Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force [Paperback]

Lawrence A. Kane (Author), Loren W. Christensen (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

Fair Fight? Not likely. Least of all from a criminal who is looking to make a quick profit at your expense. A sad fact is that weapon-wielding thugs victimize 1,773,000 citizens every year in the United States alone. Even martial artists are not immune from this deadly threat. Consequently, self-defense training that does not consider the very real possibility of an armed attack is dangerously incomplete.

 

Whether you live in the city or countryside, you should be both mentally and physically prepared to deal with an unprovoked armed assault at any time. Preparation must be comprehensive enough to account for the plethora of pointy objects, blunt instruments, explosive devices, and deadly projectiles that someday could be used against you.

 

This extensive book teaches proven survival skills that can keep you safe on the street. A multitude of real-life scenarios and case studies analyzing violent encounters will help you to internalize this crucial knowledge. Contents include:

 

• Awareness

• Avoidance

• De-escalation

• Countervailing force

• Armed conflict

• Managing the aftermath of violence

• Weapon features and functions

 

If you are serious about self-defense this book is for you. Everyone, including experienced martial artists, security and law enforcement professionals, and concerned citizens will benefit from this vital information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Surviving Armed Assaults is a terrific addition to any serious library of self defense books… I'll be drawing on some of the lessons learned here in future John Rain books." --Barry Eisler, author

“The de-escalation and survival skills in this book will set your feet on the right path and put your head in the right place so you don’t become a shocking headline in your local paper, or a lead story on the six o’clock news.” -- Kris Wilder, 4th dan black belt

“What an excellent contribution to the community! This book will be an invaluable resource for anyone walking the warrior's path, and anyone who is interested in this vital topic.” -- Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, Director, Killology Research Group

"Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artist's Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, & Countervailing Force gets to the heart of martial arts applications and safety issues, providing an entire book which focuses on proven survival skills, from awareness and avoidance to de-escalation tactics and countervailing force. In having more than just a collection of moves on hand, it encourages survival by all ways possible, making this an outstanding addition any martial arts collection must have." -- The Midwest Book Review. -- Reviewed by James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief

About the Author

Lawrence Kane is the author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction, as well as co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt. He has also published numerous articles about teaching, martial arts, and countervailing force. Over the last 30 years he has studied and taught a wide variety of martial arts including Goju Ryu karate, kobudo, medieval weapons forms, and close-quarters combat (e.g., knife, gun). Working stadium security he has been involved in hundreds of armed and unarmed confrontations. Lawrence lives in Seattle, WA.  

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Ymaa Publication Center (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594390711
• ISBN-13: 978-1594390715
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lawrence Kane is the author of Surviving Armed Assaults, Martial Arts Instruction, and Blinded by the Night, and co-author (with Kris Wilder) of The Little Black Book of Violence, The Way to Black Belt, The Way of Kata, and How to Win a Fight. His most recent book (co-written with Rory Miller) is preliminarily titled Scaling Force and slated for publication in the fall of 2012. His work has also been included in other author's books (e.g., Ask an Expert, Fighter's Fact Book 2, Wicked Wisdom). He co-hosts a weekly podcast, Martial Secrets, with Kris Wilder that can be found at www.martial-secrets.com.


A technical consultant to the Institute of Traditional Martial Arts at the University of New Mexico, his articles have appeared in prestigious publications such as International Ryukyu Karate-jutsu Research Society Journal, Fighting Arts, Traditional Karate, Clarion Reviews, Gospel Martial Arts Union, Jissen, and ForeWord Magazine. An internationally renowned martial arts expert, Lawrence has been interviewed by Le Matin Newspaper (Switzerland), Practical Taekwondo Magazine (United Kingdom), Traditional Karate Magazine (United Kingdom), and Police Magazine (United States), among other publications. A paid book reviewer for ForeWord magazine and Clarion Reviews, he consults with other authors to help assure realism in their novels.


Since 1970 Lawrence has studied and taught traditional Asian martial arts, medieval European combat, and modern close-quarter weapon techniques. Working stadium security he has been involved in hundreds of violent altercations, but gets paid to watch football. To cover the bills, he develops sourcing strategies for an aerospace company where he gets to play with billions of dollars of other people's money and make really important decisions.

