Fighter's Fact Book, av Loren W. Christensen

oren W. Christensen is co-author to the splendid and highly acclaimed book "On Combat", together with Dave Grossman (read about this book by clicking here). He has written a long line of books on other topics related to training, self-defense and martial arts as well - on his own or together with others. One such example is "Timing in the Fighting Arts" (together with Wim Demeere). Christensen is a highly respected and experienced author and martial artist - not by any means a "table-top warrior". Being a former, experienced police officer and martial arts teacher he has been involved in the combative arts since 1965.

This book is unfortunately one of the many I still haven't had the time to read through properly yet. There's a pile of those awaiting I'm afraid.. However, the book get's great reviews from many students and teachers from all over the martial arts world.

The main objective of this book is how you can develop yourself as a self-defense practitioner and martial arts fighter. The tools that are described here are drills and exercises you can do on your own. To a lesser extent are they geared towards the more traditional martial arts like judo, karate or taekwondo. Most of the drills here are performed standing up, so it is neither a book on the grappling, floor-based arts.

Some of the reviews on this books states that a very experienced fighter or instructor knows most of this stuff already. This may or may not be true. Anyhow it should be great to have it "all" in one place. The coaches and trainers will also be able to pick up lots of methods that should be of interest and great use. The book is 300 pages thick, and contains valuable information on psyche/fear, development of patterns, techniques, speed, strenght, self-defense, learning, solo-training, sparring, preperations to grades and tests, as well as much morer. Lots to read and know? Oh, yes.

Christensen has a good tone of writing, and often he uses humor to some extend also. His books are easy to read and very easy to understand - no mumbo-jumbo here! I wish that all martial arts litterature would be as easy to grasp as this... Read the book, and do get back to me if you have any views - positive or negative!

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