In the interests of full disclosure, I received this book for review purposes
Title: Krav Maga, Extreme Survival
Author: Gershon Ben Keren
Publisher: Tuttle
Format: Softcover
Pages: 224
Price: $19.99
This is the third book by Gershon Ben Keren. I’ve read them all and even had him on my podcast Martial Thoughts Podcast. I’ve also listened to his interview on whistlekick Martial Arts Radio. Every time I read or hear from him, I always have to think about how and why I practice my martial arts. If you think you practice self-defense in your martial arts, this book looks at the worst case scenario, and give you ideas for options.
Content
The book has a division of content. Half the book deals with the actual statistics of violence. The how’s and the why’s, as well as the “what to look out for” type things. The other half, shows options that illustrate tactics that can be used in different extreme situations, as well as different options for different versions of those same situations. These situations range from carjackings, home invasions, and knife-wielding attackers bent on killing you, all the way to workplace or school shooting situations. Peppered throughout the book, as he’s given these different situations, he gives you ideas of ways to train your thinking. That is the most important part of this book. The ways to change your thinking process in these situations.
Pros
There is so much to like about this book. Let me start with the pictures. The pictures are all in color. They demonstrate the tactics in real world places. Instead of showing you “real-world” defense in a dojo, they show you in a diner, in a car, or in a school or office building. Obviously, they have to be staged to a certain degree. The pictures are taken in media res to show a more realistic scenario and situation. I cannot go on enough about the pictures, which traditionally in martial arts books are usually pretty hard to follow the action. Not in Ben Keren’s books.
The actual material presented is excellent and deals, realistically, with worst case scenarios that it is possible to encounter in our world today. Without being alarmist, the author also plainly states the risks, and variations that can occur in each of the situations, and applies the different tactics as appropriate.
Cons
The only problem I can think of in this book is on the readers part. If you are looking for a book of Krav Maga techniques, or how to win a tournament, then this isn’t the book for you. If you watch the news and find yourself hyperventilating from the stress and fear of all the things wrong in the world, then this isn’t the book for you. But if you want a fair and honest view of the most extreme dangers we face in the modern world of self defense, then by all means, get this book.
Conclusion
I don’t like to mention it, but school violence has a very strong place in my heart. Previously, I taught at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL for over a decade. I still have many friends there, and some… that are no longer there. I still teach high school, and everywhere I commonly go in my school, I plan what I would do, should a situation happen. Additionally, I plan out escape routes, I plan out angles of attack to and from the door. I never let anyone else know I do it, but its something I do, as a form of self-defense. I never let myself slip into the “This will never happen here” mentality. 
Krav Maga Extreme Survival does a great job of describing how to do things like that. When is it the best option to hide? Run? Fight back? These are serious things that need to be considered before any kind of serious incident occurs. As it’s happening, it is too late. The book also does all of this without fear-mongering, which is a difficult tightrope to walk. Which is why, overall, I have to give this book 5 out of 5 Ninja Stars. I think everyone, regardless of style should read it. I believe if you call yourself a martial artist, self-defense should be somewhere in your sphere of experience. You can choose what that means to you and your experiences, but please at least read this book, or another like it, in order to plant ideas in your head about those worst case scenarios that are increasing in frequency in our world today.
- Review of The Ankō Itosu Biography - September 13, 2021
- Suparinpei-The Last Kata of Goju-Ryu Karate - July 12, 2021
- Swords Are Cool…That’s All I’ve Got - March 4, 2021
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