Six Essential Books About Self Defense

We at Kindred Protective Arts think and talk a lot about the topic of self defense.

Sure, we're a martial arts school, that's what we do, right?

Well... everything in the martial arts isn't always about self defense.

We have performance martial arts, we have historical preservation, we have fitness and athleticism, we have sports. The things we do, even in self-defense focused martial arts, aren't always about "the fight".

At Kindred Protective Arts, we're all about knowing when and where the "fight" is, and where it isn't (the second of our 12 Principles of Presas Arnis is "Find the Fight"). We advise our students to learn and understand the reality of self defense, the law of self defense, and to have no illusions about using force to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Here are six essential books on the topic of self-defense. There are plenty more that are very helpful, but we've found these books are the ones we come back to time and again.

There's a theme here: there's a LOT of myths and misunderstandings about the nature of violence, its uses, scaling it, and the legal, ethical, and moral considerations we should be thinking about before we engage. Most of our our picks examine these myths and try to set us straight on the facts.

Note: For links leading to Amazon, we get a small earning from your purchase. It costs you nothing extra, but we certainly appreciate the support if you buy using one of our links.

Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training and Real World Violence - Rory Miller

Reading what might be our 4th hard copy of this book; we keep giving it away to friends and family!

"Meditations on Violence" is the kind of book you have to read and re-read several times, because what sticks with you changes upon each reading. Miller discusses the reality of violence, walks you through how to evaluate and think about the topic, and challenges you to consider your own beliefs and action plan should violence come to you. We believe this might be one of the best books on the topic, especially for those of us in the martial arts world.

Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-Making Under Threat of Violence - Rory Miller

In self-defense situations, legally, morally, and ethically, you have to consider the appropriate amount of force to use, and Miller walks you through your options in "Scaling Force". Reading this book supports the idea of learning less-than-lethal methods of dealing with violence.

The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen - Andrew Branca

This book is primarily written for gun owners, but the law applies to any use of weaponry in self defense (including improvised weapons). Attorney Andrew Branca talks about the reality of the legal process when the worst happens and a person has to defend themselves (and guess what - the law ISN'T necessarily on your side!).

The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence - Gavin de Becker

"The Gift of Fear" is popular, for good reason. De Becker examines the myths and truths of violence, helping the reader realistically assess the risks and recognize the signs of dangerous situations.

The Little Black Book Violence: What Every Young Man Needs to Know About Fighting -  Kris Wilder & Lawrence A. Kane

This book is targeted at young men, but is valuable for everyone of all ages. Wilder & Kane dispel the romanticism of fighting and violence, anchoring it into the actual real-world consequences we face when we fight.

Who, What, Where, When, How and Why - Winning and-or Surviving The Argument through the Ambush - W. Hock Hochheim

We here at KPA are big fans of almost everything Hock writes. That being said, this book collects a lot of great information about what to ask yourself about how violence may happen, and helps you work through your personal strategy to survive.

There's lots of other great books we recommend, but these are our top six. Did we miss one that should have been included on our list? Let us know in the comments!