When Violence Is the Answer: Learning How to Do What It Takes When Your Life Is at Stake

by Tim Larkin

In a civilized society, violence is rarely the answer. But when it is-it's the only answer. The sound of breaking glass downstairs in the middle of the night. The words, "Move and you die." The hands on your child, or the knife to your throat. In this essential new book, self-protection expert and former military intelligence officer Tim Larkin changes the way we think about violence in order to save our lives. By deconstructing our assumptions about violence-its morality, its function in modern society, how it actually works-Larkin unlocks the shackles of our own taboos and arms us with what we need to know to prevent, prepare for, and survive the unthinkable event of life-or-death violence. Through a series of harrowing true-life stories, Larkin demonstrates that violence is a tool equally effective in the hands of the "bad guy" or the "good guy"; that the person who acts first, fastest and with the full force of their body is the one who survives; and that each and every one of us is capable of being that person when our lives are at stake. An indispensable resource, When Violence is the Answer will remain with you long after you've finished reading, as the bedrock of your self-protection skills and knowledge.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Psychology, Martial Arts, Survival, Audiobook

Audiobook

Published October 5, 2017

About the author

For nearly 20 years TFT founder and creator, Tim Larkin, has been well known in the self defense & close-combat training world but ‘under-the-radar’ to ordinary folks like you. He’s the guy operations like the US Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces and the US Border Patrol call in behind-the-scenes to teach them when it’s “kill-or-be-killed.”

During the last 20 years he’s trained not only these elite military special forces and law enforcement units but corporate and civilian clientele in New York, Las Vegas, London and other cities around the world using a combination of live training sessions and DVDs.

A sought after public speaker, Larkin has spoken to CEO’s, government officials, and business leaders in over 40 countries on how to use these same principles of surviving life-or-death violence in the less life-threatening environment of business.

Larkin is co-author of the best-selling book, How To Survive The Most Critical 5 Seconds Of Your Life, and the highly acclaimed online newsletter, Secrets For Staying Alive When Rules Don’t Apply.

Reviews

[Linda Bittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book! I took a chance on this one because Gavin De Becker, author of "The Gift of Fear" and other books wrote the front cover blurb. I reread De Becker at least once a year. I can recall two instances where trusting my sense of fear kept me out of trouble.

This book builds on the foundation of recognizing when other people mean you harm and goes into detail about what it really means to have to make the choice to defend yourself.

The author spends a lot of pages explaining the difference between social aggression and real violence. I found the first section fascinating. I learned a lot about how to read (typically) male posturing and fighting. Then I was introduced to serious asocial, criminal violence.

Knowing the difference is key to understanding when responding with violence is necessary to defend my own life or that of others.

Mind you, Larkin never suggests that we resort to violence except in those rare instances when no other response will be sufficient to avert our annihilation. He describes the mindset one needs to develop in order to successfully defend ourselves - a halfhearted defense in hopes that the bad guy will decide to leave us alone is no help at all. One must be committed to do all that is necessary to stop the bad guy - even to the point of disabling him. Once you start to defend yourself it's important to commit to stopping the aggressor, no matter what it takes.

The second part is devoted to learning how to disable someone when it is required. There's some awfully good information in this section. But study the first part, too. That's where the real meat of this book is. I highly recommend it, and will add it to my shelf of "must revisit annually" books, right alongside De Becker.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author claims to be stopping rapes and murders. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he believes that, but his self-confidence doesn't make it so. The book is an odd mix of common sense and BS and dramatic anecdotes to try to sell the reader on the need for what he does.

The common sense is that you generally want to avoid violent conflict whenever you can: so don't walk around making yourself deaf and blind by watching video on your cellphone; say you're sorry and walk away when you cross some jackass who wants a fight, etc.
The BS is in things like the oft-repeated claim that 70% of the people in his workshops are there because they've already been victims of violence. His implication is that this is too late, and so everyone should be seeking his kind of help sooner. This is ignoring the denominator of all the people who have never been attacked and never will be. He does get at this concept in a vague general way, but doesn't dwell on the actual numbers for that as he dwells on his personal observation from a biased, small, self-selected sample.
The dramatic anecdotes are his evidence for his main point that if you are about to be attacked in an "asocial" way, then you must respond right away with deadly force. Given that the author's childhood dream was to become a "killing machine" this makes obvious sense to him, and he spends a lot of time trying to convince readers who may not have this proclivity why they need to adopt his mentality. Within his worldview, the logic holds together, but I am not convinced in general by anecdotes. It would help to have some kind of outside evaluation or even just anything more solid than stories. How do I know there are not examples out there about people who escalated an altercation and got murdered because of this messaging? (If your reaction to this question is that one can never know, then how can we know the opposite?)

