| I have enjoyed Jim Wagner's "High Risk" column in | | | | statement "expect to get cut," or "you will get |
| "Black Belt" magazine, so I was looking forward to | | | | cut" regarding knife fighting, I found some useful |
| reading his book, "Reality-Based Personal | | | | practical information in this chapter. I have trained |
| Protection." Despite "Jim Wagner Reality-Based | | | | in the grab, close, takedown, and escape disarm |
| Personal Protection" being a bit over used | | | | drill and find it very practical for facing a knife |
| throughout the text, I found this book to contain | | | | unarmed. I have taught this drill, and think it is one |
| a lot of useful information for the person wanting | | | | of the best parts of this chapter. |
| to know more about protecting or defending | | | | Chapter Five: Crime Survival: Common Criminal |
| themselves. It is a good addition to any | | | | Attacks. This was a good chapter because |
| self-defense library. | | | | Wagner wrote about some things you don't see |
| The author discusses his own traditional martial art | | | | in many self-defense texts. Some were not new, |
| background as part of the genesis of his system, | | | | but liked that he included: Counter-surveillance, |
| but then spends a lot of time stating how his | | | | situational awareness, legalities of pre-emptive |
| system is better than those traditional arts. I will | | | | strikes, other legal parameters, training, conflict |
| agree with Wagner to a point. It really depends on | | | | language, teamwork, and counter-ambush tactics. |
| why a person is training, and who the instructor is. | | | | He also included some practical drill such as |
| Yes, I am familiar with some "traditional" schools | | | | thinking like a criminal, and walking the gauntlet. |
| that have black belt students that would not fare | | | | The short bit on first aid should prompt people to |
| well in an actual fight. I also know "traditional" | | | | get training, and the section on citizen's arrest |
| instructors that have students that will hold their | | | | was useful and something I don't remember |
| own with any training out there. So it just | | | | seeing in other self-defense books. He also |
| depends. I do believe if all you want to know is | | | | includes some advice for dealing with the police |
| how to fight or defend yourself, training such as | | | | and some information regarding biochemical |
| Wagner's program, or that such as Kelly McCann | | | | defense. The final part of the chapter before |
| teaches (McCann is one of my favorite | | | | photographs dealt with courtroom and attorney |
| instructors) focuses on that one thing, defending | | | | information. Very basic, but I do agree with |
| yourself. Many martial art programs have | | | | Wagner that those of us that teach self-defense |
| different focuses, and therefore they have other | | | | and martial arts should include teaching about the |
| benefits besides just learning to fight. Again, it | | | | legal aspects of defending oneself. |
| depends on the goals of training. | | | | Chapter Six: Terrorism Survival: Armed Attacks |
| With that said, let's look at Wagner's book. At the | | | | To Weapons Of Mass Destruction. In today's |
| beginning he provides some background and | | | | world, terrorism is a fact, and the possibility of |
| history of his work and training. Some of this I | | | | being a victim of a terrorist attack, while slim for |
| knew, some I was not familiar with. Wagner does | | | | most, is a possibility. Wagner provides some |
| have an impressive resume. | | | | basics to help a person if they ever find |
| Chapter One: Knowledge Domain: The Foundation | | | | themselves in that situation. However, without |
| of the System. This chapter discusses why | | | | training for this, just reading a book most likely |
| reality-based training is superior for self-defense | | | | won't help you much. There are other resources |
| needs, and also covers important topics such as | | | | out there for terrorist threats, but this chapter |
| the OODA loop; legal concepts such as means, | | | | does provide some useful advice. |
| opportunity, and intent; use-of-force; conflict | | | | Chapter Seven: Handgun Survival: Weapon |
| stress, and other important considerations for | | | | Handling And Tactics. This short chapter has some |
| training. This chapter has some very good | | | | basics for using a handgun for self-defense. |
| information. | | | | Wagner advocates using air guns for training, and |
| Chapter Two: Defensive Tactics: Unarmed | | | | much of this chapter focuses on drills you can use |
| Conflict. This is a very basic chapter with a little | | | | with an air gun for practical training. You will need |
| text on directions, arm strikes, arm blocks, leg | | | | more training and instruction than this chapter |
| strikes, and leg blocks. There are photographs | | | | provides, but you can say that about any |
| illustrating some of these. There is not a lot in this | | | | resource. The chapter does provide some good |
| chapter, and though some basics are shown, | | | | safety advice and elements you should |
| most people will want other resources to teach | | | | incorporate into your handgun training. |
| actual fighting techniques. Techniques are hard | | | | Chapter Eight: Women's Survival: Violence And |
| enough to learn without an instructor, but this | | | | Counterattacks. This is a very introductory |
| text is not primarily a technique book, so you will | | | | chapter on issues women may face. There are |
| need more resources or training. It is good to | | | | much more complete references on both rape |
| show some of the basics that are most useful in | | | | recovery and rape prevention as well as home |
| real situations. | | | | security. (Wagner includes two pages of bullet |
| Chapter Three: Ground Survival: Using The Ground | | | | points on home security tips) It's not bad advice, |
| Tactically. I'm glad that Wagner started the | | | | and he does provide some useful information and |
| chapter saying the ground is the last place you | | | | tips, it's just as complete as other sources. |
| want to be. In real fights, you don't want to be | | | | In summary, this book contains a lot of useful |
| down, but unfortunately, you will sometimes find | | | | information and practical drills for anyone |
| yourself there. Wagner does provide some useful | | | | interested in self-defense or personal protection. It |
| information regarding being on the ground, and the | | | | is a good addition to one's martial art or |
| text contains numerous photographs illustrating | | | | self-defense library, and I would encourage people |
| different training exercises to help you prepare | | | | to not just read the text, but to actually |
| for the street. Not bad to have a little extra | | | | incorporate the drills and advice into their training. |
| information about practical ground fighting. | | | | Protecting yourself is up to you, and this book is a |
| Chapter Four: Knife Survival: Usage And Defense. | | | | good resource to help you do just that. |
| Besides the fact that I disagree with the | | | | |