Self Defense Books for Women Personal Safety
See Sally Kick Ass: A Woman's Guide to Personal Safety
See Sally Kick Ass Book Reviews
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This is not just a good book, it's essential!
By Ellen Wood
Fred Vogt has written an excellent book on women's personal safety. Every woman will benefit from this easily read book. It is a very comprehensive book covering the many aspects of women's lives with numerous safety tips that can be easily incorporated into your daily life. While the book focuses primarily on prevention, there is a chapter on physical self-defense techniques which are illustrated with detailed pictures to simplify the learning process. I highly recommend this book. Buy one for yourself or your loved ones! -
Things I never thought of before
By Joylene
I bought this as a gift for my sister, she escaped a near assault last year. I read most of the book before giving it to her . I really liked some of the common sense things women (and men) should look out for and be aware of their surroundings. For example it says that if a car is parked next to yours, and a person is sitting in the passenger seat - don't get in your driver side, slide in from the passenger side. This is so they can't grab you. After reading that I remembered 2 kidnapping cases that I have read about in the last year where this is exactly what happened.
Recommend for any woman or teenage girl. -
As Complete As it Gets; Empower YOUR "Inner Sally"!!!
By J.E.T.
There are two parts to this book: prevention tips (Attitude/Awareness/Avoidance) and self-defense techniques (Action).
First, the prevention: The author provides a very comprehensive set of personal safety tips to address/avoid almost every dangerous situation you could imagine yourself in...and then some! (Is there anything he hasn't thought of?) Although I've always thought of myself as a "careful" person, I realize now, I could be doing a whole lot more to make myself and my family safer. As I read the book, I repeatedly found myself wondering WHY???...I wasn't already doing the very things being suggested.
About a week after reading the book, I realized I had started looking at everything (my house, my workplace, my daily routine, etc.) differently...from a more "safety conscious" viewpoint. I wasn't really thinking about the book, but one day, I caught myself pausing, assessing a certain situation and making an alternative plan of action. I knew then that the book was "working".
The book would be worth buying on the merits of the prevention tips, alone, but there are also several great self-defense techniques illustrated in the section on "Action".
The techniques are described, step by step, with photos to illustrate each one. (The close-ups of certain Aikido "hand-techniques" are especially helpful!) The photos are a good guide for actually learning the technique; the reader should get with a partner to "try them out" and see how it feels to apply them, and by taking turns...also feel what it's like to be on the receiving end of the action. It's surprising how powerful these basic Aikido techniques are; they're simple, direct and "to the point".
Although specifically directed toward women, a lot of the safety tips would benefit anyone...regardless of gender. The book addresses safety issues for children, teenagers, the elderly and...even has a special section on foreign travel (a very important issue these days!). I've already given several copies to friends and family. Quite simply: it doesn't get any more complete than this! Go, Sally...GO!!! -
A great self defense/safety book
By S. Davis
I highly recommend this book. It is very well written and useful. The section on tips for avoiding problems is especially great, it gives many great ideas that I had not considered. Such as if someone is sitting on the passenger side of the car parked next to yours to go to your passenger side and enter there and slide over so the person cannot get out and easily grab you. The author makes the important point that prevention is the key, ideally by being aware and careful none of the self defense moves will ever be needed.
The self defense section is great as well. There are many pictures showing the different steps for different techniques to make it easy to figure out how to do the moves.
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A practical and simple guide to personal safety
This book contains insightful suggestions regarding personal safety that you can easily incorporate into every day life. Written with women in mind but anyone can benefit. It also provides self-defense moves based in Aikido (with detailed photos). You will need a willing partner to practice with you to make these moves useful but it's fun!!! If you are going to buy just one book, this one is a must. -
Super Great!
By Donna Wick
The book is unassuming but the content is powerful. What I liked most about the book are the preventative measures. Vogt does not build a false sense of security like, "do these things and you will be an amazing self-defense champion against any brute no matter size or stature". That can be dangerous.
This book goes to right where you live and how you live your life. It's about safety in getting in the car, walking through a parking lot - you know, just every day stuff.
After reading the book I realized how long it took me to get in my car and how much of an easy prey I was. I work long hours and late at night I would get in my car, leave the door open, situate my bag, my files, my water bottle. Put my keys in the ignition, strap on my seat belt and THEN would close my door. Wow...what an easy mark I was!!! Operative word there is "was".
This valuable book has really opened my eyes to preventative measures I can take in my normal life. The added value is that Vogt does give very helpful defense strategies. This is great for both mothers and their daughters! -
A current, direct, useful guide to self-protection written with women in mind
By M. Hahn-Baur
What a useful book! As a retired college admissions director, I would recommend this book without any reservation. It is a must read for female college students and although the author lovingly dedicates the book to the women in his life (his wife and three daughters), there is such a breadth of information that anyone will benefit from this read.
What makes this book stellar: 1) the author is highly credible with two black belts in both tae kwon do and aikido. He is personally committed through his roles as husband and father, 2) the book is easy to read and understand - not always the case with self-protection books that show pictures of contortionists that attempt to explain how you, the average person, can also perform these feats in three easy steps, 3) the books covers the critical elements of Attitude, Avoidance, Awareness and Action (Mr. Vogt's 4 As) but also expands to touch on current issues including identity theft and international travel and finally, 4) the book is concise, clear and easy to read in 165 pages. It makes a great gift for the college-bound set, for the daughter moving away from home for the first time and, really, for anyone who needs to increase their awareness of their circumstances in these times.
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Common sense prevention with self-defense technique
A terrific book that combines common sense prevention practices along with self-defense techniques that women can easily learn and practice. All women will be benefit from reading this book and is should be read by every teenage girl and offered during college freshmen orientation.