“Women are as precisely capable as men at causing injury; when a thumb goes into an eye socket, the universe doesn’t stop everything and check if the cells in the thumb have XY or XX chromosomes before deciding if the forces exerted are enough to destroy the eyeball. Either the forces exceed the elasticity of the tissue or they don’t. Male vs. female is not part of that equation.”– Chris Ranck-Buhr
Tim Larkin, the creator of “Target Focused Training” recently released a book on self protection for women. The book “Survive The Unthinkable” covers a lot of issues that many women’s self defense manuals just gloss over. From the author’s description:
“Survive the Unthinkable reveals the effective, proven principles behind Target Focus Training, the system Larkin has used to train Navy SEALs, celebrities, and soccer moms. It’s a counter-intuitive mind / body approach women can use to protect themselves and their loved ones. Readers learn how to identify the difference between social aggression (which can be avoided) and asocial violence (which is unavoidable), recognize personal behaviors that may jeopardize safety, and target highly specific areas on an attacker’s body for a strategic counterattack.
Larkin discusses how predators think and teaches women how to spot them, outsmart them, and stop them in their tracks. With principles proven to work regardless of size, strength, or athleticism, Larkin’s approach revolutionizes women’s perspective on violence and self-protection. Armed with the tools to neutralize any threat, readers will blast through the victim mindset and live freer, safer, more peaceful lives.”
The book is just over 150 pages and is a fairly fast read. It contains chapters on “How Predators Think”, “Your Most Powerful Weapon,” “The Will To Survive.” and “The Engine of Violence.”
This book is NOT a technique instructional manual. In fact, only one page was devoted to physical techniques! That’s OK, there are other great books that cover physical techniques. What this book covers is the mindset behind using whatever physical techniques you already know. In essence, it’s a treatise on how to recognize when violence is necessary and how to mentally switch gears and turn yourself into a formidable fighter.
The book would be ideal for any woman who has reservations about being “violent” or for any male family members who are teaching spouses or daughters how to defend themselves. If you’ve ever said to yourself “…but I could never hurt anyone,” this book is for you. It is also a good read for any professional instructor who teaches women. There are a couple of very useful instructional techniques mentioned that I will be implementing in future women’s self defense classes.
If you have an interest in women’s self protection, check out Survive The Unthinkable. It will be a useful addition to your library.
For other book recommendations, see my Recommended Reading page.
