MAIN IDEA:

This book by the martial arts professional is about violence, its use, and its usefulness. It is not about self-defense techniques; here is how the author defines it for a reader:” Your goal should be to understand violence as it actually is—so that you can manage its role in your life. This will require analytical thought, not emotion. One of the largest impediments to solving much of the violence around us is our inability to see it as it is rather than how we would like it to be. This can lead to a failure to notice when it is near or to recognize it when it is already upon us, and trigger a refusal to take decisive action when we are no longer in a position to deny it. The final part of this equation—decisive action—is the least understood and, as a consequence, the most fetishized.” I also like the author’s definition of his objective in writing this book:” My overriding goal is to help good people become more dangerous to bad people.”  The author presents a nice diagram demonstrating the key elements of defense and discusses at length their meaning and implementation:

The author also reviews quite a few myths related to violence that create illusions about its use, general occurrence, and methods of preparedness. 

MY TAKE ON IT:

As far as I am concerned, violence, until very recently, was a normal form of interaction between people belonging to different coalitions within a group or competing groups. This understanding refers not only to humans but also to all primates. There is not much to discuss here, except for the fact that one and only one reliable method to prevent or stop violence is the ability to inflict such a level of violence on the potential or active initiator of violence that he stops either because of being incapacitated or forced to retreat.

There are, however, two very human-specific features. One is the ability to create organized hierarchical groups capable of not only interfering right away but also inflicting severe levels of violence on the initiator in the future without limits as retaliation.  Another is the use of technology that makes the outcome unpredictable and potentially deadly for the aggressor.

Whether an aggressor is some semi-conscious bum on drags or the Russian army initiating aggression against Ukraine, the law of unintended consequences can always produce unexpected outcomes.  A little old lady that the bum decided to rob and beat up may have a concealed firearm, and Ukrainians may decide to fight and get serious material support from the West. In either case, the aggressor’s perception of the victim’s limitation in the ability for self-defense caused the attack. If a little old lady openly carried a machine gun, the bum would not come close to her. Similarly, if Ukraine would not give up its nuclear weapons stupidly believing guarantees of the Budapest memorandum, it would be in peace.  

Finally, from the point of view of individuals living in contemporary Western society, where levels of violence are generally low, the massive effort to prepare for violent encounters is just not cost-effective.  Be careful to avoid the potential for such encounters and, just in case, having tools for inflicting violence, such as guns handy, would be enough.