The 18 Best Books to Learn Martial Arts and Self-Defense
1. The Gift of Fear
The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker
2. The Art of War
3. Principles of Personal Defense
Principles of Personal Defense is written by Jeff Cooper
4. After The Bell Rings
After The Bell Rings-Giving Kids the tools they need to stay safe: A field guide to situational awareness by William A Dalpe
5. In the Gravest Extreme
In the gravest extreme and this falls under the category of firearms mostly this was written by Massad F. Ayoob
6. The Law of Self-Defense
The Law of Self-Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen by Andrew F. Branca
7. Meditations on Violence
Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training and Real World Violence by Rory Miller
8. The New Superpower for Women
The New Superpower for Women: Trust Your Intuition, Predict Dangerous Situations, and Defend Yourself from the Unthinkable by Steve Kardian
9. Krav Maga
Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense by David Kahn
Topics include:
- Anticipating an attack;
- Understanding the body's vulnerable targets;
- Mastering essential defense techniques, and more.
Krav Maga covers all the below:
- What is Krav Maga all about
- Instruction on how to protect your body's vulnerable target and learn weapons defense combat
- Use an opponent's momentum to fuel your counterattack
- Escape all kinds of grips and holds
- Combine training punches, kicks, and other moves into a powerful conditioning workout---to lose weight, increase core strength, and improve muscle tone
- Use specially designed drills and a 12-week training program to become a racist---a smart and prepared fighter
10. The Self-Defense Handbook
The Self-Defense Handbook: The Best Street Fighting Moves and Self-Defense Techniques by Sam Fury
Teach Yourself Self-Defense!
- The Principles of Self-Defense. The information in this section is more valuable from a self-defense point of view than any of the individual techniques.
- Basic Self-Defense Techniques. Simple and effective moves to escape your attacker(s) and get to safety.
- Advanced Strikes & Strategies. Use these tactics when the basic self-defense techniques are too aggressive, such as in a "friendly" pub or schoolyard brawl.
- Weapon Disarms. Advanced lessons on how to disarm an attacker and fight multiple opponents.
Discover Real Street Fighting Tactics
- The best target areas for self-defense and which strikes to use.
- How to achieve street fighting knockouts.
- Ground fighting techniques for self-defense.
- Easy to apply strategies for attack and defense.
- The correct way to use chokeholds and how to escape them.
- The best self-defense objects from everyday items.
- Weapon vs weapon street fighting training.
- How to adapt what you learn to any situation.
Adapted From Proven Street Fighting Styles
- Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee's martial art)
- Vortex Control Self-Defense (eclectic self-defense)
- Kali/Escrima Arnis (Filipino weapon-based martial arts)
- Wing Chun (efficient Chinese martial art)
- Krav Maga (Israel military)
- Systema (Russian military)
- Mixed Martial Arts (strikes and ground fighting) … and more.
11. When Violence Is the Answer by Tim Larkin
12. Shooting to Live by W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes
13. Kill or Get Killed by Mr. Rex Appelgate
14. No Second Place Winner by William H. Jordan
Best Self-Defense Books Series by Peter Consterdine
15. Streetwise
Streetwise: A Complete Manual of Security and Self-Defense by Peter Consterdine
16. Fit to Fight
Fit to Fight: Manual of Intense Training for Combat by Peter Consterdine
17. Travelsafe
Travelsafe: The Complete Guide to Travel Security by Peter Consterdine
18. The Modern Bodyguard
The Modern Bodyguard: The Manual of Close Protection Training by Peter Consterdine