How to Survive The Most Critical 5 Seconds of Your Life

by Tim Larkin, Chris Ranck-Buhr

There are many reasons you might begin this book but the only reason to finish it is to learn how to protect yourself and your family from violence. It's not just about a few techniques to ward off a local thug. It's about tilting the playing field completely in your favor, making sure if you're ever in a hostile situation, you walk away with your life.

To do that requires an understanding of principles; an education in the facts of violence. Others give you techniques for specific situations. Finish this book and you'll understand why that's a recipe for disaster.

Most people stumble into martial arts or combat sports never really considering why. Each trains you for competition in a safe environment, with rules and supervision agreed in advance. Both give you effective tactics for fighting, and are great for conditioning.

But if sport fighting is your thing, this book will say nothing to you. Its total focus is real violence, the kind everyone wants to avoid. It's about dealing with life-or-death threats where no rules exist. And that's completely different than sport fighting.

And there lies the difference. This book addresses that place where social communication ends and real violence begins, the point where you have no control, and there's no one to help. It's the situations we all pretend doesn't exist... even though we all know they do.

The real question is face-to-face with life-or-death violence, can you defend yourself and your family? Because in that moment, nothing else matters.

To learn the answer, read this book. You may not like what the authors have to say but by the end you'll see the that there's only one guaranteed way for anyone to walk away from a hostile situation alive. It's not pretty but once you understand it... it'll change your life forever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Martial Arts, Survival, Self Help

214 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

For nearly 20 years TFT founder and creator, Tim Larkin, has been well known in the self defense & close-combat training world but ‘under-the-radar’ to ordinary folks like you. He’s the guy operations like the US Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces and the US Border Patrol call in behind-the-scenes to teach them when it’s “kill-or-be-killed.”

During the last 20 years he’s trained not only these elite military special forces and law enforcement units but corporate and civilian clientele in New York, Las Vegas, London and other cities around the world using a combination of live training sessions and DVDs.

A sought after public speaker, Larkin has spoken to CEO’s, government officials, and business leaders in over 40 countries on how to use these same principles of surviving life-or-death violence in the less life-threatening environment of business.

Larkin is co-author of the best-selling book, How To Survive The Most Critical 5 Seconds Of Your Life, and the highly acclaimed online newsletter, Secrets For Staying Alive When Rules Don’t Apply.

Reviews

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was painful to read. As the author stressed - violence is a bad thing and should be used as a last resort. This book is not about self defense. It's a book about the philosophy of kill or be killed when attacked. The author gives no techniques on how to stop someone who is attacking to kill. To learn sure fire techniques the reader needs to take classes or watch tapes. The author's philosophy rings true - violence is not pretty and should only be used seriously. He hints at some of the methods. Going for the eyes, for example, like you would a shark. And not to look helpless - be aware of your surroundings. I learned a person can't be squeamish if they want to survive a deadly attack.

[TΞΞL❍CK Mith!lesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the author is known for a controversial presentation style, the material he disseminates is vitally valuable for all security personnel. Larkin is a staunch advocate for the effectiveness of violence, and his books have resulted in bans on his own international traveling. This is because he is providing the public with information that they need to know. Fortunately, the legal attention has only facilitated an increase in the author’s publicity. Despite his polarizing figure, Larkin manages to present sincere arguments in favor of instant assault. His name is well known among security organizations due to his brash nature.

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very odd book. Not without a plethora of excellent points, but Larkin seems too committed to differentiating himself from the "self-defense community" by embracing brutality, for any of his major philosophies to be super clear.

[Robert Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

### My Review from 2018 ###
So it's been about 4 years since I read this book, and - because I've been doing Krav Maga for a few months now, I decided to re-read it. It's interesting what perspective will do.

Bottom Line Up Front: While not a "great" book, it's still a good book, or at the very least, it's "good enough". I would now recommend this book for one reason.

Biggest Lesson Learned: Fighting isn't competing. That is, if your mindset towards combat and physical violence is one of competition - if you're inclined to play by the rules - you're probably going to get hurt. Thinking about playing by the rules could get you killed. I evidently missed it the first time, but I've since learned it in Krav Maga, and I saw it expressed when I re-read the book.

Worth a read if for no other reason than to understand that to approach a life-threatening situation with a mental framework that sees the conflict as increasing levels of intensity is wrong. If you've been in competitive sports for any amount of time - wrestling, martial arts, etc. - then you probably have this mental framework deeply embedded, and it could take some serious mental re-sorting to strip away all the "play by the rules" baggage.

### My Review from 2013 ###
Yes, I read some strange stuff.

I have mixed feelings about recommending this book and for that reason, I don't recommend it. It's pretty much just a giant informercial that's supposed to scare the crap out of you and make you sign up for the course ("Target Focused Training"). There is no strategy in this book save one: In a violent encounter, you can either be the hammer or you can be the nail; you pick. That is, you need to be able to instantly switch into "terminator" mode (my term, but you get the idea) and be the aggressor, or you turn your survival over to the good will - such as it is - of your attacker. Basically, it's kill or be killed. And while I agree with that as a overall concept, I wish it offered more substance on *how* to survive the 5 most critical seconds in your life. Plus, the book is pretty graphic in its description of violence and the sorts of things you need to be prepared to do, and the whole experience left me feeling like I'd just watched "Schindler's List" again. It was disturbing.

