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Dead or Alive - The choice is yours
This in not simply a step-by-step guide to winning fights. It is also an in-depth study of the criminal mind at work. Murderers, rapist and muggers reveal why they targeted certain people for attack, which crimes are opportunistic and which are premeditated.
Geoff Thompson uses these interviews, and his own unparallel knowledge of violent encounters, to teach precautionary measures that everyone can take to make themselves less vunerable and explains what victims should do when confronted by an attacker.
The choice is yours: learn from this proven master of self-defence and increase tour odds of remaining alive, or risk being unprepaded when a violent predator gets you in his sights.
Geoff Thompson uses these interviews, and his own unparallel knowledge of violent encounters, to teach precautionary measures that everyone can take to make themselves less vunerable and explains what victims should do when confronted by an attacker.
The choice is yours: learn from this proven master of self-defence and increase tour odds of remaining alive, or risk being unprepaded when a violent predator gets you in his sights.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
22 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Geoff Thompson
137 books56 followersGeoff Thompson is a BAFTA-winning writer, filmmaker, spiritual teacher, and martial artist with a prolific career spanning multiple disciplines. He has authored books on self-help, spirituality, self-defense, and martial arts, while also writing for film and stage.
Beginning as a martial artist, Thompson specialized in reality-based self-defense, drawing from his experiences as a nightclub doorman. He co-founded the British Combat Association and taught seminars internationally, including for Chuck Norris. His self-defense innovations include "The Wall" and "The Fence," practical techniques for real-world confrontations.
His transition into filmmaking brought critical acclaim. His short film Bouncer (2002), starring Ray Winstone, earned a BAFTA nomination, and Brown Paper Bag (2003), inspired by his brother’s struggles with alcoholism, won the BAFTA for Best Short Film. He later wrote the feature Clubbed (2008), based on his autobiography Watch My Back, as well as The Pyramid Texts (2015) and Romans (2017), starring Orlando Bloom.
Beyond martial arts and filmmaking, Thompson has established himself as a spiritual teacher and self-help author. His works, including The Divine CEO and Live Your Dreams, focus on personal transformation and overcoming fear. He has delivered a TED Talk on conquering fear and hosted a popular podcast on spiritual growth.
In 2020, he released his autobiography Notes from a Factory Floor, chronicling his journey from factory worker to internationally recognized author and teacher. Through his writing, coaching, and filmmaking, Thompson continues to inspire others in the pursuit of self-improvement and personal mastery.
Beginning as a martial artist, Thompson specialized in reality-based self-defense, drawing from his experiences as a nightclub doorman. He co-founded the British Combat Association and taught seminars internationally, including for Chuck Norris. His self-defense innovations include "The Wall" and "The Fence," practical techniques for real-world confrontations.
His transition into filmmaking brought critical acclaim. His short film Bouncer (2002), starring Ray Winstone, earned a BAFTA nomination, and Brown Paper Bag (2003), inspired by his brother’s struggles with alcoholism, won the BAFTA for Best Short Film. He later wrote the feature Clubbed (2008), based on his autobiography Watch My Back, as well as The Pyramid Texts (2015) and Romans (2017), starring Orlando Bloom.
Beyond martial arts and filmmaking, Thompson has established himself as a spiritual teacher and self-help author. His works, including The Divine CEO and Live Your Dreams, focus on personal transformation and overcoming fear. He has delivered a TED Talk on conquering fear and hosted a popular podcast on spiritual growth.
In 2020, he released his autobiography Notes from a Factory Floor, chronicling his journey from factory worker to internationally recognized author and teacher. Through his writing, coaching, and filmmaking, Thompson continues to inspire others in the pursuit of self-improvement and personal mastery.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 3, 2011
One of the most usefull books i've ever read, and something i'd recommend to anyone. Practical Self-Protection, looking at not just what you can do when subject to a violent confrontation or attack but more importantly how to avoid them. Mr Thompson's baseline of reasoning is that there Are Violent people out there, and that in today's society it is unlikely that you won't encounter at least one in your life. He explains how these people usually work, their rituals leading up to an attack, and the type of person and/or behaviour that attracts them as a probable easy target. How to avoid such situations by developing some simple precautionary habits. He talks about what people undergo in these situations in terms of fear and adrenaline, what, why, and how to deal with it all. He runs through some basic moves most usefully the fence as a way to take some control of an escalating situation even if it does become physical as well as the use of any part of your body or item you are carrying in your defence. Nothing fancy, simply a thorough run through of what you can use to get the hell away if you havn't managed to avoid or diffuse a dangerous situation. He also offers encouragement and advice for anyone training in any style of defence or martial art, focussing on the mental difficulties of not giving up, including visualisation as a proven technique. Then covers dealing with the aftermath of fear based adrenaline exposure, the law self-defence, first aid, and finishing with advice about drinking as alcohol is involved in most violent incidents. Throughout the book he has case studies and excerpts from interviews with violent offenders of varying degrees. This IS The Book you should buy if you are at all concerned with self-protection whether for yourself, friends or family.
September 18, 2012
Dead or Alive
by Geof Thompson
Originally published in 1996 by highly respected martial artist and former 'bouncer' Geoff Thompson, this is the new edition which came out in 2004.
