Principles-Based Instruction for Self-Defense

by Rory Miller, Eyal Yanilov (Foreword)

In "Meditations on Violence," Rory Miller explored the gap between martial arts training and real-world violence. In "Principles-Based Instruction" he strikes at the gap between traditional teaching and effective teaching. In seven sections, Rory gives you a solid foundation in the information you must have before you teach, different methods to transfer that information, the ethics of instruction and even some hints on how to run a successful business-- and why you must.

"Where the hell was this book when I started teaching!? I could have used it...and will be better at my trade now that I do. Everything Rory writes is exceptional. But this one goes beyond. It took me exactly two and a half pages of reading to realize this. If you are an instructor (doesn't matter what subject), then this book IS required reading, no exceptions. I regret I didn't have this book before I started my instructional career! If you are simply a "student" of self-defense (if not...why not?) then it is even more important for you, as it will help you face realities that will guide your time allotments and mentor/instructor selection. Not many writers make me think, but Rory does. He will make you think. And most importantly, I believe he will help change how you think. That my friends is the key! Read this book. Re-read it! Think and act on what you learn. If you are an instructor, give yourself a hard look and fix the holes. A student, the remember the key word in self-defense is "self." It's your path, walk it wisely!" -- Mike Seeklander Owner, Shooting-Performance LLC, and founding member of the American Warrior Society

"If you teach, or want to teach, people how to defend themselves, you must read Principles-Based Instruction for Self-Defense. If I had to sum this book up in one word, it would be “brilliant.” Rory Miller has a rare and unique way of explaining the complex and whittling it down to an efficient, practical, and usable model. He does that here with the singular goal of making you, the reader, a better instructor when it comes to teaching self-defense. The information contained within these pages is invaluable as it covers many aspects of teaching others to defend themselves. It's not a book of techniques, nor is it a book about martial arts. It focuses on making you a better instructor when teaching people to survive among chaos and fear. Apply what you learn from this book and you won't only be a much better instructor, you just may save someone's life with what you teach." --Alain Burrese, J.D. Writer-Speaker-Mediator

Genres: Martial Arts

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2017

About the author

Sergeant Rory Miller is a corrections officer, a martial artist, and an instructor in both of those areas.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Robert P Hampton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digital Errors

While the material in this book provides a large amount of useful information, the quality of the kindle book is very below average. There are number of errors with many paragraphs misaligned and numbering on the wrong side of the page. I would have given Rory Miller anywhere from 4 to 5 stars, but the errors make parts of the book very irritating to read and probably deserve a 1 star rating. But I settled for three stars as the information is still well worth having.

[Bruno Rio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory Miller does know what he is talking about when addressing combat, self defense and martial arts. This particular book is a bible for all self defense instructors or people who have a training group. Very well thought and thorough. Deep but applicable. This book is meant to help sort out the best way to teach your vision towards combat and not teaching you to fight..

For me as total amateur not that useful but interesting to enter the teacher/trainer mind. It is a tough challenge to unleash one's innner beast in order to (re)learn how to stand and defend oneself or our loved ones. Simple is for sure the best solution but to achieve the right tools and skills...well it's a total different story... Worth the read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent material that's worthwhile for any self-defense instructor, and maybe for any instructor of any material. It forces you to evaluate the uses of the material you're presenting, how you're presenting it, and to whom.

Having trained with Miller a few times in the past, this book definitely incorporates the framework he's put into practice live.

Unfortunately, there are notable formatting errors with the Kindle edition. I can't recommend buying the book digitally until these are fixed, and at the moment it's only available digitally. And these errors appear most prominently in the latter half of the text, so they wouldn't surface in a preview.

[Jon Keeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a serious interest in protecting yourself, you should consider reading this book and everything else Rory Miller has written.

If you teach self-defense professionally, you MUST read everything written by Rory Miller if you care about doing your job the best it can be done. This is not debatable. Every competent self-defense instructor would agree with this statement.

I teach Karate and self-defense internationally and have for several decades. And I talk about Rory Miller often. When people ask me which book I suggest they read, I always say "All of them!"

You can thank me later. ;-)

[Mr S Panton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reality check

Hands down the best book I've ever read on the questions, reality checks, issues, ethical considerations that would-be instructors should face. I would make it required reading for anyone who wants to open a self -defence school. Superb.