When Seconds Count: Self-Defense for the Real World Paperback – May 10, 2014

I have read just about every book out there on self defense and this book by Sonny Franco is right up there with the best of them. Like all good self defense books, this one puts a big emphasis on awareness and de-escalation skills.But where i think this book stands out is when it gets down to the nitty gritty- the physical confrontation with the attacker. Mr. Franco teaches survival- plain and simple. The techniques described are meant to maim and kill. Nothing pretty, just whatever is neccessary. I thought this book was very empowering. If one fully integrated the information from this book into their psyche, that person would about as ready for trouble as you can get.

This book will help open your eyes to just how fast and violent an encounter on the streets can be. You have to be faster and more violent than the attacker(s) if you want to survive. Sammy Franco gives you the tools and the knowledge to protect yourself and your loved ones from these attacks.

The world is a dangerous place, and you need to be prepared. That's the message. "When Seconds Count: Everyone's Guide to Self-Defense" starts off with an almost depressing review of what life is really like. I say depressing in the fact that most of us seem to live in a nice little bubble on the Earth where nothing bad can really happen to us, or so we think. This book immediately bursts that bubble by showing us what the REAL world around us is like whether we have previously acknowledged it or not. The purpose is not to depress us or cause paranoid fear, but to educate the reader as to the realities of what can and often does happen when we least expect it.The following segment covers the differences between the author's own fighting system "CFA" or "Contemporary Fighting Arts" and the more common "Traditional Martial Arts" such as Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, Ju-Jitsu and the like. Subsequent sections go into topics like: Awareness, Assessment, De-Escalation, Fighting Back, Weapons and the Author's Closing statements which are every bit as valuable as the rest of the book.The segment which hit me most was the section on "Awareness." It asked question after question which in application really makes you think about how safety minded you REALLY are. It even includes a questionnaire which IMO very accurate assesses how likely you are to be attacked by a criminal assailant. This section alone was more than worth the cost of the book to me and it provided more education on the topic of situation/tactical awareness than did almost twenty years of other more "traditional" martial arts and self-defense training. I absolutely recommend this book to EVERYONE!

In the street, when the "fit hits the shan," you need to KNOW what to expect and do! Long before a confrontation happens is when to get this book, get it, read it, then start over and STUDY it! All the while, put the advise into action!I have recommended this book to everyone I care about, whether you are a fighter or not, you need to build the awareness necessary to avoid the confrontations and this is your guide to doing so. If you value your life and those closest to you, then get this book, you won't regret it. I guarantee it!!

I've been the victim of physical assault and I wish I had known about Mr. Franco beforehand and this book is like a 'bible' of personal protection and self-defense for the real world 21st century we live in today. I cannot really find anything I didn't like about the book. The layout is easy on the eyes and mind and can be understood very simply with the authors excellent diagrams, photos, and real world examples. Includes actual movements and drills one can practice to better comprehend the truth behind the ideas being presented in the book. A MUST HAVE!!!

Look, it's like this. You can go anywhere and spend literally hundreds on self-defense material that will sell you empty promises of turning you into a stone-cold killer assassin overnight. You're more than welcome to spend your money there if you believe that but, before you do, hear me out on this one.Sammy Franco doesn't make those promises. He doesn't need to. Contained within this book is the key to opening the door to your new lifestyle, should you choose to accept it and you have what it takes.Once you open this book, Sammy Franco takes you through the harsh reality that no other self-defense instructor will. Sammy Franco cuts through the dogmatic nonsense that most traditional martial arts offers you.So, let's sum up. You can spend hundreds of dollars on overhyped DVDs, McDojos and "certified" instructors who probably bought their certifications and only studied it from an academic perspective. That's definitely your option but, you can spend less and get far more valuable information from this book. As desperation grows in this country, this book is truly EVERYONE's guide to self-defense.Bottom Line: Ditch the charlatans and snag a copy of When Seconds Count NOW!!!