His general thesis about needing to quickly disable attackers also brings up the question of why there are not better options for nonlethal weapons, which theoretically could achieve his same goals but without getting people killed.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be read by everyone, especially women. It will make you uncomfortable because it will force you to think of scenarios when you could be killed, but if you don't think of these scenarios how can you ever prepare for them. It's basically a guide to think like a criminal. Good for research (I'm a writer) but also essential as a human who can at any time be attacked by another human.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review edition of this book.

[Brooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Saw the title and it drew me in. Written by former Navy Seal/self-defense instructor. The basic concept is that there are two types of violence: social and asocial. Social is the typical bar fight or bullying. While it can lead to serious injury, it is really about social hierarchy or theft and rarely about permanent injury. It can be avoided, de-escalated, or appeased. Asocial is terrorism, Columbine violence, and rape. There is no avoiding. So, this is the premise – to deal with asocial violence, you must be ready to strike first and cause catastrophic injury. The second half is about how and where to strike and getting mentally prepared to do that. While there was a chapter on avoiding violence, it was chilling to read this book. It is based on a world view of fear. As the author repeats, he believes every stranger could be 6 seconds from shooting him. While that is the author’s reason for being polite to everyone, it just seems a world view as bad as the fearful victim who fears strangers. I would rather take the risk of a sucker punch and being open to a hug from a stranger.

From a self-defense perspective, take a class. It really can not be learned by reading a book.

[Kato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of the military background at all but it is so painfully efficient.

[Allison Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that was hard to read. It required me to think about things that I didn’t want to think about. I read this book after I was a victim of assault, and I felt incredibly helpless and terrified. This book has helped me, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Larkin really puts a twist on the way I, and most other peace-loving, law-abiding citizens think about violence. I hope I never have to use any of the things I learned from this book, but if I do find myself in a situation again where my life is in danger, I feel like Larkin’s words will come back to me, and help me, and hopefully save my life. It’s difficult to read, but everyone needs to read it.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Гледайки кадри от протестите, които избухват както в САЩ, така и в китната ни държавица напоследък и четейки коментари на всякакви хора относно тия протести и сблъсъците на протестиращите едни с други и с полицията, ясно виждам, че повечето хора, както от протестиращите, така и от коментиращите, хабер си нямат от това какво е насилие.

За повечето хора, особено тия дето се имат за по-умни и по-красиви, насилието е нечувано и нежелано нещо и в техните очи то само се случва на тях, те винаги са в ролята на жертвата. И винаги този, който губи конфронтацията, те приемат за добрия и правия.

Особено забавни за мен са изказванията относно това как трябва да се държат хората при физическа конфронтация едни с други, кое било ок и кое не - почти толкова забавни, като крясъците към екрана по време на мач от човек, който никога не е играл футбол, но е убеден, че знае за играта повече, отколкото съдията, коментатора, треньорите и футболистите взети заедно.

Само че на света има хора, които живеят с насилието и ако се опиташ да им преподаваш правила ще ти се изсмеят в лицето, ще ти счупят краката и ще изнасилят дъщеря ти, докато ти гледаш. Или ще ти счупят главата с павета по време на "мирния" си протест.

When Violence Is the Answer има само една основна идея - че когато ножът опре до кокала, добрите хора винаги губят и страдат от това, защото умствено не могат да приемат, че могат да упражняват насилие, за да се спясят.

В техните представи, някак те успяват да се "защитят" без да нанесат някакви поражения на нападателя си, защото това би било лошо и така биха "станали като него". Само че като се "защитиш" от един удар с нож, убиецът ти просто ще замахне още колкото пъти е нужно за да те намушка.