Anyway, that's my take on it. I don't recommend the book. This is not to say I don't recommend the course ("Target Focused Training"), because I don't know anything about the course. It may be fantastic for all I know, and well worth the money. In fact, I'd probably take the course if the opportunity presented itself. But I wouldn't read the book again. Contrast that to "The War of Art", which I read twice while reading this book once.

[Lucas Bomfim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could give it an 1.5 star rating. It has useful information, but the presentation is terrible, from book design to writing, to the examples the author gives and how repetitive it all is. It is repulsive and the last chapter is just shilling for the author's course.

[Renato · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely repetitive and boring

[Person Of · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best damn book ever written by mortal man on the principles behind surviving violent encounters. must read for anyone interested in not getting killed by a sociopath, which i assume is everyone alive today. BTW, download for free on TFT Website

[Mason Frierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read kind of Book. Describes clearly the situations in which you need to act upon to save your life or the life of the ones you love.

[Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent information and a great book so long as you remember it's written by a gorilla. Do not approach this book with your English major degree tucked in your back pocket. Instead, read it as though it is a conversation interspersed with an informational lecture. Is the book repetitive? Yes. But know that there are reasons for the repetition. 1) repetition is a learning tool and strategy to help readers recall the information presented. 2) he's trying to overcome our current programming to teach how to survive in violent encounters.

This book teaches mindset. It introduces a different approach to self defense. It thoroughly explains the difference between antisocial violence and posturing, and asocial violence. It gives examples of each type to help readers understand the difference so that you may best choose how to respond in a situation. It also explains consequences of pulling out the wrong tool in an antisocial situation. Just because someone threatens you in a bar does not mean his death is now required.

It is a great introduction to Target Focused Training (TFT), but it does not replace a class. I haven't put down this book and said, "now I know how to inflict injury upon an assailant until that person is nonfunctional." Rather, I have put the book down with a better understanding of the ideas that shaped TFT, how to avoid situations that increase the likelihood of violence occuring, how to recognize antisocial vs. asocial violence, and that "nonfunctional" is NOT a fancy name for "dead." While nonfunctional states can include death, it could also mean knocked out, or having all limbs broken, or being blinded, etc.

One of the things I really appreciate about this book is that the author encourages decision making, critical thinking, situational awareness, and that you take responsibility for choices you make.

"Because you understand how to use the tool of violence, others who use it no longer threaten you....l strongly encourage you and those you love to start today and learn to take back your life from those who want you to live a life of fear. " (pg 200-201)

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tough book to read -- not that it is poorly written, far from it. Rather because of the subject matter. This book is about violence; it is somewhat graphic and definitely disturbing.

The essence of the text is, if you are in a situation where a criminal will apply violence to you, then you must choose: either to apply violence to him, or to be a victim.

The author differentiates anti-social situations (e.g., when a drunk at the bar hassles you, the easiest solution is to walk away, avoiding confrontation) from asocial situations (e.g., when the criminal has a knife to your neck, and you have to decide if you will fight, perhaps literally for your life).

Larkin quotes Jeff Cooper early on: "...many men who are not cowards are simply unprepared for acts of human savagery. They have not thought about it (incredible as this may appear to anyone who reads the papers or listens to the news) and they just don't know what to do. When they look right into the face of depravity and violence they are astonished and confounded."

Larkin also touches on the Virginia Tech situation, asking, why didn't any group of students swarm Seung Hui Cho, even when he stopped to reload? This is a (sad) commentary on our readiness as a nation to protect ourselves in general, the culture of political correctness swirled with litigation-as-a-way-of-life. Despite its undesirable misogynistic and bigoted cultural tones, would a group of college students in the 1950s be inclined to a similar level of non-action? If not, why not?

But Larkin's book isn't really about theory or politics or philosophy; it is about deciding if violence is a realistic choice for you in dangerous situations.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was given to me on audiobook. My mindset about self-defense has completely changed after reading this book, all with a simple analogy to swimming. I thought that it was a little repetitive but very thorough in its examination of our instinctual nature to survive and protect. I loved that it touched on how competitive fighting will not necessarily help someone in a violent situation, as I'm sure we all come across those cocky athletes at some point in our life. Charisma and intimidation won't keep you alive ;)

[Kristoffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book, especially for women. It deals with the reality of violence and the distinction between MMA fighting and street violence. I actually trained in Target-Focus Training and took a few advanced classes, and I am glad I know the proper use of violence, how to inflict trauma efficiently, and the distinction between antisocial and asocial violence.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to get an idea of what it takes to truly protect yourself and your family with your bare hands and/or any other weapon, then this is a must read. Skip the martial arts training (unless it is for keeping in shape); this training is a must if you are serious about self-defense!

[Keith Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tired of this book very quickly. It is good to understand the mentality that is needed to survive a life/death situation, but I kept waiting for the answer to the title. Every chapter after the first few was a rehash of what was already stated.

[Jim Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Kb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great description for self preservation. Make the other guy a non threat to you and your loved ones.