Books by Other Authors

On this page you'll find details of books recommended by Iain Abernethy. All of the books displayed can be ordered directly from IainAbernethy.com.

"Dead or Alive" by Geoff Thompson

This is not simply a step-by-step guide to winning fights. It is also an in-depth study of the criminal mind at work. Murderers, rapists and muggers reveal why they targeted certain people for attack, and which crimes are opportunistic and which are premeditated. Geoff Thompson uses these interviews, and his own unparalleled knowledge of violent encounters, to teach precautionary measures that everyone can take to make themselves less vulnerable and explains what victims should do when confronted by an attacker. The choice is yours: learn from this proven master of self-defence and increase your odds of remaining alive, or risk being unprepared when a violent predator gets you in his sights.

Why this book is recommended: "The definitive book on self-protection and an absolute must-read for all martial artists. This book doesn't only cover the physical techniques needed, but also the psychology and anatomy of violence and violent crime"

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Cost: £18.99 including UK Postage and Packing
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"The Pavement Arena" by Geoff Thompson 

This illustrated manual takes the martial artist step by step through everything necessary to convert their skills for use in the "street". The Pavement Arena is Geoff Thompson talking reality training at his absolute best. Not just about the physical changes needed to make dojo techniques stand up to a real affray, but also the mind-set and emotional control (and how to develop it) needed to enter the most unforgiving arena, The Pavement Arena.

Subjects covered include the practical use of Kata, Stances, Blocks, Set Sparring, Punches, Kicks, Free Sparring, Competition Fighting and the development of Fear Control, Action Triggers, Psyche-outs and The Fence.

Why this book is recommended: "This excellent book covers all aspects of karate (kata, bunkai, free sparring, set sparring, etc) and gives the reader the information needed to ensure that their karate training is both realistic and pragmatic"

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Cost: £10.99 including UK Postage and Packing
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"Animal Day" by Geoff Thompson

In "Animal Day", probably his most controversial book yet, Geoff explodes the myths about what does and does not work on the unforgiving streets of a violent world, and then educates the reader in all aspects of pressure testing the martial arts to make sure that technique and character are not lacking when a situation becomes live.

Having worked for nine years as a nightclub doorman, acted as a personal trainer to private police and bodyguards, and talked internationally on television about the art of self-protection, Geoff is pivotally placed to advise on reality training.

Why this book is recommended: "To be a competent martial artist, you have to pressure test your techniques in a live environment. This great book tells you how to test and develop REAL combative skill. It will also give you many great ideas for your Kata-based Sparring"

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Cost: £10.99 including UK Postage and Packing

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"Five Years - One Kata" by Bill Burgar

When karate was a secret art, practiced in the back yards of Okinawa by a few dedicated masters and their disciples, it was usual to train in a single kata for many years. Through the deep study of a kata, the master karateka would possess a complete self-defence system, he would be well versed in the underlying principles of karate and he would have a memory aid which would map out his complete training regime.

Over the last century, the practice of a single kata has disappeared from karate practice. The deep understanding of a few kata has been replaced by the superficial understanding of many. This book shows you in great detail how to recover that deep understanding and how to put kata back at the heart of karate. This remarkable book also gives the reader a unique insight into the author's own five year study of Gojushiho; compete with applications (in detail) for every single movement.

Why this book is recommended: "A unique, refreshing and in-depth look at kata training. This thought-provoking book is a must-read for all karateka who want to develop a deep understanding of kata and make their kata practise relevant to actual combat. The book also provides detailed information on how to construct your own training regime around a single kata"

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Cost: £27.95 including UK Postage and Packing

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"Fit to Fight" by Peter Consterdine

Fit to Fight teaches you a wide variety of physical training and fighting drills that you need to win in the street. This book will show you how to train for strength, stamina and most importantly, aggression as well as that all important mental edge. This mental edge is developed through hard training drills - Fit to Fight will teach you those drills with over 100 photographs. You need to be fit and strong to win a fight, but more importantly, you have to develop the 'will to win' - the aggression never to give up and never to lose.

Traditional martial arts training poorly covers these aspects and the fighting spirit martial arts develops can disappear when that hollow, sickening feeling of dread and emptiness envelopes one during an intense fight. To be prepared for this, those same feelings should have been duplicated during training so that familiarity with such intensity breeds confidence in combat. This book is not primarily about fitness; rather it is about winning fights. It is about developing a winning attitude and about developing an indomitable spirit.

Why this book is recommended: "All your techniques will be made instantly redundant if you do not physically and mentally condition yourself to deal with the extreme stress of actual combat. This inspirational book provides the information and motivation needed to ensure that you are truly Fit to Fight. Warning: This is not a book for arm-chair karateka!"

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Cost: £17.49 including UK Postage and Packing

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"Fighting Forms" by Matthew Miller

Kata has always been at the centre of karate. However, during much of the modern era the tenancy has been to perform kata as a solo form only. Fighting Forms presents a method for performing an entire kata (Kushanku / Kanku-Dai) with a partner, using realistic and practical applications; thus returning kata to the heart of karate.

Why this book is recommended: "I first met Matthew many years ago when we shared a lodge on a week long training camp. We spent a lot of time discussing the ins and outs of all aspects of the martial arts and have been in regular contact ever since. He is an able and thoughtful martial artist whose tenacity and enthusiasm for his art is obvious to all who meet him (and those who read this work). In this book, Matthew has shown how it is possible to make an entire kata into a two-man form. Not as a contrived, forced and ultimately pointless display, but in a way where the vast variety of combative methods contained within kata can be quickly and conveniently practised, whist maintaining a strong connection to the solo form. Not only does this book show the applications associated with every movement of Kushanku (Kanku-Dai), it also introduces an innovative training method that is applicable to all kata.

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Cost: £18.49 including UK Postage and Packing
(Overseas shipping will be calculated during ordering process)

Note: US Dollar prices are displayed in the shopping section of this website (click on "order"). Also see "terms & conditions".