Цялата книга може да се сведе до обяснението, че не бива да щадиш някой, който те напада и застрашава живота и здравето ти, а трябва да действаш така, че той да не е в състояние да те застраши повече. Дори това да означава да пробиеш и извадиш с нокът окото на някой, който се опитва да те изнасили, примерно.

Разбира се, още по-добре би било просто да избягаш, ако можеш. А най-добре, да не влизаш в конфронтация изобщо - което Тим Ларкин обяснява подробно.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly feel this is a book that EVERYONE could benefit from. Society is quickly devolving into the violent world that civilization got rid of long ago. But that cruel world is back again. Current laws seem to be giving the advantage to the criminal. This book teaches self defense through INJURING and INCAPACITATING your attacker. Hurting them so bad that they cannot renew their attack on you.

Some might think this is barbaric... but what is more barbaric is dying at the hands of a violent criminal who would just as soon kill you.

This book is a 100% read for the ladies out there who live of work in big cities or sketchy areas.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* -- i think my reading theme of the season is violence.

People seem to need a lot of convincing that they may one day need to enact extreme violence on another person, that, if your life is threatened, that you should do anything to counter that violence- which requires committing violence. So much of this book is devoted to that concept that it makes me worried for the average person. I don't like to think that the average person is walking around in a naive bubble of false security but I guess they are. I think how he broke it down and worked the reader through the steps mentally might be effective in overcoming those mental barriers towards violence. But I already agreed with his main concept so I wouldn't know. If you don't require the reminder/ reassurance that extreme violence is justified when protecting your own life and others' then this book can feel extremely repetitive.

There are though limits to what you can learn about physical actions through reading a book. He does believe that even the shift in mentality can help in an emergency situation that understanding principles is beneficial to practicing techniques. But technique is still required for true effectiveness and extolled the benefits of slow deliberate practice. I have no one to practice with so...

Overall this was an interesting book, I discussed sections with my friend who is a combat arms NCO of many decades, he agreed with a lot but disagreed with some too (he especially though the 'look at this picture, what's your next move' exercise to be stupid).

What I find more interesting is thinking about this book in conjunction with others I've read, namely recently- The Seven Necessary Sins of Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy. I'd be curious to know if any other person has read both books as they are for such different audiences (Larkin extols military and police as the "good guys" while Eltahawy is more ACAB/anti-military). But on one point I believe they would align. One of her "sins" that she says women must practice is that of violence. She advocates that if more women were to be willing to enact justified violence against men who assault them that it may prevent/dissuade future attacks. Essentially if more men felt there would be repercussions for their actions they may not violate women so casually. The level of violence she discusses in context of #ibeatmyattacker is no where near the level of violence Larkin discusses but I think it should be. Any physical infringement upon a woman's bodily autonomy should, in my opinion, be considered a threat to her life. It's not enough to punch, slap, or scratch, the aim should be debilitating injury. In a world where increased penalties for rape convictions just means an increase in rape-murders, women should be enabled (first mentally, then physically, then legally) to protect themselves to the extreme.

[Christopher Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violence Is Rarely The Answer, But When It Is, It’s The Only Answer

In WHEN VIOLENCE IS THE ANSWER, Tim Larkin aims to change our view of violence, and explain what we can do about it. The key is the right mindset + the right training.

The author makes it clear that one must undergo specific, skilled training to really be handle a violent attack. It’s not enough to just “sort of” have an idea of how to respond; rather, your response must be automatic. It’s about turning your brain into the “ultimate concealed carry.”

The author includes lots of stories about ordinary people who were trained to use these principles. Of special note is the surgeon who was attacked on his way to the hospital. The doctor saw what was happening, he knocked out his attacker, then ran in to perform the surgery. The author notes the reason the doctor was successful was because he didn’t have to think. He was “trained in targets and the tool of violence.”

Tim makes a crucial distinction between “Social Aggression” and “Asocial Violence.” The first is about competition; the second is about someone committing destruction. So, if we are faced with merely aggression, one should try to avoid it, rather than escalate it.

On the other hand, faced with violence, our response must be instinctive and fast. The author calls this “intent.” The point is to disable your opponent first. It’s a tie until the first big injury, so one must be ready to “use the very same tool of violence that your adversary wants to use against you.”

