The Big Bloody Book of Violence

Martial artists Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder have a new book out called The Big Bloody Book of Violence: The Smart Person’s Guide for Surviving Dangerous Times: What Everyone Must Know About Self-Defense and I just received my copy. Given the title, how could anyone resist picking it up and flipping through the chapters to glean some helpful hints? At least those of us interested in the topic of violence. From the description:

We could whine about how we live in dangerous times nowadays, but let’s face it, all throughout history ordinary people have been at risk of violence in one way or another. Abdicating personal responsibility by outsourcing your safety to others might be the easy way out, but it does little to safeguard your welfare. In this book you’ll discover what dangers you face and learn proven strategies to thwart them.
Self-defense is far more than fighting skills; it’s a lifestyle choice, a more enlightened way of looking at and moving through the world. Topics include:

* Making sense of senseless violence
* Riots and crowd safety
* Terrorism
* Domestic violence
* Gangs
* Home invasions
* Conquering impossible odds
* Creating witnesses
* Guns

One of my favorite chapters in the book is titled “Zero Tolerance Pussification.” There are a number of good points made about Zero Tolerance, such as how ridiculous it is to suspend kids for defending themselves: “What message does that send and at what cost?” The authors also point out that Zero Tolerance makes predators more effective: “When safety and security are not seen as our personal responsibility we lose the will to defend ourselves.”

Our whole culture is now one of Zero Tolerance Pussification. Our culture often teaches people that there is no reason to defend themselves and that they should just wait for the police or authorities rather than learning to fight back. It’s a good thing that these guys didn’t listen.