The SAS Self-Defense Handbook

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View books by John 'Lofty' Wiseman.

Short Review - Rated
An excellent book intentionly written for beginners but with useful information for the more experienced.

basic, good for beginners, not much new - Rated
as I run my own martial arts club, I constantly read anything on self defense. This book looked good as 'SAS' title gives it clout. However the moves are pretty basic and certainly NOT a complete guide. The sketches at the back are probably the best bit as the author waffles for most of the book. He does drop the odd good tip but there's a LOT of padding. Maybe he was trying NOT to make this book too effective and give away some juicy SAS techniques, maybe as joe public would probably hurt themselves more than their attacker, whatever the reason this book comes accross as another ex SAS trying to earn money on civie street. Don't buy it if you have any martial arts/self defense training.

Another great book by John Wiseman - Rated
The first half of this book covers mental preperation, self defense and the law, how to respond to verbal abuse, discussion on domestic abuse and how to avoid dangerous confrontations while walking, on the bus and train.

The second half covers the human body and its weapons, the target areas of your opponent, improvised weapons, including the kubotan and walking sticks and the techniques to escape your attackers, from grabs to clubs, knifes, assult in the car and rape.

Thoughout the first section the author uses his own knowledge the prepare the reader for self defense and in the second half the techniques are describing in great detail using text and diagrams.

execllent sections include the 4 Ds in defense and discussion why bitting is usful for a police line up after the attack.

I have given this book 5 stars, because like the authors other work (SAS survival handbook and SAS Urban Survival Handbook), everybody could, and will,learn from it.

Even if you feel you can defend yourself physically, i would recommend this book to you because it describe mental and emotional defense.