Book: Meditations on Violence by Rory Miller

Experienced martial artist and veteran correction officer Sgt. Rory Miller distills what he has learned from jailhouse brawls, tactical operations and ambushes to explore the differences between martial arts and the subject martial arts were designed to deal with: Violence.

Sgt. Miller introduces the myths, metaphors and expectations that most martial artists have about what they will ultimately learn in their dojo. This is then compared with the complexity of the reality of violence. Complexity is one of the recurring themes throughout this work.

Section Two examines how to think critically about violence, how to evaluate sources of knowledge and clearly explains the concepts of strategy and tactics.

Sections Three and Four focus on the dynamics of violence itself and the predators who perpetuate it. Drawing on hundreds of encounters and thousands of hours spent with criminals Sgt. Miller explains the types of violence; how, where, when and why it develops; the effects of adrenaline; how criminals think, and even the effects of drugs and altered states of consciousness in a fight.

Section Five centers on training for violence, and adapting your present training methods to that reality. It discusses the pros and cons of modern and ancient martial arts training and gives a unique insight into early Japanese kata as a military training method.

Section Six is all about how to make self-defense work. Miller examines how to look at defense in a broader context, and how to overcome some of your own subconscious resistance to meeting violence with violence.

The last section deals with the aftermath—the cost of surviving sudden violence or violent environments, how it can change you for good or bad. It gives advice for supervisors and even for instructors on how to help a student/survivor. You’ll even learn a bit about enlightenment.

AUTHOR(S)

Rory Miller has served for seventeen years in corrections as an officer and sergeant working maximum security, booking and mental health; leading a tactical team; and teaching subjects ranging from Defensive Tactics and Use of Force to First Aid and Crisis Communications with the Mentally Ill.

REVIEWS

Kris Wilder, Martial arts teacher, author of The Way of Sanchin Kata

Sgt. Rory Miller will wipe away any fantasy you have about fighting.

Sgt. Alan D. Arsenault, 24-year veteran Vancouver P.D., martial artist, author

This book is a wake-up call to all those practicing and teaching martial arts…

Lawrence A. Kane, martial artist, Pac-10 stadium security supervisor, author of Surviving Armed Assaults

Miller's insights could very well save your life one day.

Detective Sergeant Antonio B. Urena, 7th Dan, SWAT team squad leader and police sniper

Not only do I highly recommend this book, but it will be required reading for my students.

M. Guthrie, Federal Air Marshall

…hands down, the best book on Self-Defense I have ever read. Bar none!

Robert Carver, Pres. U.S. Martial Arts Federation, former U.S. Marine

I highly recommend this book for anyone who may have to confront the reality of violence, especially martial artists who are often in the most need of a reality check.