Savage Science Of Streetfighting: Applying The Lessons Of Championship Boxing To Serious Street Survival Paperback – January 1, 2001

I hesitated to buy this book because I thought it would rehash its predecessor. Instead, the author expands on the themes of the first book. He concisely lays out strategies of top fighters, and transmutes their applications to self-defense. Moreover, the author clarifies some of his statements about martial arts from the first book -- he wants people to append boxing to what they know, not necessarily throw it out and start over. It's a fair point; MMA fighters have hired famed boxing coach Freddie Roach and the like to improve their punching, defensive and footwork techniques."Beaumont" makes the fair point that fights start standing. He offers advanced techniques, stances suited to different body types and fighting styles, and some nasty special punches. Just as evenly, he acknowledges the limitations. For instance, the showy bolo punch and what it takes to set up. The easier-to-execute corkscrew also appears, along with a modified short ridge hand to the liver. The book is analytical, and focused on strategies that encompass training, an encyclopedic array of techniques from the masters, a fantastic bibliography for further reading, and deeper tactics for self-defense. The latter range from corralling multiple opponents in hallways to observing points of potential advantage wherever you go. In this book, the author also urges conflict avoidance along with cross-training.Some of the author's tough-guy talk may be swagger. After all, the writer's nom-de-plume resolves to an unsavory character in hard-boiled noir detective fiction. For a self-defense book from a renegade press, his writing simply is too crisp and engaging. His lessons, and lesson plans, are clear and nuanced. I'm guessing he has more education than he lets on, or may have been some kind of teacher-instructor himself. The weight training section is excellent; the regimen is similar to one astronauts use to increase bone density: Focus on squats, rows, deadlifts as opposed to isolations, except for the emphasis on hand-forearm-grip strength.My boxing history wasn't as good as I thought. Since I read "The Savage Science," I tracked down many of the books mentioned and read extensively on fighters I knew too little about -- for instance, I only knew broad outlines of Kid McCoy and Battling Nelson. The historiography is a great intro, and combines fighters from pugilism throughout the early to nearly current gloved era. The author doesn't have much to say about fighters after the 1970s, when he believes the rules changed for the worse. Some of the earlier fighters have footage of their bouts available on YouTube; I recommend using the slow-down feature for viewing anything filmed before the 1930s. The books written by boxers from different eras offer great techniques; for self-defense or MMA or to augment traditional martial arts training, it doesn't matter what rule-set or era they were written under if the techniques work. Particularly when older techniques applied to swarming a downed opponent before the 10-count rule, modified backfists from a stop to an opponent's nose or kidneys, or the hold holding-and-infighting methods superior to much of what passes for "dirty boxing" today.

I think the information in this book is top notch! It would help to first read the first book "Championship Streetfighting" first to get the most out of it. Little things like distraction and the Look Away are discussed and there are many good techniques and training methods discussed.That's the good part. Now the reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars is more to do with the author than the information. Ned Beaumont apparently has some major issues with traditional Asian martial arts and with bodybuilders. He frequently makes references to "muscle boys" not having a good punch and he also speaks frequently about the inferiority of Asian martial arts. He tries to dress it up nicely and make it sound better, but clearly he has issues with them. Well guess what? I'm both! I practice traditional Asian martial arts, Boxing, AND I am a bodybuilder! And working out with weights has had nothing but positive effects on my punching power! If you take a bodybuilder who is untrained in how to punch properly, then yes his punches will suck! But so will any other untrained person! And if you're looking to criticize any martial art, understand that it's the person AND the training methods that make all the difference.So again, good book and good content. Just ignore his weird prejudices!

I should start by saying that Mr. Beaumont is a very good writer...not all that common in many martial/combat/streetfighting books. He's fun to read. And what you see in the title is exactly what you get: anecdotes about great boxers and their fights, and how they might be applied to mostly bar brawls. He loves to diss regular martial artists, and even as a current karate/kickboxer with aikido, kung fu & tang soo do experience, I really don't mind. I, too, think most of today's martial artists would have a tough time in many street situations and particularly from boxers. His main point, that a well-trained boxer can probably beat most dudes on the street is probably true, in my opinion. Boxers, particularly pros, are trained, coached, in great condition, and used to full contact and fast, explosive combinations. Some folks think that a great wrestler can most likely win on the street; others hail the Brazilian jujitsu type styles. But Ned is taking everything here, as the title tells you, from a boxer's perspective, and within that task he does a great job.Where the book disappointed me: almost no information on mixing in non-fist techniques such as elbows, knees, palm heel, knife hand, finger tips, low kicks, etc....nothing really dirty like using car antennas or ash can lids or eye gouges or biting (he does mention Tyson's "real meal")...very little on actual street situations -- one short chapter, as opposed to weight training, which takes up a significant percentage of the book...and most disappointing was the section on gang situations, in which he advises trying to intimidate the group, or failing that, beat up the biggest or loudest to scare the rest. That don't play down here on Avenue A.His overall approach in a nutshell: use running and weights and professional boxing instruction to enable you to knock an opponent out quickly with an explosive shot to the jaw set up through an effective combination.Again, don't get me wrong, I like this guy. He knows what he's talking about. He doesn't brag or posture, and he pays respects to others in the field and refers readers to fellow writers with varying approaches. He explains in a clear and engaging fashion how to adapt your boxing training to street/bar fights. What he doesn't do is tell you how to integrate boxing techniques into a mixed-style, holistic approach to self-defense.