The Tao of Self-Defense [Paperback]

Scott Shaw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

This complete guide to "street smart" self-defense covers a wide range of subjects including: rapid assessment of potentially dangerous situations, fast and simple response to an attack, continuous flow of defensive techniques, vital strike points, first strike advantage, fighting techniques and body weapons, specific attack responses, grappling and ground fighting, defending against weapons, and home training exercises. 185 photographs. Introduction. Index.

Product Details

• Paperback: 211 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578631904
• ISBN-13: 978-1578631902
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Shaw, Ph.D. is a prolific author, composer, and filmmaker. He was born and spent his formative years in Hollywood, California. Since his late teens, Shaw has traveled the globe. His particular focus has been on Asia, where he continually returns, documenting obscure aspects of Asian culture in words and on film.

During his youth, Shaw was drawn to two factors that have come to define much of his life; namely: Eastern Meditative Thought and the Martial Arts. These inclinations led him to study in both the West and Asia. Shaw is an initiate of Buddhist, Hindu, and Sufi sects. He has been a certified instructor of both Yoga and Meditation since the age of eighteen.

Shaw began studying the martial arts at six years old. He has emerged as one of the leading modern proponents of integrating spirituality into the martial arts. He was the first non-Korean ever to be awarded the seventh degree black belt by the prestigious Korea Hapkido Federation and has since been promoted to eighth degree black belt in both Hapkido and Taekwondo. He also has been certified seventh degree black belt in Aikijutsu and Kumdo.

As an author, Scott Shaw's writings were initially published by literary journals in the 1970s. He continued forward to have several works of poetry and literature published in book form. By the 1980s, Shaw's writings came to be embraced in Spiritual and Martial Art circles. From this, he has authored numerous articles and a number of books on Zen Buddhism, Yoga, Ki Science, and the Martial Arts.

In addition to writing, Shaw has an active career as an actor and filmmaker. In 1991, he developed a new style of filmmaking that he titled, Zen Filmmaking. The primary premise behind Zen Filmmaking is that no screenplay should be used in the creation of a film. According to Shaw, "In Zen Filmmaking there are no rules and no definitions. Instead, the spontaneous creative energy of the filmmaker is the only defining factor. This allows for a spiritually pure source of immediate inspiration to be the only guide in the filmmaking process."

As a university professor, Shaw has taught seminars and courses on Asian Studies and Filmmaking at such institutions as the University of California, Los Angeles, California State University, Los Angeles, the University of Oxford, Silpakorn University, and the Korea National University of the Arts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than Techniques, September 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tao of Self-Defense (Paperback)

The reason I like this book is that it is not just another martial art book which simply presents a bunch of photos on hand-to-hand combat techniques. As martial artists, we already know a bunch of those. What this book does present, which is absent from so many other texts on self defense, is a way to encounter combat situations with a more complete understanding of how to deal with your opponent and your environment. It is not just a bunch of photos on how to kick somebodies butt. If you get this book, Read It. Don't just look at the pictures.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100% Worth the Read, January 30, 2002

By 

J. Kim (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tao of Self-Defense (Paperback)

As a martial artist virtually forever, I really enjoyed this book. It is not one of those books on self defense that you pick up, skim through the pictures, and then put on your bookshelf. Nor is it one of those macho who can kick who's butt the fastest type of mindless self defense manuals. This book really needs to be read. I think any martial artists, or for that matter, non-martial artists, who really wants to gain a new insight into not only the realms of self defense but a new and different way to look at life and life encounters should read this book.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Positive Self Defense, September 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tao of Self-Defense (Paperback)

What I like most about this book is that it teaches a very refined method of self defense. This book is not about how to develop the hardest punch or the fastest kick. It details a much more subtle style of self defense than that. As a female martial artist, I really appreciate the way the author outlines a method where your victory is based more in a calculated understanding of fighting than a fist to fist, knock down brawl. In fact, I have taught several of the techniques presented in this book to my students. I hope to see more on this subject from the author