Rating: 
Summary: really now...
Review: No qualms about it, Haenel's open and honest approach dispels the myths of invincible martial arts. The type of self-defense practiced in a controlled environment isn't always fool-proof. Too many assumptions can be dangerous when reality reveals itself suddenly on the streets. ouch :-(. Haenel's simplicity is logical. True self-defense in order to be effective must be a complete system. Not only the physical or the mental preparation of fight, there needs to be a foundation of "building blocks" to be able to answer the what-if scenarios. Something you can come back to and build on. This system is what will allow a physically weaker individual the ability to defeat her attacker. The basic principles presented is for each to discover but most importantly, what I feel the book brings out the best is the truth in what one can expect to gain from martial arts training. If you want to be really good understand the reality of fight and be prepared to invest some time and a lot of hard work. Seriously, a lot of hard work. It makes sense. The greatest impediment in achieving skill is likely going to be yourself. Motivation, excuses and apathy are hard enough to get by. Definitely an intriguing read...
Rating:
Summary: Different and good!
Review: Ralph Haenels book is fortunately not based on the description of "ultimative" techniques. He makes very clear, that most of the needes skills comes from inside of us.
This book gives us a very good overview about self-defense and our biggest enemy.
From the first to the last page it becomes clear, that the author is knowing what he is writing of.
Rating: 
Summary: Changing lives, one punch at a time.
Review: Sifu Ralph Haenel's text is a great work book for students of all martial arts; from the novice to the master practitioner.
The simplistic theory, and logical approach to self defense is revealed in this book in a clear and concise presentation. The strengths of this book include the many detailed photos of Wing Tsun self defense techniques while also providing secret knowledge on the philosophy of balanced living that Wing Tsun Kung Fu can provide to every individual.
Rating:
Summary: Very convincing and inspiring
Review: The book is laid out wonderfully - the use of pictures, drawings and quotes is great. The quotes are very enticing to someone who is just flitting through the book and are very motivational, while the pictures as visual aids break up the text. I also like the authors writing style, as if he is speaking directly to the individual and on a personal level. The content is good without being too heavy and definitely isn't boring.I think that I would, however make it a little more obvious that the author is talking about Wing Tsun Kung Fu. Some people might be more apt to stop and take a look at it if they also see that the self defense system the author is referring to is Wing Tsun Kung Fu. As a woman - I really appreciated Victoria Haenel's chapter on the topic "Women and Self-Defense'.
The book is very convincing and inspiring - especially when the author shares the "Two Nights - Two Lives" story, just to pick one. The book is overall real, technical yet poetic and makes you think. Oh yeah - the pages available for notes is a great idea.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone starting a self-defense program
Review: The book title which states "Realistic Self-Defence" is excellent as it really does explain how a normal, average person - male or female can learn to defend themselves in situations that can actually happen - not the stuff movies are made of.
The book is a must for anyone who is interested in starting a Self-Defense/Martial Arts program as it explains the difference between the two and will help you decide what you expect to gain from the program as well as the selection process in choosing a good, reputable instructor. The photo series provides positive illustrations on technique and reinforces the importance of proper training. You cannot pick up this book and learn the art by reading about it, you must chose the right instructor to train you, but it also stresses the point that anyone can learn - you don't have to be in top physical shape or even a certain age.
The section on women learning the art is also very good. It shows that women have to overcome the prejudice of being the "weaker sex" even when they participate in the classes and when properly trained have an even stronger position. This book illustrates that with proper training anyone can become more confident and with that confidence comes peace of mind and a power that will help you in all aspects of life.
Rating:
Summary: As real as it gets!
Review: This book explains the difference between Martial Arts and Self Defense with a simple yet effective tone. Anybody, at any age or physical condition can relate to the topics provided in this book. The fact that you feel as if someone is talking to you, when you read the book, encourages you to think about the concepts presented in the book, and furthermore you feel motivated to apply what have you learnt. My favorite parts in the book are "Different Concepts of Protection" and "Personal Motivation". I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested to learn more about Wing Tsun forms and fighting principals as well as the true concept behind protecting oneself.
Rating:
Summary: Just begun to think about Self-Defense?
Review: This book is an excellent overview of the fundamental theories behind Wing Tsun Kung Fu, and a good starter book for anyone exploring the world of Self-Defense for the first time. With a seriously knowledgeable yet light-hearted touch, author Ralph Haenel walks the reader through the realities of street violence and what we can do to prevent it. Sparking the readers' motivation and self-confidence is an added bonus!
I would recommend this book to anyone looking to begin training the martial arts, thinking about self-defense, or just looking for new techniques of self-motivation.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Marial arts books
Review: This book is definitely very different than your standard, typical martial arts book. It clearly defines the very different concepts of 'self-defense' and 'martial arts' in a way which hasn't been done before. Anyone who has any such interest in these 2 topics should have a read of this book to help them better understand the modern world of martial arts and self-defense. It is also easy to read for those who have no martial arts experience as there are plenty of written experiences and not a lot of 'diagram after diagram'. One of my favorite parts are the stories of the experts and black belt holders alike of different styles and how they share their views of realistic self-defense and the martial arts that they have trained. A must read!!
Rating:
Summary: A Welcome Dose of Reality!
Review: This book, while ostensibly about self defense, also touches on a wide variety of subjects including personal motivation, martial arts training, the principles and origins of the Wing Tsun (WT) Kung Fu system, personal anecdotes, and autobiographical information about the author. There is also a section with photographs showing how the WT system would apply to a variety of self-defense situations. This book is no substitute for personal instruction (and the author does not claim otherwise) but it can serve as a useful starting point to anyone with an interest in the subject, or to WT students for use as a reference material. Where I think the book has particular value is in its illumination of the serious gap that exists between what most conventional martial arts claim to offer with respect to self defense, and the likely physical threats a typical person may encounter. To summarize the author's main premise, relatively few of us engage in bare-knuckle brawls as adults, and few of us will regularly have to face a violent attack by a criminal in our lives. As a result, our understanding of the dangers we may face by an assailant and the ways to cope with this are shaped by what we hear about or see in popular entertainment, and misconceptions abound. This situation often only improves slightly for those of who start martial arts training, as many of the arts now devote considerable attention to fitness, sport competitions, or aesthetic concerns, and not on preparing students for violent confrontations with people intending to cause them serious physical harm. While dedicated athletes who spend years training in combative arts are certainly better prepared for such a violent encounter, most of us will not fit into this category. The book then presents a series of requirements for a realistic self defense system: legality, functionality, aggression, time, usability etc. As Mr. Haenel is a WT instructor, it is no surprise he endorses the WT system as being the best option for the average person. It is certain that this contention will be hotly debated by many, and is unlikely to convince many devotees of other martial arts. Nevertheless, the author's detailed discussion of what a real physical altercation involves and the practical problems that have to be surmounted to prevail in such a scenario is very compelling reading. "For the First Time Understand Realistic Self Defense" does live up to its title.
Rating:
Summary: Personal protection and self assurance....
Review: This is a book with real world answers for people living in the new millenium. Personal security and realistic self protection are themes that touch all of us everyday. Whether you are a student riding public transit to and from school or a professional that walks out to the car after a long day at work into a lone parking lot.... this book is written for you. All of us experience situations everyday where we might find ourselves as potential victims of some type of violence or act of aggression. Human nature would have us think that it only happens to other people. That is simply not true. All of us deserve to feel safe. Just watching the news is evidence that bad things happen all around us all the time. Take back some control over your life and empower yourself with a realistic understanding of self protection. Take the first step to a safer life for you and your loved ones. This book is a must read!
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