Manwatching

Bibliography:

Morris, Desmond. “Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior.” Harry N. Abrams. April 1979. 

Review: Listen, when I was first informed that this was a good book I thought, “Sounds like the old girlwatching fad of the seventies.” I was incorrect and only decided to look at this again when it was recommended, several times, in the book by Marc MacYoung, In the Name of Self-Defense." Once I started to read this ancient book I then realized what a gem it is especially toward someone who has a high interest in self-defense as well as martial arts. 

This is an excellent add on to your library. It goes into depth as to the reasoning for such knowledge and is a great book to use as a study of a second book called Emotional Intelligence. He does an outstanding job associating such things to those emotions such as anger as well as how this all works regarding our lizard brain regarding instinctual actions, etc. 

The only drawback is that it is out of print with used copies available through Amazon as I am sure are available through other book sources. I found a good copy for a used price of only $1.87 so adding it to your library should be easy. 

When you couple this book to Emotional Intelligence as well as other books such as:

In the Name of Self-defense by Marc MacYoung

Conflict Communications by Rory Miller

What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro

The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense series by Suzette Elgin

You get a good start on reading more than the words spoken by a person. You begin to understand the complexities of active listening not of just the words spoken but the sounds, the rhythms, the cadence of words as inter-connected to facial and body languages that are actually more important than the words spoken. 

Taking It to the Street

Bibliography:

MacYoung, Marc (Animal). “Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective.” Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1999.

Review: Mr. MacYoung does it again. Not saying this is a new book cause it ain’t but it came to my attention only recently and due in no small part because of his reputation as a person and as a writer of a most difficult subject - the melding of martial arts into street defense. I highly recommend all martial artist add this to their library and place it right next to his book, “In the Name of Self-defense.” 

I tend to lean today heavier to the fundamental principles of martial systems that also apply to any and all systems that could, would or should be used in a self-defense situation. This book is another aspect of fundamental principles as they apply to just applying the physical of martial arts to defense on the street. He does an excellent and professional job conveying these martial defense techniques to anyone be they professionals or just starting out. Knowing the information, having that knowledge gives you an edge when seeing out self-defense in today’s myriad collection of so-called professionals who don’t even come close to the credentials in experience and education that Marc does in his works. 

Add this one to your library and spend the time studying them closely while applying it to your training and practice in martial self defense.