Krav Maga: Real World Solutions to Real World Violence - Disrupt - Damage - Destroy - Disengage

“Krav Maga: Real World Solutions To Real World Violence” by Gershon Ben Keren is an excellent addition to one’s self-defense library when looking for a book that illustrates self-defense techniques with concepts and principles also discussed.In close to 200 pages, Keren does a very good job of sharing some of his Krav Maga philosophy and techniques. He starts with an introduction of Krav Maga and himself before going into the three parts of this book.Part 1: Basic Skills (Stances, Movement, Blocking, and Striking)This portion of the book does a good job of describing basic principles and skills with photographs, that while small, are clear and illustrate well. Yes, they are basic, but basics are what one must learn and practice to actually defend oneself. These are the essential foundations of a good self-defense program and again, Keren does a good job of briefly describing these skills and illustrating them with photographs.Part 2: Self-Defense ScenariosThis section provides responses to numerous types of attacks. Some of which include: knife threat against a wall, gun to front of head, rear hostage with arm around neck, and so on. And while there are numerous scenarios, Keren shows through pictures and descriptions how simple movements can be used for different situations so one can master fewer responses to use in a variety of ways rather than something completely different for every scenario. The pictures are again, small, but clear.I actually took the book to the gym to get with a couple of my black belt Hapkido students to try some things out. We practiced the techniques and liked a number of them. They were not that different from things we already practice. On a few of them, we modified them a bit from what the book was showing to make them fit better with what we already do and practice. This really is the only way to learn techniques from a book or video, you must actually get on the mat and try them and practice them. And it is definitely easier to learn from a book or video when you already have a solid foundation of fighting or martial arts. I found the scenarios and techniques to be very good and liked this portion of the book.Part 3: Unarmed Assaults and Dynamic Components of ViolenceIt this part, the author covers topics such as applying different chokes and strangles, fighting from a clinch, and escaping headlocks. The information is presented like the scenarios with descriptions and the small, but clear, photographs. Again, to benefit from this part of the book one needs to get with a partner and try the stuff out and practice.ConclusionThe book concludes with a very short conclusion. This obviously isn’t the entire Krav Maga curriculum or everything Keren knows. It is however, a very good book on the specific situations and scenarios Keren covers. For this type of book (technique book with pictures), it is well done and one that will compliment any self-defense training program and belongs in any self-defense resource library. With this said, I don’t agree with all of Keren’s “solutions to violence” and would opt for different solutions as times. But that doesn’t take away from the book as a good resource, as I believe you should learn different things, try them out, and find the “best” for you individually. Not everyone will fight like Keren, just like not everyone will fight like me. We must all learn and train to be the best we can be individually, and this book can help with that journey.

There are so many books out there on martial arts and/or self-defense, and I've grown weary of a lot of it; this one, however, is a refreshingly thoughtful and straightforward take on the realities of dealing with violence. The author is clearly an authority on the subject matter, as he is able to break down physical techniques and general personal safety concepts to crucial details, while keeping it very easy to follow. To be more specific, though, there are 2 main features of this book that separate it from the rest in my opinion:1. LAYOUT - The book is very descriptive and easy to understand. The color photo demonstrations are crystal clear and of insanely high-quality. If you're used to one or two black-and-white photos to accompany text, you're going to be pleased with the number of superbly photographed pictures in this book.2. CONCEPT - Of all that I've seen, this book is the most effective at demonstrating combative techniques, but there will always be a limit to the physical content one can actually learn from reading a book. My favorite thing about this book is its emphasis on personal safety concepts and principles that completely transcend any specific technique one might use in self-defense. This is the most "real" take on violence that I've ever read (i.e. It includes psychological factors, physiological factors, and environmental factors), and the idea that the physical aspect is just one component of a much bigger picture of personal protection is the most valuable thing that someone can take from reading a book on this subject.If you are looking to actually learn something of value, I highly recommend this!

This is a comprehensive guide to the Krav Maga Yashir style of Krav Maga. The fact that there are multiple styles of Krav Maga was news to me. Yashir means “straight” or “direct” and this system was founded by the book’s author, Gershon Ben Keren, drawing heavily upon Imi Lichtenfeld’s original program, but modified to make it relevant for a modern, civilian practitioner. (To offer an example of said modification, Lichtenfeld’s system presumed that the fighter was an infantryman with a pack on his back, and so the original Krav Maga avoided movements that would be hazardous when so loaded down, but that are feasible for the average civilian on the street.) The author has a scholarly background in the psychology of violence, and emphasis on the realities of violence is a recurring theme.The book follows a typical format for martial arts books. The early pages discuss the philosophy and approach of the system in detail. The book then proceeds to discuss basics such as stance and the fundamentals of punching and kicking. Finally, it delves into progressively more challenging self-defense scenarios (unarmed, armed, multiple attacker, and from various directions) and the counters that the system offers.The book succeeds in its objectives. The photographs are well-done and provide the requisite clarity. One particularly nice feature is that the scenario photographs are taken in realistic settings so as to reinforce the importance of recognizing and using one’s environment. Key concepts are reiterated throughout so as to facilitate learning. The organization is systematic and builds logically through progressively more challenging situations.The biggest criticism is of some of the book’s repetitiveness. Repetitiveness is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be an important tool for learning, particularly with ideas that need to be thoroughly ingrained—e.g. self-defense concepts. However, some of the repetition in this book is more wasteful than beneficial. The scenario sections feature a textual description of the attack / defense event, and then there’re captioned photos that visually portray how the scenario plays out. The captions repeat much of the text, and they do it so close to the original text that it’s hard to imagine it being much more than an annoyance.I’d recommend this book for someone who is considering whether to take Krav Maga classes, or for martial artists looking for insight in to the nature of this system. It has some sound general advice on self-defense that those interested in that topic might find useful.

It was a birthday gift for someone who had started training and he loved it.

Full of very important information and techniques. Should have a partner to exercises with. I would never mess with a knowledgeable master of the art. Not a play self defense. Quick and to the point.

Awesome book - man great things to learn, good photos.

Just what was wanted. Very good instructions.

Delivered as promised. Thanks.