AWARENESS FEARS AND CONSEQUENCES
Alan Charlton
REVIEW BY: Paul Child. Instructor & Founder Member C.O.D.A.
With so many Self - Protection books currently available, choosing a worthwhile book to read can be a bit like looking for a needle in the proverbial haystack. Some are not worth the effort of even reading the Chapter List, whilst others are worth keeping as close to you as your loved ones. Alan Charlton's debut book is most definitely in the latter category. Alan takes the issue of Self - Protection by the scruff of the neck and pulls no punches in a book that is 'more about' than 'how to do'. A man of knowledge, practical experience, and with a great attitude, Alan's persona is projected throughout the book, as he often uses personal encounters to support his views and theories, in his own unique style. Rather than attempting to review the entire book, I will focus on some chapters that are close to my heart for specific reasons. The book consists of 17 actual Chapters, with Foreword, Introduction and closes with a Personal View from Alan. The Chapters include;
Awareness (Chap.2),
Fear (Chap.3),
Consequences (Chap.4),
The Law (Chap.9) and (astonishingly!)
A Round Of Golf Anyone? (Chap.14),
Cross Training - Finding Out What Works (Chap.16).
Immediately you may be thinking that some of these subject areas have been covered in quite a lot of detail in other books. They have. Most noticeably in the excellent works by Peter Consterdine and Geoff Thompson. However, the way the subjects are presented in A,F & C is different - but complimentary to other works.
Chapter 1. Simply Violence What is your worst nightmare? The realities of ugly confrontations are explored here (sometimes with details from personal experience) in an attempt to make the reader think carefully about two main things. Firstly, about what a confrontation is, and secondly, would the training you may have already done stand the acid test of a real situation. Pressure testing your techniques (until you find the one(s) that work for you) is mentioned, as is the fallacy of waiting to actually be hit to protect yourself .
Chapter 12. Men and Women, What Weaker sex? This chapter highlights the differences between the usual confrontations that men experience and those that are forced upon women. As Alan points out, the male species can only really see an attack on women from the male point of view. If you want to know how a women feels before, during and after she is attacked, she is the person to ask. This is a crucial point often overlooked by 'instructors' when setting up their women's' self defence classes. Likewise, these classes often contain ridiculous techniques that would never work for anyone under pressure - let a lone a women being attacked by a sexual pervert. Recognizing, confronting and dealing with fear are all mentioned here, as are courage and the will to win. Alan also makes references to other sources on the subject. There are NO techniques in this chapter - understandably. It is an area that cannot be safely covered in a book, and Alan's training proves this. Ladies, you need to get in there and do it!
Chapter 17. Knifes, Bottles and Sharp Sticks In proportion to the other chapters in the book, this is a book in itself! And rightly so. Blocks, wrist grabs etc. etc. are all included in here. AS THINGS TO AVOID. Mention is made of such ridiculous techniques, and kicked firmly into touch. 'Simplicity is the key' says Alan. I for one won't disagree. The danger of 'set up' knife defences is mentioned, along with the elements that are often in real life, but sadly missing from the training hall - fear, surprise, deception and concealment. Alan makes suggestions regarding threat assessment and training drills to reduce the element of surprise. Mention is also made of the mindset needed to deal with an edged weapons confrontation, and counter-strikes that may be used if all else fails. And he also offers probably the best possible anti knife technique of all time; 'Run Like A Bastard!'
The book is made up of short, punchy chapters, with some photographs and some great little cartoons! (Not sure who the people are in the cartoons, but I hope none of them are based on me!). It is well presented (by Jamie O'Keefe's New Breed Publishing), and weighs in at a very reasonable £12.99 plus postage & packing.
This book contains few techniques, as I mentioned at the beginning. That is how Alan intended it to be. All I can say is, if it's the techniques you want - get in touch with Alan and go and FEEL them. It's much better than trying to learn from a few photo's. Trust me. After all, as the cover on this book says.... 'You may only have one chance and only one choice'.
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