CompleteMartialArts.com - Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence
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List Price: $18.95
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Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796
EAN: 9781594391187
Format: Illustrated
ISBN: 1594391181
Label: YMAA Publication Center
Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 180
Publication Date: 2008-08-25
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Studio: YMAA Publication Center
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Editorial Reviews:
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Veteran correction officer Sergeant Rory Miller distills what he has learned from jail house brawls, tactical operations and ambushes to explore the differences between martial arts and the subject martial arts were designed to deal with: Violence. Miller explores the complexity of violence, critical thinking, and the mind of the predator. He offers martial arts training guidance and resources, discusses how to overcome personal fears, and how to deal with the aftermath of violent encounters.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Anti-Victim book
Comment: Have you ever known anyone who has a blackbelt in an art, only to later get beat up? Have you noticed how the laws are written by people who understand very little about who or what will be affected by their biases? How about the times you find yourself asking about the apparent lack of sanity whenever you watch a news program about just another killing.
This book clearly defines what it is to walk the path of the scoundrel. Not only that, but it also arms you with the tools you'll need to "hopefully" survive an attack from one of these types of people.
All that aside, here's how this book affects myself. I am the captain and president of a University fight club. To remain captain, I have to answer all challenges for my spot by weeks end and in front of witnesses. The reason that I have retained this title for so long is that I bring a level of hate into the ring with me that others simply cannot aspire to. What brought my level up so high was being mugged 9 times in my life and all within the span of 2yrs (BE CAREFUL IN DC). As I adjusted to it all, I noticed a mental change within me and, for a while, I was left confused and out of control of myself but I finally have the answers to what was going on now and I honestly believe that no psych could have given me an explanation that spans every part of our society from the dregs up.
This book is refreshing in so many aspects. It is simply amazing now how many people I recognize as not having a clue about anything beyond their own protective little bubbles of existence.
Sgt. Miller even goes so far as to break down the psychological aspects behind the most ruthless minds that make up the bottom level of society. In another section of the book, the reader is encouraged to assess exits whenever they enter a room and mentally prepare themselves for escape; other mental strategies include preparing for an attack in said space which includes using cover and the environment for your resource in available weapons. Also, it is encouraged to go to a public place and pick out the weakest people in the crowd, what makes them so, what could be taken from them as well as how it could be done; the idea is to recognize what creates a visually weak victim and keep that physical behavior from being your own. Conversely, it is stated that there is always someone in the crowd looking at us to find the weakest victim and with that in mind Miller encourages us to use our intuition and not your brains to pick out those people.
Overall, this book is an amazing resource for what was, until now, an unexplainable subject. Every law maker should read this book before attempting to create the rules by which society is governed. The best quote in this book is, "It is a mistake in self-defense and it is possibly a greater mistake when people try to write law or policy to deal with crime."
Reading the book was tough in some areas due to the author's lack of an editor to smooth out some sentences, but that wasnt a deal breaker and I am pleased to say that I endured. Another thing I noticed while reading this book was that it felt as if I were reading a diary. In fact, it wouldnt surprise me if this book were the author's work journal and later he decided to seek a publisher.. In any area of combat or simple mental preparation, this book is a must.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Parents should read
Comment: What can I add to the accolades that appear in the front of Sgt. Rory Miller's book? When a federal air marshall writes, "This is the finest self-defense book it has ever been my pleasure to read," that should be enough. There are several more.
My addition to the applause for Miller's book is this. Parents of teenagers should read the book. There are practical tips about avoiding violence that parents should know. When they learn Miller's principles, parents should assist their children to integrate them into their lives. These principles may actually save their teenager's life.
The only "down side" to Miller's book is that he has thoroughly debunked Hollywood's portrayal of self-defense and the marital arts. It is clear that the "real thing" is not what is pictured on celluloid.
This is an excellent book that should be read by people with varied levels of interest, especially for parents who wish the best for their children.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Light on Our Dark Corners
Comment: This book and its writer deserve kudos for talking about exactly the subject most martial arts teachers and students most strenuously avoid, namely the gap between real violence and training hall sparring. The sections are well organized and draw upon the author's corrections experience to methodically demythologize the skills and competence that so many in the martial arts community either take for granted or hold sacrosanct.
Section 6 is an especially illuminating look at the psychology of the martial arts practitioner and how it pertains to application and success in the real world. Exhorting the reader to give him or herself permission to act, to be rude, strong and do whatever it takes to survive, the author performs a real service for those martial artists who have never thought of what they do in terms of ultimate personal expression. More, by urging the reader to explore boundaries and "be amazing" and thereby defining what is missing from much martial arts training, he does much to show why the training is so crucially important to so many people, regardless of whether they ever face a violent assailant or not.
A challenging, thought-provoking read for anyone interested in personal safety or personal development.
Customer Rating:
Summary: In Your Face
Comment: For the majority of fighting arts practitioners whose experience is limited to the dojo or tournament floor Roy Miller's book may strike an offensive tone. Miller, however, is not attempting to validate which style is the most street effective; rather he details the effects of predatory violence on unsuspecting persons, particularly those in the martial arts world.
As a veteran corrections officer, Miller writes from personal experience and explains why unrealistic belief systems, overemphasis on tournament and MMA, tradition before effective technique and naive mindsets sets can add up to disaster for those who have never experienced violence firsthand. His assessments are frank, but honest. His style of writing is easy to follow and the knowledge he imparts is real, not theory.
If you're interested in a quick and easy guide to self defense this book isn't for you. However, if you're looking for a realistic appraisal of what a fighting arts practitioner needs to prepare for in real world situations, then buy Meditations on Violence.
Michael Rosenbaum
Author: Kata and the Transmission of Knowledge in Traditional Martial Arts.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Reality
Comment: This is an excellent treatise on the reality of violence in this world. He acknowledges that violence exists in this world and how it must be either used or acted against. Miller doesn't pull any punches here (pun intended) and allows the reader to understand, how to react and how to protect yourself against the predators among us.
As a retired law enforcement officer and military man I have experienced some of the examples noted so I can attest to the author's writings. This book should be read by all who are in law enforcement personnel, both newbies as well as the more experienced personnel. Great read.
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