The following is a book review.
Tim Larkin is a well known name to self defense. He’s a behind-the-scenes name, in that he
teaches groups like the U.S. Border Patrol and the Navy Seals. I was pretty excited to read this book, but I
was disappointed. On the cover, it
claims it is a total guide to women’s self-protection. It’s less than 200 pages. How complete could it be? I’m offended that you can call something a
total guide when there are so many facets of self defense to think about.
Disregarding the obvious title failure, Larkin gives the
reader some things to think about. He
teaches you to think like a predator, causing you to realize that sometimes
self defense isn’t enough. Sometimes you
are the one who needs to make the first strike.
Larkin addresses concerns that many women have about defending
themselves, such as aversion to causing harm to another human being. He points out that that is exactly what makes
you human, but your aversion is your weakness and exactly what your attacker is
counting on. Taking that approach is
playing right into his hand. He also
presses that the most important and useful tool a woman can have is her own
brain. That, my friends, is a truth that
too many women overlook. That being
said, he turns around and then pretty much says, “Use your brain. And now you’re set! Go live your life!”
I don’t recommend this book to the novice (maybe a paragraph
or two would be truly useful to newbies), unless you have an interest in
psychology. The section that teaches
actual physical self defense is all of about two pages long. Like I said…not a complete guide.
If you are interested in teaching self defense, I would
definitely recommend reading this. If
for no other reason, Larkin has a no bullshit attitude about violence. He lays down the facts without caring what
you are going to think about them.
I have a recommended reading section in the left column of
this blog. Notice that Larkin’s book
didn’t make the cut.
Until next time, folks.
Be safe. Be smart.
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