Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training and Real World Violence

Overview

Book of the Year Award Finalist - Foreword Magazine Best Book Award Finalist - USA Book NewsA Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real-World Violence Experienced martial artist and veteran correction officer Sgt. Rory Miller distills what he has learned from jailhouse brawls, tactical operations and ambushes to explore the differences between martial arts and the subject martial arts were designed to deal with: Violence.Sgt. Miller introduces the myths, metaphors and expectations that most martial artists ...

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Overview

Book of the Year Award Finalist - Foreword Magazine Best Book Award Finalist - USA Book NewsA Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real-World Violence Experienced martial artist and veteran correction officer Sgt. Rory Miller distills what he has learned from jailhouse brawls, tactical operations and ambushes to explore the differences between martial arts and the subject martial arts were designed to deal with: Violence.Sgt. Miller introduces the myths, metaphors and expectations that most martial artists have about what they will ultimately learn in their dojo. This is then compared with the complexity of the reality of violence. Complexity is one of the recurring themes throughout this work.Section Two examines how to think critically about violence, how to evaluate sources of knowledge and clearly explains the concepts of strategy and tactics.Sections Three and Four focus on the dynamics of violence itself and the predators who perpetuate it. Drawing on hundreds of encounters and thousands of hours spent with criminals Sgt. Miller explains the types of violence; how, where, when and why it develops; the effects of adrenaline; how criminals think, and even the effects of drugs and altered states of consciousness in a fight.Section Five centers on training for violence, and adapting your present training methods to that reality. It discusses the pros and cons of modern and ancient martial arts training and gives a unique insight into early Japanese kata as a military training method.Section Six is all about how to make self-defense work. Miller examines how to look at defense in a broader context, and how to overcome some of your own subconscious resistance to meeting violence with violence.The last section deals with the aftermath—the cost of surviving sudden violence or violent environments, how it can change you for good or bad. It gives advice for supervisors and even for instructors on how to help a student/survivor. You’ll even learn a bit about enlightenment.

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781594391187
  • Publisher: Ymaa Publication Center
  • Publication date: 6/25/2008
  • Pages: 202
  • Sales rank: 173,834
  • Product dimensions: 5.80 (w) x 8.90 (h) x 0.70 (d)

Meet the Author

Rory Miller, former Sergeant, has been studying martial arts since 1981. He's a best-selling writer and a veteran corrections officer. He's taught and designed courses on Use of Force Policy and Decision Making, Police Defensive Tactics, Confrontational Simulations, and he has led and trained hi former agency's Corrections Tactical Team. Recently, he taught how to run a modern, safe, and secure prison at the Iraqi Corrections Systems, Iraq. Rory Miller resides near Portland, Oregon.

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Table of Contents


Foreword   Steven Barnes     vii
Acknowledgments     x
Introduction: Metaphors     xii
Preface: The Truth About Me     xv
The Matrix     1
The tactical matrix-an example     2
The strategic matrix: what martial arts tries to be     5
How to Think     15
Assumptions and epistemology     15
The power of assumption     21
Common sources of knowledge about violence     24
Strategy training     30
Goals in training     33
Thinking in the moment     36
Violence     41
Types of violence     41
The four basic truths of violent assault     54
The chemical cocktail     57
Adapting to the chemical cocktail     66
The context of violence     72
Violence happens in places     73
Violence happens in time     77
Violence happens between people     84
Predators     89
Threats ain't normal folks     89
The types of criminal     91
Rationalizations     100
What makes a violent predator?     104
Training     107
The flaw in the drill     107
Kata as a training exercise     114
Responses to the four basic truths     117
Operant conditioning     119
The whole enchilada     121
Making Physical Defense Work     125
Stages of defense: movement-opportunity-intent-relationship-terrain     125
The "go" button     136
The golden rule of combat     137
Effects and actions     139
The big three     143
After     153
After     153
Acute events     155
For supervisors     158
Cumulative events     159
Dealing with the survivor/student     164
Changes     166
Bibliography     170
Index     177
About the Author     180
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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews
  • Posted June 13, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    buy this book

    This is a must read for any martial instructor it has change the way I teach Budoshin Ju Jitsu.

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  • Posted June 3, 2009

    A must read for martial artists

    This book was referred to me by a friend and I am very glad to have purchased it. The book is an eye opener and puts a nice reality on violent encounters. Sergeant R.A. Miller, a corrections officer, writes about his experiences with martial arts, his training approach and gives the reader the truth about the violence one needs to be aware of and train for. A nice no-nonsense book to add to your martial arts library.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 21, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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