Review: Taking responsibility for your own protection
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 17, 2013
This is a book that belongs in everyone's library. That a book on self-defense is a necessity is a sad statement about our society, but read the paper, watch the media, and look around and notice that violent crime is all around us. This significantly important book was written by husband and wife team Sifu Chuck O'Neill and Kate O'Neill -a combination of experts in martial arts and body language psychology that make for an immensely helpful guide in looking at the way we can cope with the possibility of being attacked, lessons to learn before that happens, and how to deal with the situation of being attacked. A bit of background about the authors will demonstrate the value of what is inside this book.Sifu Chuck O'Neil is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. After athletic years in football and baseball in high school he attended Bridgewater State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in exercise science. A black-belt martial artist, motivational speaker and personal protection specialist, he has trained in Tae Kwon Do, Filipino Kali Stick Fighting, Jeet Kune Do, Kosho Ryu Kenpo and Yang style Tai Chi Chuan and is a third generation of the Great Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man (Yip Man) and founder of Revolution Wing Chun, and a Former ITC Certified Advanced Executive and Close Quarter Protection Specialist (Bodyguard) through the International Training Commission. He regularly instructs students on a wide range of defense tactics from Filipino stick fighting to proper knife and gun disarm tactics and in addition to private security work and Wing Chun Classes, he also teaches private self-defense and martial arts seminars to smaller groups. His wife Kate O'Neill is a body language educator and consultant who helps people use their body language and non-verbal communication to achieve more, in business, in relationships, and in self defense. She received her BS from University of Toronto in Psychology and Human Behavior. These two bright young experts also write very well!Unlike most `self help books' that deal with self defense, this book is serious business and no space is wasted with diagrams or photos of `how to' stances. The major difference is that this book is focused on the Psychology of self defense: how can we become more aware, alert, in tune, and ready for diagnosing possible attacks and how to deal with them. They very wisely divide the book into poignant chapter whose titles give a very fine overview of the content:  Why psychological self defense?; Anatomy of an attack: different type of attacks and attackers; Mastering the ABCs of psychological self defense; Avoid dangers before they start - how to become am awareness super ninja; Listening to that little voice inside: the survival skill we all naturally have; The Predator Interview - the interview you DON"T want to Pass; They don't think like you - understanding the mindset of a predator; The slow poisoning of sociopaths and narcissists in your life; Body Language- what are you saying to people around you?; What are other people telling You - reading others' hidden intentions through their body language; How to be a human lie detector - body language and verbal tells; How to use boundaries to protect yourself from predators; Confrontation - using visual and verbal skills to avoid an attack; Physical confrontations - what to do when all else fails (don't ever let yourself be taken to a secondary location, once you decide to fight back - go all the way and don't stop until your attacker has been disabled); Use a distraction; You do have control- know your 4 stages Disorientation, Disbelief/Denial/Depression/questioning/ Displeasure/Anger and finally, Finding your inner warrior.This reader has not seen a better book about self-defense that combines the psychological aspects of awareness and management with the martial arts maneuvers and input that can only come from two experts. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. BE PREPARED! Grady Harp, November 13