Lawrence can be contacted via e-mail at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to reduce your risk of a violent encounter..."on that day"..., December 2, 2006

By 

John R. Finch (Rye, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force (Paperback)

If the title "Surviving Armed Assaults" catches your eye because your current situation causes you some concern that you might have to someday; I think buying Lawrence Kane's latest book would be money exceptionally well spent. Why? Within its 329 pages, you will find clearly written, easily understood, and also remembered, hard earned wisdom backed up by numerous real life depictions, and even some mistakes by experts. You could spend thousand of dollars and countless hours in class work and individual practice and yet not gain some of the insights that Kane provides. An example, from pages 133-135 on Verbal Judo, rings true to me as we use VJ extensively in my work with forensic psychiatry. Emphasis on situational awareness and avoidance is also well represented. As as I have written elsewhere in Loren Christensen's book "Warriors"... 'The Cost of It'... of taking a human life, even with justification, may carry with it a very high emotional price. Lawrence Kane provides more than enough well documented examples to help you avoid such a 'cost' for most of us out there "on the pointy end" of life. Read it, then periodically read it again, practice, maintain situational awareness and as necessary follow through via his excellent and comprehensive bibliography / web site data for further information as your personal situation dictates. And don't get hung up on the Japanese translatons or exotic weapons that are also covered primarily for the martial artist readers. You never know when you may meet a crazed person with a sword (page 248)... From my forensic experiences, I could tell you stories, but Kane does it better. Read and heed, you will be safer for doing so; even if you skip the keys defense, pages 238-39, which I, as other reviewers have mentioned, find inferior to a kubaton or the like. Be prepared, as this book may help you do so, and you should be safer "on that day"...

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book with a few minor flaws . . ., October 10, 2006

By 

Tyr Shadowblade (TM) (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force (Paperback)

First, I want to say that I really liked this book, and think that it's an excellent introduction to basic self-defense concepts. Second, it needs to be clarified that Loren Christensen is not the author -- he wrote the forward.

This is a "concept" book -- which automatically puts it way ahead of most other martial arts texts available (you know, the ones that say, "when the criminal initiates X attack, respond with Y technique"). No, this book primarily delves into essential topics like situational awareness, preparedness, and common sense. Furthermore, a number of informative case studies are referred to. Instead of being like every other martial arts book out there, "Surviving Armed Assaults" doesn't waste a lot of space with questionable techniques. Instead, it says, "Things can be dangerous out there, for example -- THIS might happen, and then what are you going to do?" Most other books barely touch on these subjects (outside of the introduction and back cover), so it was refreshing to see such a thorough presentation.

Sadly, it is not perfect. Being a traditional martial artist, the author can't seem to resist using Asian terminology and showing scenarios involving a number of weapons that it's unlikely you'll encounter on the street (i.e., pole-axe, spear, swords, sai, throwing knives, and even a compound bow!). It is true that people are occasionally assaulted with swords or spears, but I had to chuckle when I saw that the defender was similarly armed. That is a minor complaint.

My major complaint involves several counter-productive suggestions made by the author. First, he advocates the dreaded "Fillipino grip" as a viable alternative to the sabre grip (which he acknowledges to be less than secure) -- if certain practitioners of the FMA have been advocating pointing your thumb at the target (instead of properly wrapping it around the handle) then it must be good to do this, right? I don't think so. Next, he advocates defending oneself by holding one's keys between one's fingers "like a claw" -- I wish the "experts" would stop telling people to do that! Sounds like a really great idea -- until you hit something a few times, thereby cutting up your own fingers (and possibly severing a nerve). I know the author has read MacYoung's books, as he quotes from them several times, but he must've skipped over that part -- as well as the part which advised against "wrapping a chain around one's hand to use as a fistload," which could easily result in crushed and broked fingers. Aside from that handful of errors, this was an outstanding work . . . if the author corrects them in the next edition, it has the potential to be a classic.

If you can overlook the few bits of bad advice, this is one of the better self-defense books currently available. It is especially suited for women and teenagers (although some of the crime scene photos might gross 'em out a bit).

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you buy one martial arts book this year, it should be this one!, August 26, 2006

By 

Iain Abernethy (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force (Paperback)

"Surviving Armed Assaults" is by far and away the BEST book on protecting yourself against weapon attacks that I've ever read. It's incredibly thorough and 100% B.S. FREE! There's no "kick the knife out of his hand" silliness in this book; just straight forward, practical information.

It's absolutely superb. And it's not just me who thinks so. The book has endorsements from many luminaries from the worlds of martial arts, self-protection, and security including Peter Consterdine, Dave Grossman, Jeff Cooper, Dan Anderson etc. This is a book that anyone who is serious about self-protection or practical martial arts needs to read.

If you want to learn how to protect yourself against armed assaults, this is the book! Indeed, if you buy one martial arts book this year, it should be this one!

Iain Abernethy 5th Dan, Coach with the British Combat Association and author of numerous martial arts books and DVDs