Keep in mind that this book is not intended to be a substitute for training. Tom emphasizes the importance of through training, so that you will not hesitate when your life is in danger. In particular, practice must be slow and deep so that you can act without hesitation. “

So all in all, I found WHEN VIOLENCE IS THE ANSWER to be a good introduction to this subject. The author writes clearly and I found the book easy to follow. It’s not too gory, but the anecdotes do relate quite a violent incidents. I was encouraged by the numerous examples of normal folks who successfully protected themselves when they had to.


Advance Review copy courtesy of the publisher.

[M Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most aggressive self help book I've ever read. I've heard it commented somewhere that self help books are a reflection of the values of any given present time. This book has something to say about US society. I must admit that I found many of the situations and advice in this book instructive.

My aikido sensei said the same thing: in almost all situations, just don't fight. Just let a situation pass or just let the mugger get your wallet.

For that tiny 5% or so of situations: violence is the only answer. Violence isn't fun or pretty and this book does not glamorise. It's clinical, technical and a matter of quick thinking and execution.

There's a reason why this guy, Tim Larkin wasn't allowed into the UK though. The things in this book are scary as hell.

[Travis Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to make one think about what they would / should do in a life or death violent situation. The book differentiated the difference between social and asocial violence - an important distinction I hadn't properly considered previously. The only part of the book that I glossed over was how to actually attack, it's the type of material where reading it doesn't translate into being able to physically perform. I would look to an instructor-led class for learning that.

As the author repeats, I hope to never have to use any of the insight gleaned in the book, but will be glad I read the book if a situation does occur.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The misguided premise of this book is that we all struggle to believe that some scenarios warrant violence. I for one don't pick up that idea from any corner of society. I don't understand his assumption.

Whatever practical knowledge this author struggles to convey is obscured by the outsized ego of this chauvinistic author. It's a self-aggrandizing attempt to help all of us "Ditsy blonde" (his words) females and bolster his career.

If this subject interests you then just sign up for your local community self-defense workshop. There's a hefty change you will absorb more from a hands-on demonstration .

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot of "why", a fair amount of "what", and the book convinced me that I'll need professional training for the "how". The book doesn't advocate martial arts training and I'm not a martial arts expert, and I understand the point of shortfalls of martial arts but it convinced me that either martial arts or self defense training from a professional is needed to execute this philosophy.

[Marcella Wigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few normal people perceive themselves as being a potential victim of violence, especially the type of asocial violence we read about with horror in newspapers. But, Larkin argues, if we find ourselves the targets of such violence, we must be prepared to respond with violence ourselves. We must combat our natural instinct not to resist when faced with true asocial violence in order to survive. Simultaneously we must learn to recognize social violence and avoid it whenever we can, even if it involves losing face.

This book is very unsettling, which is exactly its intention. Few law-abiding citizens can visualize themselves in situations where they need to deliberately inflict violence, even when it's to save their own lives. However, Larkin points out that while any individual is unlikely to use self-defense techniques to inflict serious harm and prevent the continuation of asocial violence, given the stakes in such a situation, it would be unwise not to prepare for such a scenario should it occur. Most of the concepts he covers are pretty fundamental and unsurprising, really: often, truly dangerous violent people aren't the biggest or the fastest to posture; many social-based fights can be avoided if one diffuses situations at the expense of ego; one needs to react with speed to counter asocial violence with self-defense violence; more law-abiding citizens are hurt by attackers than attackers by law-abiding citizens fighting back; and even the most practiced self-defense expert may not be able to predict a variety of complicating factors (rage, weapons, accomplices) that might turn a situation against them. Larking uses a lot of real-world examples to show you that an instantaneous decision--whether to injure an attacker or not--can prove absolutely critical to survival in cases of asocial violence.

Ultimately, no book will teach you self-defense. You could read all day about Larkin's analysis of bodies most vulnerable points and still not be able to put those ideas into practice when faced with a situation that demands it. But at least considering the possibility of violence as a means of self-defense, even when one does not have a convenient weapon to make such injury more impersonal, is important for self-defense. Most of the case examples discussed here are stranger-on-stranger violence; I wish that this book discussed domestic violence as well. But I still think that the principles he lays out here are important.

