Self Defense: The Womanly Art of Self-Care, Intuition and Choice

Debbie Leung is among the earliest teachers of women's self-defense in our generation. She was a founder of FIST (Feminists in Self-Defense Training) in 1979, and trained in martial arts for decades. What makes this book the best, even 15 years after it's publication, is it's recognition of the real risks facing women, along with the simple and effective choices we have. Chapters on prevention, intuition, awareness and self-care are beautifully and clearly written. The section on physical skills is likewise clear and well-illustrated. These are techniques adaptable for all women! Unlike most other self-defense books written for women, the models look like people we may know (and identify with), rather than youthful long-limbed athletes. The photos' quality is exceptionally clear. This book, unlike most others, concludes with a chapter on caring for yourself (and for others) after an assault; this is critical since one's experience of post-traumatic stress disorder more often hinges on one's treatment by others after an assault than on what happened during the assault. I've been teaching self-defense for over a decade, and always recommend this book above all others. I've re-read it several times, and constantly find new insights after each reading. It's as fresh today as it was 15 years ago, and should be read by anyone concerned with women's safety.

This book is still the best coverage of women's self-defense that I have seen. Many self-defense books perpetrate such myths as that most assaults are by strangers and talk about only the poke-em-in-the-eye level of defense. This book gives good context, realistic information, and practical ways to practice. While nothing can replace in-person training for learning the physical skills, this book provides excellent photos that are a good start. I teach self-defense to women, and recommend this book highly to my students. If you buy only one self-defense book, it should be this one.