Facing Violence

Important information for all self-defense instructors and anyone else training for self-defense
"Facing Violence: 7 Things Every Martial Artist Must Know" with Rory Miller is not a program full of techniques. Nor will it enable you to take out 27 ninjas that jump you in a back alley. (First, ask yourself what the heck are you doing in an alley with 27 ninjas out to do you harm?) The DVD won't necessarily make you a better fighter, and it certainly isn't a "Self-defense curriculum" or the "Ultimate Self-defense" program. So why watch this DVD? What will you get from it?

First, you'll get a lot if you pay attention, think about what Miller discusses, and implement his ideas into your overall self-defense strategies and training. Second, watch this DVD because Miller knows what he's talking about and addresses a lot of things that aren't mentioned in most self-defense and martial art training DVDs.

This DVD is a companion to Miller's book of the same title. Both the DVD and the book "Facing violence" cover seven important things any martial artist or...

FACING VIOLENCE
Although there is also a book of the same title, this DVD discusses certain topics in great detail which the book only touches upon, and as this information is extremely valuable it is important that you get the DVD in addition to the book.

One of those topics is "articulation wars," in which Rory gives several examples of how important it is to watch what you say to responding officers immediately after the incident. Massad Ayoob and a few other instructors have addressed this topic in the past, but never in such detail nor from such a realistic and relevant perspective. The most important things you need to know are: 1. Officer Friendly is not "on your side"; and 2. If your attacker is an experienced criminal he will know the magic words and linguistic tricks that will paint himself as an innocent victim and you as the aggressor. These are facts, and very few instructors talk about it because, to be perfectly frank, most instructors have never actually been in that...

An Excellent Companion to the Book
I watched this video with a group of people that was composed half of serious martial artists, and half of people who have never set foot in a dojo. The discussion afterwards turned to whether the information in the video was stuff that every adult should know. The overwhelming majority said yes. Those who said no did so with the disclaimer that they felt they needed more of a martial arts background for the material to really appreciate the material.

The DVD is shot as though the viewer is taking part in one of his seminars, and there are several of Miller's long term students featured in the video. Having taken a couple of his seminars I can say that this video comes fairly close to the experience. The material is well organized into seven interrelated sections, each of which is clearly articulated and put into realistic and meaningful context.

Much of the material is not typically covered in most martial arts curricula and will open important paths of...

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