[Gregory Eakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it's the only answer.

Larkin does an excellent job of discussing and exposing some of the uncomfortable truths about violence that come with being human. These are realities that are heavily suppressed, denied, and avoided by our modern "civilized" society. While the likelihood of you finding yourself in a violent confrontation are low, the consequences are extreme.

The solution to fear is not denial and wishful thinking; it is knowledge, preparedness, and confidence.

Most of the book is focused on changing the way you think about violence. He uses a handful of stories to demonstrate how women, bouncers, and grandmothers all handled violent encounters differently. He pulls valuable lessons from all of them that help with honing your mindset.

The other part I found valuable was his discussion of social versus asocial violence. The distinction in intent affects the options you have for handling a situation. You can apply this knowledge to every situation you see in the news or in real life and make better sense of what is happening and what options are available to everyone involved.

We train for self-defense even though we might not need it. We carry a pistol and train with it even though we might not need it. Training your mind is just another important step in becoming a hard target, and this book is a great resource for pushing you in the right direction.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent exploration of violence; what it is, what it does, who it works for, who it doesn't, and why you should understand it. Anyone who doesn't want to be a victim of asocial-violence should read this book. I know I feel more prepared.

[Slate R. Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a student of Tim’s so long ago. I’ve studied martial arts and other types of hand to hand combat. Tim’s quite right, if you can deescalate a situation you should! If you can walk away, do so; let your ego take a hit... absolutely. However there are the times when you have no other choice than engage in violence. At that point your job is simple, put your opponent down and be able to go home.

This book will help you know when it’s time to fight and when to walk away. What you need to do, and if you take his classes you know exactly how when on why to strike. This book is a good place to start.

Very well written and explained in terms anyone can understand.

[Sherra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading the book I checked out from the library. Now, I have to buy a copy so I can go back through it, highlight, and make notes!

[George Helferich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

Excellent read tries to prepare your mind for the unthinkable. A tool for those with an interest in being mindful of their environment.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling, but very informative.

[Thad Forester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Tim Larkin and this was another useful book. He does a good job preparing everyone how to handle violence, but only when it's necessary to save your life. Well done Tim.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth is found in this book

Tim Larkin does a great job analyzing and dissecting a topic which is controversial to most people. He clearly and professionally describes, in detail, the tool of violence and the differences of when you should utilize this tool. A great book for everyone and anyone who wants to fully understand self-defense and self-protection

