Self Defence & Martial Arts

Part one covers awareness and avoidance, talking things down, what UK law says about self-defence, reasonable force and weapons (including why carrying anything for protection is a crime), a few simple safe techniques, and personal safety for women, teens and older people, with helplines checked on each charity’s own site.

Part two explains eleven martial arts, how to choose a good club and spot a dodgy one, children and conditioning. Part three is the spiritual side: Shaolin and Zen, Bushido and the meaning of “do”, qi and tai chi as moving meditation, and the warrior’s path as self-mastery.

Part four is Bruce Lee: his life, Jeet Kune Do and “be water”, his training and legacy, and his genuinely sourced quotes, plus the famous misquotes that are not his.

• Staying safe, on one page
• Awareness and avoidance
• De-escalation
• UK law on self-defence and weapons
• Basic safe techniques
• Personal safety for women, teens and older people
• A guide to the martial arts
• Choosing a club and spotting a dodgy one
• Kids and conditioning
• Shaolin and Chan (Zen)
• Bushido, budo and the “way”
• Qi, ki and moving meditation
• No-mind, awareness and the dojo
• Bruce Lee: his life
• Jeet Kune Do and the philosophy of water
• The words of Bruce Lee, and the misquotes
• Jargon buster and sources