Savage Science Of Streetfighting: Applying The Lessons Of Championship Boxing To Serious Street Survival

I hesitated to buy this book because I thought it would rehash its predecessor. Instead, the author expands on the themes of the first book. He concisely lays out strategies of top fighters, and transmutes their applications to self-defense. Moreover, the author clarifies some of his statements about martial arts from the first book -- he wants people to append boxing to what they know, not necessarily throw it out and start over. It's a fair point; MMA fighters have hired famed boxing coach Freddie Roach and the like to improve their punching, defensive and footwork techniques. "Beaumont" makes the fair point that fights start standing. He offers advanced techniques, stances suited to different body types and fighting styles, and some nasty special punches. Just as evenly, he acknowledges the limitations. For instance, the showy bolo punch and what it takes to set up. The easier-to-execute corkscrew also appears, along with a modified short ridge hand to the liver. The book is analytical, and focused on strategies that encompass training, an encyclopedic array of techniques from the masters, a fantastic bibliography for further reading, and deeper tactics for self-defense. The latter range from corralling multiple opponents in hallways to observing points of potential advantage wherever you go. In this book, the author also urges conflict avoidance along with cross-training. Some of the author's tough-guy talk may be swagger. After all, the writer's nom-de-plume resolves to an unsavory character in hard-boiled noir detective fiction. For a self-defense book from a renegade press, his writing simply is too crisp and engaging. His lessons, and lesson plans, are clear and nuanced. I'm guessing he has more education than he lets on, or may have been some kind of teacher-instructor himself. The weight training section is excellent; the regimen is similar to one astronauts use to increase bone density: Focus on squats, rows, deadlifts as opposed to isolations, except for the emphasis on hand-forearm-grip strength. My boxing history wasn't as good as I thought. Since I read "The Savage Science," I tracked down many of the books mentioned and read extensively on fighters I knew too little about -- for instance, I only knew broad outlines of Kid McCoy and Battling Nelson. The historiography is a great intro, and combines fighters from pugilism throughout the early to nearly current gloved era. The author doesn't have much to say about fighters after the 1970s, when he believes the rules changed for the worse. Some of the earlier fighters have footage of their bouts available on YouTube; I recommend using the slow-down feature for viewing anything filmed before the 1930s. The books written by boxers from different eras offer great techniques; for self-defense or MMA or to augment traditional martial arts training, it doesn't matter what rule-set or era they were written under if the techniques work. Particularly when older techniques applied to swarming a downed opponent before the 10-count rule, modified backfists from a stop to an opponent's nose or kidneys, or the hold holding-and-infighting methods superior to much of what passes for "dirty boxing" today.

I think the information in this book is top notch! It would help to first read the first book "Championship Streetfighting" first to get the most out of it. Little things like distraction and the Look Away are discussed and there are many good techniques and training methods discussed. That's the good part. Now the reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars is more to do with the author than the information. Ned Beaumont apparently has some major issues with traditional Asian martial arts and with bodybuilders. He frequently makes references to "muscle boys" not having a good punch and he also speaks frequently about the inferiority of Asian martial arts. He tries to dress it up nicely and make it sound better, but clearly he has issues with them. Well guess what? I'm both! I practice traditional Asian martial arts, Boxing, AND I am a bodybuilder! And working out with weights has had nothing but positive effects on my punching power! If you take a bodybuilder who is untrained in how to punch properly, then yes his punches will suck! But so will any other untrained person! And if you're looking to criticize any martial art, understand that it's the person AND the training methods that make all the difference. So again, good book and good content. Just ignore his weird prejudices!

this is a rare book that i found so interesting that i read it from cover to cover. Beaumont is an excellent writer and knowledgeable in this field of fisticuffs. I bought a used book and it took too long to arrived. Was water-damaged a bit which was not a problem. What was a problem is the spine's glue is hard and brittle so some pages were starting to fall out. Glue cracked open when you open the book. Bad batch of glue? Water did this? Do buy this book. It is so much fun and interesting to read. Lots of past boxing champions are mentioned and what gladiators they were. They didn't fight 10 or 15 rounds with one minute breaks like sissies do now. They fought non-stop until one dropped which could be hours later. Learn how real he-men trained and prepared for combat and how this compares to down and dirty street fighting. One should strive to win a street fight in less than a minute with no holds barred. It doesn't discuss rabbit punches, poking eyes, sticking your thumb into someone's mouth and yanking hard. You'll need other books in Amazon.com's physical combat area. I wish I had this book when I was in intermediate school. Another excellent book to supplement this is Championship Fighting by Jack Dempsey. Every child in school should read these books. So so so informative and inspiring that you will want to buy some gloves and a punching bag and start working out. Now my arms are lean and powerful, my hands and knuckles are hardening, and, best of all, my waist is shrinking and ab muscles starting to come out. Boxing exercises had now replaced my boring weight lifting regiment. I concentrate of pylometrics for sudden explosive power. In the old days of my youth there were few or no books on the subject of boxing. Now there's whole warehouse of titles about jiu jitsu, boxing, karate, hapkido, tae kwon do, and so one. Grab some titles that might interest you and start reading. You might actually develop some skills to beat up that bully from high school or that crazy teacher who yelled at you or flunked you. "Hey bray! Remember me?"

The follow up to Ned Beaumont's "Championship Streetfighting". Again one of my all time favourite books on self protection. Basically in this follow up he takes the lessons from "Championship Streetfighting" and expands on them with advanced techniques and concepts for adapting boxing into a self protection role. It includes advanced techniques of power punching, the concepts and realistic mental thinking needed for various self protection roles such as dealing with knives and dealing with multiples and the secret punches of boxing champions which are basically unusual punches Beaumont believes have some value. He also covers more advanced defensive methodology. I am sceptical about the "Secret Punches of the Champs" section as some of these techniques look a bit unbelievable. Also I think he overplays the defensive skills just a little. However he does have an excellent grasp of the realities of self protection and his section on "the street" is far better than many other books I've come across on the subject. He also has two large sections on physical training which is packed with useful information. Another book on this subject that I am very happy to recommend.

good do with a few more pictures as examples