[Dan Crichlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have car insurance, health, insurance, wife insurance, because we know things are unexpected. Why do so few people prepare for the potential of a violent attack. Techniques get you killed, principles, save your life.
Two parts how to think about violence, and how to think about using violence.
1. violence is a tool.
1. Example about Diane, if someone is bigger, stronger, and faster than you, you can’t simply scream and scratch your way out, you have to find a way to cause serious bodily harm.
2. The knockout game - random violence happens.
3. Example about Sara. Guy climbed in her bed. Needed to wait for him to adjust to try and tape her. When he was close attack but hang on and keep attacking while they pull away.
4. Hesitation kills. Officer Jeter hesitated because of the guy’s daughter. He almost killed her because she didn’t spring into action when he showed violent intent.
2. Social aggression versus a-social violence. Social violence is basically a reshuffling of the pecking order, and doesn’t always involve violence; think of a bully finally being stood up to. A social violence is the stuff you run from, think of a bullied kid, pulling out a gun and shooting his bully point blank. A large differentiator is the presence or absence of communication. It goes from angry, mad, and wanting to show it; too aggressive, wanting to fight, and possibly causing harm; and then deadly.
1. If we only think about self-defense, we most often participate in our own murder, self-defense is usually curling up in a ball. We need to think that we should do to our attacker, more swiftly and efficiently what they would want to do to us.
2. You can’t tell who is bad and who isn’t. The most dangerous person is the quiet one. Example, a lot of prisoners were released. Tim told his friend many probably went to a crowded tourist place. It would be impossible to tell which of the thousands of people had just been released.
3. Violence is a tool, not a moral absolute. When you’re using it to save your life no one is thinking if you’re good or bad. When posed with a picture of someone choking another person, almost everyone asked who they identify with identifies with the one being choked, because they could never imagine themselves choking someone. But when criminals are asked they almost always identify with the choker, because they would never be choked. They could be seeing themselves choking their attacker. We need to embrace this mindset!
4. Your mind is your most powerful tool!
5. Where do most doctors find the most defensive wounds? On a corpse. Defense almost never works. Knife example. When two instructors act and one tries to stab and the other defend, the defender always dies. But when he tries to hurt the attacker it often becomes more even. Gang member example. He ran at his attacker because the only way out is through. He absorbed 5 shots but killed his attacker.
6. Affect v cause state. Effect waits and tries to think, cause acts first. Dont waste energy by just going half way. That gets you killed. Go all the way, break something in them.
7. The worst people have the best information. Example, a group of criminals staged a fight so that they could get a look at the correctional officers, new riot gear. They were than later seen practicing, where, and how to stab to cause the most damage around the new gear..
8. Bad people never use an angry or war face. They dont want to communicate anything. They’ll be plain faced. The only way to determine intent is by reviewing how someone interfaces with their target.
9. Be more focused on incapacitating than disarming. Example: Walmart story, cop tried to disarm knife from guy who was walking up to cause harm, he then pulled out gun and shot the cop.
10. The Mexican Mafia three recommended books: books on human anatomy with a focus on how the body reacts to trauma. Never think you’re at a disadvantage; think how close am I to his eyes, groin, neck, etc.
3. When violence ISN’T the answer.
1. How do you know if it’s still okay to use social deescalation or is it time to fight? Are they still communicating?? Even violently communicating. Example of driving with his son and the guy cursing at him and saying he wanted to beat him up but he didn’t take the bait.
2. Criminals are often more courteous because they know they could get their head beaten in at any moment, and non-criminals are often more rude because they live by a different social structure. There was a boxer who when he came to a new town He would often ask the local cops where the convicts worked out. He would go work out there because he knew they lived by a different social structure, and that they would be polite so that they would not get in fights.
3. Everyone you encounter that you don’t know you should assume you don’t live by the same social contract and that you’re six seconds away from unleashing a shooting spree on them.
4. If there’s a chance someone you encounter does not live by the same social contract, why take the chance to set them off?
5. Rick example. Four guys break into mansion that is unfinished. Ends up being mistaken identity. What he could have done before: he didn’t have locks or doors, he didn’t have his dog with him, and he had no exterior lights.
6. Others: don’t wear headphones in public. Have an insurance policy against a-social violence - take an Uber, use valet, etc.
7. example of the correctional officer. One of the inmates he became friends with told him he needed to change up his routine, because if he wanted to, he could spear him in the neck while he walked by his cell and take his keys. Other inmates were actually planning to do that. He needed to be more aware and not so focused on routine.
4. Make yourself a difficult target. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t take away any of your senses.
Part 2, how to think about using violence.
1. The best target is the one you can get.
1. After the first blow, the encounter is still most likely not over, unless your attacker is incapacitated. Example, Bonnie. She was picked up to be taken, but was able to elbow her attacker in the neck. She knew the event still was not over as he could still move. So she stomped on his kneecap, and incapacitate him.
2. What are good targets? Anything that can break, crushed, smashed, or rendered useless. They are places that are critical to normal functioning. The target is not necessarily the smallest anatomical part, like the iris, but is the place where you will visualize putting all of your force in making an entry work.
3. Targets are not weak points, just because they are a target does not mean that they are easier to break.
4. When thinking about what weapon to use, you should re-train your mind to think in terms of injuring. Not hands are good, knife is better, gun is best, but, what can I injure my assailant with?
2. Your brain is your deadliest weapon.
1. Know that survival is going to hurt. Don’t focus on ouch, that hurt, now I’m going to die. Think, let’s do this!
3. Training time
1. Train slow! Your body knows how to do things fast, but if you have not trained slowly on how to properly do things, and where to hit, you won’t do it right. Train slow!
2. Most likely your fight will only be 2 or 3 strikes so precision and accuracy is key.
3. Would you immediately jump into fast paced fire arm training if you’ve never held a gun before? Even if you had, you wouldn’t do blind scenarios with no info (go into a room and only use these methods, etc.) so why would you do it with self defense? Train slow!
4. Training to inflict injury
1. How do you know you’ve caused injury? It is objective, it is detrimental, and it is lasting.
2. The three main principles to cause injury
1. Striking - throwing your entire mass through a single target to wreck it. Think jumping from trampoline to trampoline at Skyzone, you bend your knees and explode. You also need to brace for impact.
1. You have to have intent! Your intent has to be to land them in the ICU, not just to hurt them and hope they want to stop attacking you.
2. You can practice with a metronome set to 40 beats per minute, every beat is a strike.
2. Joint breaking
1. Use a lever!
2. Find a fulcrum.
3. You’ll have to injure them BEFORE you try to break a joint.
4. Six based leverages
1. Extension
2. Flexion
3. Supination
4. Pronation
5. Adduction
6. Abduction
3. Throwing
1. You have to break their structure, i.e. their balance, and then pick a single anatomical part to throw as hard as you can at an ex on the ground
2. Accelerate their fall by adding your body weight and momentum to the throw.
3. If you were attacking the stepping leg, sweet, if you’re attacking the standing leg, strike. If you’re unsure, always strike.

