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The SAS Self-Defense Handbook: A Complete Guide to Unarmed Combat Techniques By John "Lofty" Wiseman ( The Lyons Press )
Release Date: 2000-04-01
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List Price: $19.95
Price: $13.57
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Product Description
Learn how the survival skills of the SAS can help you defend yourself.
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 Complete Guide To Unarmed Combat Techniques? Not Even Close! A Very Basic Guide For The Same? Yes!
Well, I better start off this review by stating that I was fortunate enough to have been able to read through this book without having to purchase it first, and I am very glad about that. Not that this is a horrible book by any means, but it really didn't live up to its title and actually you could make the case for blatant misrepresentation.
I mean really now, any book that states that it is the "Complete" or "Ultimate" or even "Bible" had better be able to live up to the title. The vast majority never even come close, and I only know of a few that do, and those don't even use those statements in their title. Doesn't that tell you something?
Anyway, there is some very good basic information in this book but I felt that it was way too brief in a lot of important areas. I think the author could have provided a lot more detailed explanations in these areas and it would have improved the book tremendously.
Another detractor for me was the lack of photographs to help show the different techniques the author was trying to explain. However, I thought that the large illustrations in the book were very well done and showed the techniques quite well.
Overall I was pretty disappointed in this book and it really is a shame as the author if obviously very knowledgeable and has written some other books that were quite outstanding. Perhaps he should consider putting out a revised edition that corrects the inadequacies of this one.
If I had purchased this book, I would have been a bit upset that I had spent money on it.
If you are looking for some good books on self-defense, I would recommend taking a look at some of these that I have listed here.
Cheap Shots, Ambushes, And Other Lessons: A Down And Dirty Book On Streetfighting & Survival
Fists, Wits, And A Wicked Right: Surviving On The Wild Side Of The Street
Violence, Blunders, And Fractured Jaws: Advanced Awareness Techniques And Street Etiquette
Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force
Just to name a few!
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
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 Excellent Primer For Civilian Combatants
I purchased this title for a civilian friend of mine who was interested in the unarmed combat techniques I was taught while serving with this Regiment in Rhodesia during the 1970's. While I agree with another reviewer that remarked that the laws in The United States and Great Britain (where I also served during the Faulklands campain with The 3rd Para) are rather draconian with respect to self-defense, the book is very informative regarding the basic tactics and pressure points of the human frame, i.e. body, and is indeed a wonderful primer for the lay-man.
A small bit of inside information regarding The Regiment: Unlike the films, which portray every fighting soldier as 6'4" 280lbs, the average height and weight of a member of the SAS and The Parachute Regiment is 5'7" 150lbs, only showing that it is not size that determines a man or woman's strength but their Will to Survive, Endurance and Skill in unarmed combat that determine the outcome of any situation. My Instructor was a 5'2" 48y.o. man who had jumped with The Regiment in the jungles of Malaya (today Malaysia) and I feared him more than any of our oppenants during the war in Rhodesia!
To my fellow American Service Veterans whose reviews are listed and speak disparagingly of this book: "Get Buggered!" The Regiment pre-dates The Green Berets, DELTA and Navy SEALS by nearly 20 years and most of the techniques they were taught were offered by The Regiment to it's American Cousins during their formation. And we are still in close contact with these units to this day in the area of COIN Operations.
Those who Brag Don't Do. Those who Do Don't Brag! Who Dares Wins!
And finally, to all my Mates, those who have past and those of us who remain, "Peter sends his regards and he'll be seeing you soon."
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dissappointing ( table_of_time )
this book is dated. Since it was written so long ago it just feels like old material. Most of it was common sense. Only about two or three techniques were good. Buy a different book.
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Excellent book!
I've only just begun to read this book but I am finding it to be very informative and well illustrated. I am sure this book would be helpful for everyone.
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 Very misleading title - and - where is the SAS? ( mausy )
After reading the book I have to say it did not meet my expectations at all. Sorry! From the title, you would expect something like a (light) version of the SAS hand-to-hand fighting manual, currently used by the SAS to prepare its soldiers for possible self-defense situations. This is absolutely not the case!
The main connection between the book and SAS is more or less the author's former employment as an SAS instructor!
The book includes some general tips for civilians on how to prevent getting into possible conflicts but they are mostly psychological.
The book also includes some self-defense techniques but it would be risky to base your safety just on them.
The author indicates that these techniques can be practiced at home, but, for example, warm-up exercises are completely missing.
In addition many techniques are described in one or two pictures, which is not really sufficient for correctly understanding the involved movements. The explanations for these techniques are kept rather short.
Overall I have to say that the book should be called ""Everyday Conflict Prevention and modified SAS Self-defense techniques for Civilians" or something like it because that would give readers a much better understanding of what they can expect for their money.
Don't expect too much - the title sounds great but that's more or less it!!!
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