Words of Power: A Guide for Ordinary People to Calm and De-Escalate Aggressive Individuals by Ellis Amdur
- Thread starter Brian King
- Start date
Steve
Mostly Harmless
Lot of reviews mention martial arts. Do you think this would be helpful for non-martial artists?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #3
Hey Steve,
This book was written for the average person and does not cover self defense more than basic fence type of postures in order to evade and escape. Martial artist would benefit from reading just as the non-martial artist would. For law enforcement, HR, medical staff, etc He has written books retaining to those professions but this one is a bit more basic and geared to the common person. It covers how to better deal with the angry, the enraged, the manipulative, etc so that it does not come to violence. De-escalation, recognizing the different type of encounters, examples of encounters, breathing, demeanor etc. Highly recommend his books.
Regards
Brian King
This book was written for the average person and does not cover self defense more than basic fence type of postures in order to evade and escape. Martial artist would benefit from reading just as the non-martial artist would. For law enforcement, HR, medical staff, etc He has written books retaining to those professions but this one is a bit more basic and geared to the common person. It covers how to better deal with the angry, the enraged, the manipulative, etc so that it does not come to violence. De-escalation, recognizing the different type of encounters, examples of encounters, breathing, demeanor etc. Highly recommend his books.
Regards
Brian King
People who talk about
- "de-escalation" don't want to talk about "protect your love one".
- "for life" don't want to talk about "young girl gets rapped".
One trains MA so he can protect his love one and family members if needed. How will you try to de-escalation when someone attacks your wife?
It's wrong that if you
- don't have a good reason to fight but you fight (such as to protect your personal honor).
- do have a good reason to fight but you don't fight (such as to protect your love one).
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That's not true.
Neither is that.
It's cute that life is so black & white for you. People train MA for a variety of reasons. You deescalate to avoid the attack. I should have thought that was pretty much obvious.
Steve
Mostly Harmless
Thanks. I’ve been teaching folks this kind of thing (sort of) for a couple decades now and am always looking for more information.
Steve
Mostly Harmless
Cute? That’s kind of rude.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #8
Well KFW-
My wife is a better shot than I and is a whirling dervish with a blade or two in her hands. My de-escalation might be pulling her off of anyone stupid enough to lay hands on her. She as been well trained. That said, this book will be good info for her to read as it was for me, and I dare say for you as well. Since you haven't read this book KFW and are hence commenting from ignorance, and my brief description above thread didn't make sense to you I will try once more. The de-escalation that this book deals with is the type of action prior to 'everybody kungfu fight'n.'
KFW I would think that you would agree that everyone should gather information on learning to recognize patterns of anger vs rage vs manipulation and learn how to diffuse the situation prior to it becoming violence. Learning how to not become a victim or a participant in violence in the first place makes for more peaceful nights sleeping. Not everyone is a 70 year kungfu master and not every kungfu master knows how to teach the difference between anger (hot or cool) or rage. Now, anyone who is interested in all aspects of violence not just the end where it is physically ended can have a conversation with a crises intervention expert and pick their brain by reading this book.
While in the army I handled explosives...lots of them. It was good to have education on how to handle explosive situations, safely. For years working the door- I was, and the clubs owners were, and most of the participants were, most grateful that I was able to deal with violence prior to becoming full out bloody violence. Situations involving angry co-workers, angry people encountered in the street, angry family members can be difficult to handle. How many of your coworkers can you "sweep the leg"? Throat chopping your young nephew last Christmas go over well with the rest of your family?
KFW- you quote when it is wrong to fight or not fight- how about getting involved in violence when you might have been able to use your training and presence to keep the violence from happening in the first place?
Some people, when they walk into a room or situation calm things just with their presence. Some excite and arouse violence just by being there, some prevent it. Both can be trained and both can be understood.
For people KFW that already know all, don't buy this book, don't read it. With a full mind It would be a waste of time and resources. For those who want to find better and more efficient methods, those who seek deeper understanding, for those that teach others, for those that have loved ones who might benefit from deeper understanding, for those that have been in violent encounters and want to better understand why, for those that want to avoid the second guessing and to be able to explain and understand what and why situations progress as they do...I highly recommend this book and especially this author.
Regards
Brian King
lklawson
Grandmaster
The easiest, most powerful, "words" of deescalation?
"I'm sorry." It costs you nothing and you don't even have to really mean it. It just plain works and I've used it before.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
"I'm sorry." It costs you nothing and you don't even have to really mean it. It just plain works and I've used it before.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