[André Mansur · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are expecting a study on the concept of violence, go look somewhere else. Larkin makes a living as a self-defense instructor, and it shows in the book: soon enough you will get the feeling that it is just a big advertisement for his classes. He produces half a dozen so called real violence stories involving his former students, all of them people in phisical disadvantage who were able to inflict incapacitating injuries on rapists/abductors/muggers/bouncers - one of them achieves it with as little "training" as a two-hour crash course aboard a cruise ship! Believe them at your own risk, literally.

Larkin classifies violence as social (avoidable/non life threatening) and asocial (unavoidable/life threatening). Altough it may seems simple enough in the book, in real life that's a very very blurry line, especially since the former can evolve to the later in a matter of seconds. Reading and asserting what is what - and reacting to it - requires real life experience that no book can teach you.

Some of it's advice are solid, but they are just common sense: be aware of your surroundings, don't wander into dangerous places, try not to stick to a very rigid daily routine, don't escalate small conflicts... things anyone who was raised in a big city knows by heart at the age of 12.

All in all, best case scenario this book is useless, worst case scenario it's dangerous. For sure, not the answer when violence is the only answer.

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This focuses on situations where talking, running, descalation etc are not possible; asicial violence.

A worthwhile read. Some of the case studies (particularly the prison ones, and the stories of former students) are fascinating. I'm not sure if this book alone would be enough to prepare someone for this kind of violence, but if you were to combine it with in person training, then the mindset focus would be hugely valuable.

If I have a criticism, it's that some of the real world murder cases do not always tally up with what is reported in other sources. (For example one report suggests a man was killed because he fought back, where this book suggests it was because he failed to do so.)

The broad concept however is an interesting one, and i will take something away from reading this.

[Christopher Piehota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was good. Worth reading to better understand the nature of Interpersonal violence.

This was a good book at the beginning but ran out of gas. I liked the discussion about violence between people and how to read certain situations. As the author notes, this is not a book about the technical aspects of fighting but, rather, a summary of concepts that can be used to inform those parties who may encounter violence on action.

[Stacy Blomquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Larkin spends the majority of the book trying to shape the mindset of the reader. As law-abiding citizens, many of us have never engaged in any form of violence. "When violence is the answer," one must be committed to it to be effective. The mind is our greatest weapon - one we have with us everywhere. This was an interesting read.

[Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكتاب دا مُقلق نسبياً لكن مهم. و اهميته بتكمن في انه بيغير مفاهيم و معتقدات اغلبها مشوش عن استخدام العنف. سواء انت الى بتستخدمه تجاه الاخرين أو بُيستخدم ضدك. امتى استخدامه هيفيدك و امتى لأ. ازاى تفرق ما بين العنف الناتج عن حماقات التستوستيرون عند الرجال (والى 90% منها لا تستحق اصلا و يمكن اخمادها بطرق اخرى) و العنف الضرورى للنجاه من الايذاء.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

The unbeatable logic of the muscle brain: kill it first. Than ask questions. It reminds me of one of the early episodes of South Park, when before shooting a hare one has to shout: "Oh! It's coming right at us!".