Rory Miller: "Facing Violence: Preparing For The Unexpected"

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Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected [Paperback]
Rory Miller
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Publication Date: May 16, 2011
Seven Steps to Legal, Emotional and Physical Preparation

This book stands alone as an introduction to the context of self-defense. There are seven elements that must be addressed to bring self-defense training to something approaching ‘complete.’ Any training that dismisses any of these areas leaves you vulnerable.

1. Legal and ethical implications. A student learning self-defense must learn force law. Otherwise it is possible to train to go to prison. Side by side with the legal rules, every student must explore his or her own ethical limitations. Most do not really know where this ethical line lies within them.

2. Violence dynamics. Self-defense must teach how attacks happen. Students must be able to recognize an attack before it happens and know what kind they are facing.

3. Avoidance. Students need to learn and practice not fighting. Learning includes escape and evasion, verbal de-escalation, and also pure-not-be there avoidance.

4. Counter-ambush. If the student didn’t see the precursors or couldn’t successfully avoid the encounter he or she will need a handful of actions trained to reflex level for a sudden violent attack.

5. Breaking the freeze. Freezing is almost universal in a sudden attack. Students must learn to recognize a freeze and break out of one.

6. The fight itself. Most martial arts and self-defense instructors concentrate their time right here. What is taught just needs to be in line with how violence happens in the world.

7. The aftermath. There are potential legal, psychological, and medical effects of engaging in violence no matter how justified. Advanced preparation is critical.

Any teacher or student of self-defense, anyone interested in self-defense, and any person who desires a deeper understanding of violence needs to read this book.
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This is the book I was looking to order when Amazon so kindly informed me about Mas Ayoobs' new book. So, equal time here.

My wife, who is a slow reader in spite of her PhD :D, finished Rory Miller's earlier book Meditations On Violence (http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-V...al-Training/dp/1594391181/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b) a few days ago, and gave it her highest possible praise - "That's another book I don't have to write." Miller is a CO, a corrections officer, and my wife got her start in the field of criminology decades ago as a juvie jailer. So she felt an immediate kinship with the author based on shared experiences on both sides of the cell bars.

I can offer a similar level of appreciation for Miller's writing prowess as well as the advice he offers, even though I don't share that background. Meditations on Violence is a must-read IMO, and I have high expectations for Facing Violence as well.

More when it gets here and I have a chance to read it...
 
I read Meditations shortly before Facing Violence was released. I immediately realized I was going to have get the follow-up. Both are excellent. I've already gone back and reread Meditations and am working on my 2nd reading of Facing Violence.
 
Criminal attack and defense are not isolated but occur in a context with consequences expected and unexpected. Sounds like a couple of good reads coming up.
 
Rory Miller
Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected
Wolfeboro, NH: YMAA Publication Center, 2011
http://www.amazon.com/Facing-Violence-Unexpected-Rory-Miller/dp/1594392137

Well, here we are more than a month later, and it's been an unplanned comedy around here as my wife the criminologist and I have both tried to read the same book at the same time. She reads a few pages and leaves it here, I pick it up and carry it over there to read a bit, then get called away for something or other and as soon as she sees it, she snatches it back and carries it somewhere else. And over and over again. In this household our copy might not yet be well read, but it is certainly well travelled.

If I'd been smart, I would have just ordered two copies to begin with, so I could have had my own... but we both know she would have soon wound up with both of them :D. That's life when you're married to an inveterate book thief. But I can honestly say, she does it without malice.

There's really not a lot more I need to say about this book than has already been said here. There is of course a lot I could say, but it basically just isn't necessary.

Buy this book. Read it. Study it. Buy a copy for anyone you care about who is interested in defending themselves effectively, and for any young man in his teens you care about.

That's enough to say about the book. It really is that good. This book is not yet widely recognized as a classic in the field, like Jeff Cooper's Principles of Personal Defense, but I firmly believe it is destined to be.

This is a curve you can get ahead of, and for less than $20. Seldom in this life will you get a deal like that.
 
I'm surprised this topic has so few responses. There's some really good information there, especially in the original post. It's interesting how few of those 7 points actually involve the firearm. It really goes to show that the toolset is the least significant factor in self defense. And I'm glad Legal was number 1. It seems that is the area that most (not necessarily THR readers) could use some education. There are a lot of dangerous rumors from armchair lawyers out there, even some who teach CPL classes. Never rely on what some guy told you is legal, even if he's an "instructor". Read the laws, read some cases, find out for yourself or ask a legal professional if you can. You might end up saving your life in a shooting, only to have the rest of your life be a living hell.

Obviously the other 6 are extremely important as well. I believe it was Col. Cooper who said "owing a gun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician". Those 7 point are like good guitar lessons. Mastering them will truly make you ready to defend yourself.
 
Lee made reference to this book a few weeks ago so I bought it for the Kindle. I am 50% through it - awesome book and an easy read. Thanks Lee.
 
My GF is an acquaintance of his (recently he provided a lot of personal experience and expertise to help her with her masters thesis).

I've read meditations, but yet to read facing violence.

I have however read the unfinished version of a book about police use of force guidelines. It's a very good look at the various tactics police use and why they "behave" the way they do (which usually looks like abuse of power to the uninformed public). Plenty of interesting and potentially useful info in there. I believe the official title will be some thing like "Force Decisions." Due to be out soon, keep an eye out.
 
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