Finish a fight in ONE move: Without any training! (Martial Arts for Beginners)

Less than 1/3 of this book is about the content of the title. The bulk of this book is basically personal story-telling and "pep talk" for self-defense noobs. Common sense things like "be aware of your surroundings" and junk like that. The title is inaccurate. Even in the last third of the book where it starts to address an actual fight scenario, the comments are "advice" talk, mumbo-jumbo, rather than the "one move" that finishes a fight as advertised on the cover. There is no real fight instruction here. It would be a good book for stay at home moms to read if they can't stop themselves from jogging through the bad part of town at night. There are a few pages towards the end that mention some moves, but really this book should be labeled, "self-defense advice for totally weak noobs with no martial arts training."

The first thing wrong with the book is the title which is misleading. I suspected this when I bought it and I'm confirming it with this review to save others from getting ripped off: meaning expecting to get content implied by the title that isn't there because there is no such thing as a magic bullet or in this case a magic move(s) which in this book is to not be there or simply avoid the possibility of confrontation by any means necessary which is mostly just common sense - nothing magic, special or secret about it. And well, now you basically know the content of the book without reading it. I also have to add that I disagree with the author on occasion and find it alarming that he is claiming a quite a bit of martial arts knowledge without being willing to specify in exactly what styles he has been trained in which from the text is obviously one with a focus on martial arts as a sport (though curiously he also claims to have studied the "reality" stuff which in my opinion if you have to state it's "reality" focused then you should probably be looking somewhere else for training). Perhaps the author is afraid someone like myself will try to verify? I also take issue with the subtitle "Without any Training," as training and practice are essential to absolutely anything a person wishes to do or accomplish. So please no one think you can read this book and be ready to defend yourself. Also, the book contains no page numbers or index and many of the sentences are in paragraphs of their own instead of the paragraph they belong in. Overall, this book, while possibly well intentioned, is executed so poorly I have to wonder if he goes about his martial arts with as much laziness.

In spite of my more than seven decades of seriously training in numerous martial and combat arts(Judo, Jujitsu, Karate-Do, Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling, MMA, Target Focus Training and Krav Maga) I am always seeking articles and books on these subjects. I recently purchased this very interesting and practical 111 page soft cover volume (Finish a fight in one move without any training: The martial arts for beginners series by Justyn Billingham) for a bargain price on Amazon.I found the author’s writing style unique and easy to read. Since the author is obvious English and from Great Britain many of their spellings are slightly different than the American version; nevertheless, the easy conversational style of the author made this an enjoyable book to read. He gives some very practical advice to be alert and how to avoid situations and people who may be a problem. He also addresses many of the concerns of making the wrong decision whether to fight or not. Finally he gives good advice on the kind of strikes, and where they will be the most effective. This book was clearly written for someone who may have absolutely no interest in learning any extended self-defense or martial arts course. One of the things missing in this manual, in my opinion, is the importance of at least getting into some kind of physical fitness routine to help build a degree of power and strength if you do have to defend yourself.This book is organized into 11 areas covering the following material: Introduction, my very first street attack, fight or flight, the best form of defense, awareness, avoidance, pre-emptive strike, areas of attack, your natural weapons, building your wall and a summary.I liked this book but one of the things I will never understand is WHY THERE ARE NO PAGE NUMBERS???????????? I have read a few books in the past where the page numbers are missing and it is always an intriguing mystery to me????There are 11 chapters and no page numbers. Very strange?Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Tactical Principles of the most effective Combative Systems).

I've been there. I've had to fight thugs and multiple attackers since 4th grade. I was cut badly in my hand when I was 14, and one of my highest priorities when I joined the Army was learning how to defend against a knife. I have been a soldier, a bodyguard, a bouncer, and a simple idiot with a bad attitude in stupid situations. One thing the last 60 years of experience has taught me is that "Not thinking about it doesn't mean it won't happen." The contents of this book are the MINIMUM that every person should know, especially as we get older and become easy targets for the criminal elements. The information on Avoidance should be especially important to us old folks.

I give it 5 stars for emphasizing to always walk away and avoid confrontation if at all possible. 3 stars on the techniques of ending a fight in one move. In my opinion (and we all have one) the author’s info is pretty basic and says where to strike but shows no areas to make contact other than the contact with the eyes which is pretty self explanatory. Not everyone knows where or how to strike the solar plexus, for example, so a picture might’ve helped on that technique. The authors’s knowledge is very good, I just feel the info was not as sufficient to help someone with no training as the title implies.

Complexity can kill you on the street. This books brevity and simplicity is its strength. Also, the narrative helps you remember the content... we remember stories not mere facts. If I had to choose which book on street defence to keep it would be this one.

I love it for its simplicity, whether I would be able to put it into action in a dark alley...... is another question. The book poses the premise if you didn't have an alternative, then these are your options. Fair enough and maybe its better to have a plan B then no plan at all. So that's why I have given it a 5 star rating. The beauty is its first line of defence (don't be a cave man) - Read it, its cheap and it may just save you a life changing physical/mental injury.

What a load of rubbish all he talked about was himself .never taught me anything . Basically it was a bloody biography you wont learn anything u dont know anyway . Avoid

Good style. Down to earth and written in such a way as to get the point across. Best message of the book - beware any training that makes you feel confident to take the short trip across the dark field! The best training (this book included)is that which teaches you to recognise which fields not to cross!

This book has plenty useful information and for that I sincerely thank the author, however it does teach you literally how to finish a fight in one move.Its more a philosophy if you like (see title of review).So for that reason, I gave it two stars.