The Art and Science of Self Defense

Joe Varady is an award-winning author of The Art and Science of Staff Fighting, and The Art and Science of Stick Fighting. He is a sixth-degree black belt with over thirty years of experience in martial arts. Joe has trained in numerous Eastern and Western disciplines, including karate, judo, eskrima, boxing, fencing, and long sword. He has won numerous awards competing in full-contact weapons tournaments around the world. Joe holds a master’s degree in elementary education. He is the head instructor at Satori Dojo and Modern Gladiatorial Arts. Joe Varady resides in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Foreword


Preface


Introduction


Part 1: Combat Sports, Martial Arts, and Self-Defense


Part 2: Self-Defense and the Law


Part 3: The Art and Science of Self-Defense


Level 1: Awareness


Part 1: Situational Awareness


Part 2: Variable Assessment


Part 3: Recognizing a Threat


Level-1 Activities


Level 2: Avoidance, De-escalation, and Anticipation


Part 1: Avoidance


Part 2: De-escalation


Part 3: Anticipation


Level-2 Activities


Level 3: Building an Arsenal


Part 1: Targeting


Part 2: Offensive Techniques


Part 3: Defensive Techniques


Level-3 Activities


Level 4: Action!


Part 1: Right Time


Part 2: Right Place


Part 3: Right Technique


Part 4: Right Perspective/Run


Level-4 Activities


Level 5: Dirty Tricks


Part 1: When to Fight Dirty


Part 2: How to Fight Dirty


Level-5 Activities


Level 6: Takedowns


Part 1: The Clinch


Part 2: Falling


Part 3: Throws


Part 4: Foot Sweeps and Trips


Level-6 Activities


Level 7: Ground Fighting


Part 1: Basics


Part 2: Pins, Hold-Downs, and Locks


Part 3: Escaping


Level-7 Activities


Level 8: Weapons


Part 1: Improvised Weapons


Part 2: Defending Against Weapons


Level-8 Activities


Level 9: Multiple Attackers


Part 1: Establishing Control


Part 2: Evading and Escaping


Part 3: Going on the Attack


Level-9 Activities


Acknowledgments


Appendixes


Appendix 1: Dog Attack


Appendix 2: Children


Appendix 3: Sexual Assault


Appendix 4: Training Equipment