situation and making an alternative plan of action. I knew then that the book was "working".
The book would be worth buying on the merits of the prevention tips, alone, but there are also several great self-defense techniques illustrated in the section on "Action".
The techniques are described, step by step, with photos to illustrate each one. (The close-ups of certain Aikido "hand-techniques" are especially helpful!) The photos are a good guide for actually learning the technique; the reader should get with a partner to "try them out" and see how it feels to apply them, and by taking turns...also feel what it's like to be on the receiving end of the action. It's surprising how powerful these basic Aikido techniques are; they're simple, direct and "to the point".
Although specifically directed toward women, a lot of the safety tips would benefit anyone...regardless of gender. The book addresses safety issues for children, teenagers, the elderly and...even has a special section on foreign travel (a very important issue these days!). I've already given several copies to friends and family. Quite simply: it doesn't get any more complete than this! Go, Sally...GO!!!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great self defense/safety book, September 18, 2007
I highly recommend this book. It is very well written and useful. The section on tips for avoiding problems is especially great, it gives many great ideas that I had not considered. Such as if someone is sitting on the passenger side of the car parked next to yours to go to your passenger side and enter there and slide over so the person cannot get out and easily grab you. The author makes the important point that prevention is the key, ideally by being aware and careful none of the self defense moves will ever be needed.
The self defense section is great as well. There are many pictures showing the different steps for different techniques to make it easy to figure out how to do the moves.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A current, direct, useful guide to self-protection written with women in mind, April 9, 2008
This review is from: See Sally Kick Ass: A Woman's Guide to Personal Safety (Paperback)
What a useful book! As a retired college admissions director, I would recommend this book without any reservation. It is a must read for female college students and although the author lovingly dedicates the book to the women in his life (his wife and three daughters), there is such a breadth of information that anyone will benefit from this read.
What makes this book stellar: 1) the author is highly credible with two black belts in both tae kwon do and aikido. He is personally committed through his roles as husband and father, 2) the book is easy to read and understand - not always the case with self-protection books that show pictures of contortionists that attempt to explain how you, the average person, can also perform these feats in three easy steps, 3) the books covers the critical elements of Attitude, Avoidance, Awareness and Action (Mr. Vogt's 4 As) but also expands to touch on current issues including identity theft and international travel and finally, 4) the book is concise, clear and easy to read in 165 pages. It makes a great gift for the college-bound set, for the daughter moving away from home for the first time and, really, for anyone who needs to increase their awareness of their circumstances in these times.
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