Vintage Self Defense Books

[DT man]

I have studied several martial arts systems, Okinowan and Japanese Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Kick Boxing both before, during and after retirement from my police career. Of all the texts published that I have read or purchased, two oldies from the late 60's early 70's remain my favorites, "Super Karate Made Easy" by Moja Rone and "Combat Judo" by Claude St. Denise. They were just paperback texts, illustrated with drawings, but looking back they were full of information. Although nothing can replace quality instruction, they were a good start. No longer in print, my original copies fell apart years ago. I have since scored a copy of Combat Judo in good condtion, but Super Karate Made Easy, was published in a poorly constructed manner and two copies I had both fell apart. Several of my childhood friends also had the books and we trained togather in an informal club as there were no dojos in our area in those days. Super Karate Made Easy is now on the internet in it's entirety for free so it's good to see that. Looking back, for self defense, if nothing else was available or too expensive like nowadays, several people practicing from those books would have a good base for self defense.

[MikeNY]

I have a copy of Super Karate Made East by Moja Rone and also Claude St. Denise's books; The Power of Aikido and his The Kashi-No-Bo Technique (this might be one of the first books in English on Yawara-Jitsu) and like both. I've never seen Combat Judo, is that a good book?

You might like these two oldies but a goodies; Jiu Jitsu Complete by Kiyose Nakae and The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu. I've got Bruce Tegner's Karate, Dell 50cents Copyright 1963 a 96 page minibook that was great then, preferr his Savate book (with him in it). Mas Oyama's had the best books available and were at great prices then.

[DT man]

Yeah, Combat Judo has the basic Judo Techniques along with some self defense applications. It was very basic with drawn illustrations, but it was a good start. Actually, the best book on Judo I have read was "Judo and Self Defense" by A.J. Harrison. But St. Denise's was my first one. Super Karate Made Easy was the best Karate book I have read and frankly after years of training and money spend in various dojos and seminars, training with that book and St. Denise's or Harrison's with a group of people, would serve quite well for the average person's self defense needs.

[MikeNY]

I remember that Super Karate Made Easy was the first book I saw containing what is now known as the Hindu Pushups. I'd seen Hindu Pushups before as Greek Pushups.

[DT man]

Just goes to show how many gems were available even back then, if only we paid attention.

[THE LONE WOLF]

The Power Of Aikido by Claude St. Denise is preety good, actually. There is another version by Thomas Makayama but they are pretty much the same book. Gozo Shioda's Dynamic Aikido is of the classics on Aikido and includes a section on self-defense in the final chapter. Jack Dempsey did a book on self-defense which is also a part of my collection.

For more modern day work look into Mark MacYoung.

[MikeNY]

I still have a great paperback on Karate from the 1960's Mas Oyama's "Vital Karate" might be one of the best books available. Kazuzo Kudo wrote Judo in Action a two book series on throwing techniques and also grappling; this was abridged version of Dynamic Judo by the same author. I agree Dynamic Aikido is a fine work. If you are looking at the roots of Boxing as a martial art look at "Champ" J.C. Thmoas's books "How to be a Ass-Whipping Boxer" and "Boxing Dirty Tricks and Outlaw Killer Punches" and I'd look at Ned Beaumont's "Championship Streetfighting:Boxing as a Martial Art".

To bad once here in New York there were loads of Boxing Gym's and you could learn bare knuckle Boxing and or Boxing as self-defence. Boxing works when you are taught how to use your bare hands, the positions are slightly differnt. In a punch you hands remains with palm down, striking with the forefinger and middle finger knuckles as you strike to protect the hand and the various open hand strikes are used with boxing along with lbows and forearms.

[Grant Douglass]

G'day guys Digger here you might remember me from wayback. DT man just reminded me of a book i used to call "the SHED holy grail" It might actaully be the same book as he mentioned.

tite"My Method of Self Defence" by M.KAWAISHI 7th dan technical director of the French federation of judo.
translated ^ edited by E. J.HARRISON 4th dan.

I found this in my local martial arts store it is a hard cover , i think it is printed in the 50's /60's.
i was amazed to see back then serious self defence technicques.

In is pages you have just about everythig that'll stop you , slow you down or even kill you. eye strikes, headbuttts, bites, throat shots, knee , arm, leg , wrist & finger breaks.
kicks, throws, deception, takedowns,gun disarming, knife disarming & lot more about physical conditioning.
this little book I came across is a goldmine.
it only cost me $30.00 Australian
i you like to collect a seriously good piece of self defence history with none of its teeth pulled out or watered down then this a a brilliant find.

I think it was originally written for serious self defence teachers & police , the military. most of the stuff in it you wont see today all in one book.

As Mike Ny mentioned ;i also think that Champ Thomas 's book on illegal boxing blows & killer punches is a another all time great!
Lone wolf mentioned Marc animal M'c young& if you want to bring your libary up to speed for the current climate, in self defence & street psychology then Marc Animal M'c Young is another person who is hard to pass up, brilliant investment.
som of his best work is on street awareness & etiquate, how it really works, most of his books are great.

i like the basic ideas behind his floor fighting book, maim them & get up as soon as possible don't worry about wrestling or locks & holds. good advice if they have a weapon you haven't seen or have mates who are going to stomp you.
digger

[MikeNY]

Hi Digger recognised the name, you have been missed.

My Method of Self Defence" by M.Kawaishi and translated by E.J. Harrison is hard to get in the USA and expensive. E.J. Harrison also wrote The Manual of Judo that might also have been called "The Manual of Judo, JiuJitsu and Self Defense", I've never seen a copy but heard it has the same number of pages by the same author.

Two books for those looking for Judo/JiuJitsu as self defense are Jiu Jitsu Complete by Kiyose Nakae and The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu. As noted above The Manual of Judo by E.J. Harrison is a fine work and teaches Atemi-waza and and self defence.

[THE LONE WOLF]

Get Tough by Col. Fairborn is always regarded as a classic and I have a good book on self-defense by Judo Gene Lebell. Another modern day guy to read is Geoff Thompson out of the UK. I also have a couple of books by a fellow named Ned Beamount on boxing and wrestling for self-defense.

[Grant Douglass]

g'day your right Geoff does some great books along with good DVD's. i like his concept of " THE FENCE".
Another great ground fighting book for off the ground is Marc animal M'c Young!

"floor fighting "I think it is called.

it has nothing to do with locks or holds but everything to do with biting, maiming & creating pure havoc on the deck , so you can get free & get out of there. another way to stop yourself getting a kicking is get up fast or use the person on the ground as a shield also if you maim them seriously thers have to then rthink " do i want to really get involved"
a similiar principle used by Geoff Thompson.
digger