Thompson's a man who's been there and done it, so is well qualified to write a book of this type. The first part of the book deals with avoidance and awareness, attackers and attack rituals and fear control. Basically telling you how to avoid trouble, which is the ultimate aim. This is not alway's possible, and Thompson then moves onto the more physical aspects.Moving through 'the fence concept' onto fighting,weapon defence [which is mainly written by the late Peter Robins of S.T.A.B [Strategy and Tactics Against Blades],multiple attackers, aftermath, first aid and a useful, interesting chapter on self-defence and the law. Thompson covers it all and leaves no stone unturned. There's also an interesting chapter on real case histories, where some proper scumbags are interviewed, giving you a bit of a chilling insight into their way of thinking. An excellent read which I would recommend to anyone, as you never know when you may need one of the subjects covered in this book.
by Geof Thompson
Originally published in 1996 by highly respected martial artist and former 'bouncer' Geoff Thompson, this is the new edition which came out in 2004.
Thompson's a man who's been there and done it, so is well qualified to write a book of this type. The first part of the book deals with avoidance and awareness, attackers and attack rituals and fear control. Basically telling you how to avoid trouble, which is the ultimate aim. This is not alway's possible, and Thompson then moves onto the more physical aspects.Moving through 'the fence concept' onto fighting,weapon defence [which is mainly written by the late Peter Robins of S.T.A.B [Strategy and Tactics Against Blades],multiple attackers, aftermath, first aid and a useful, interesting chapter on self-defence and the law. Thompson covers it all and leaves no stone unturned. There's also an interesting chapter on real case histories, where some proper scumbags are interviewed, giving you a bit of a chilling insight into their way of thinking. An excellent read which I would recommend to anyone, as you never know when you may need one of the subjects covered in this book.
August 3, 2020
Still a very interesting book (this was a re-read)
As a martial arts fan I've read my share of MA books, and this was a refreshing change; there is very little by way of fighting technique, or even fighting mentality (though there is a little of both). Mostly, this is about awareness and good sense, told from a perspective of great knowledge and experience. So many martial arts preach the gospel of 'fight without fighting' but then preceed to concentrate on 'but here's how to fight'. Thompson makes it clear time and again that violence is the last possible resort, and gives good advice on how to avoid it - THEN he tells you what to do in that last resort
I'd recommend this to prety much anyone
As a martial arts fan I've read my share of MA books, and this was a refreshing change; there is very little by way of fighting technique, or even fighting mentality (though there is a little of both). Mostly, this is about awareness and good sense, told from a perspective of great knowledge and experience. So many martial arts preach the gospel of 'fight without fighting' but then preceed to concentrate on 'but here's how to fight'. Thompson makes it clear time and again that violence is the last possible resort, and gives good advice on how to avoid it - THEN he tells you what to do in that last resort
I'd recommend this to prety much anyone
August 13, 2018
I can't really add much to the other reviews that praise this book, a good guide to self protection that everyone should read. While there are practical examples of what to do when you are attacked the more interesting part of the book deals with threat level, ensuring that you are in an aware state where ever you are. He also has some good practical advice to ensure you are less likely to be a victim, such as locking your door as soon as you get into your car. Taking that extra 10 minutes to walk the long way around instead of the dark ally way at night etc.
A worthy addition to anyone's library.
A worthy addition to anyone's library.
November 22, 2021
Una lectura muy recomendable.
La autodefensa no está para florituras cuando es tu vida o la de los tuyos lo que está en juego.
Aunque muchas veces parece que la ley está más pendiente de castigar a los inocentes que se defienden que a los delincuentes que atacan a esos inocentes.
La autodefensa no está para florituras cuando es tu vida o la de los tuyos lo que está en juego.
Aunque muchas veces parece que la ley está más pendiente de castigar a los inocentes que se defienden que a los delincuentes que atacan a esos inocentes.
June 1, 2019
The number one authority on Real self-defence!
March 25, 2012
A practical guide to self protection, it emphasises that the best way of avoiding attack is not to put yourself in a vulnerable situation. It offers hints on recognising the lead up to an attack, with the unexpected result that I will now be wary when a passer by asks me for the time! The martial arts inspired moves were less useful and I skipped those parts, as to be honest, if an attack got that far, I doubt I'd be able to throw a useful punch. Much of the book focused on how to prevent things escalating to that degree, although I did feel Thompson's credibility as a self protection 'guru' was somewhat undermined by the number of friends he referred to, who had been hurt or killed in a random attack. He also claimed to have been attacked many times himself and by multiple assailants. This led me to wonder whether Thompson had ever considered moving house, as his area doesn't seem to be a great one...Nevertheless, there were some useful tips and I will make sure to run if anyone asks me for directions in future...
March 29, 2013
This is a book about street fighting. It's probably even a pretty decent guide to street fighting. But it's not really a book about how to protect yourself from mugging, abduction, rape, etc. So its marketing is a bit of a misnomer.
There are a few interesting morsels of practical self-defence information (for non-martial-artists) contained within Dead or Alive (how to headbutt, for instance!), but it's otherwise such a poorly constructed book. It's rambling and unfocused and contradictory and, my god, how I wish a good editor had taken Geoff Thompson in hand.
And did I mention it's mostly about street fighting? And therefore not applicable to anyone who doesn't pick fights in bars?
There are a few interesting morsels of practical self-defence information (for non-martial-artists) contained within Dead or Alive (how to headbutt, for instance!), but it's otherwise such a poorly constructed book. It's rambling and unfocused and contradictory and, my god, how I wish a good editor had taken Geoff Thompson in hand.
And did I mention it's mostly about street fighting? And therefore not applicable to anyone who doesn't pick fights in bars?
July 6, 2015
I like the fact that a self defense manual spends over half the book talking about things other than getting physical. Thompson shows how to use your head to avoid and prepare yourself for a confrontation. He definitely knows what he's talking about.
June 1, 2019
The number one authority on Real self-defence!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews