Defend Yourself (In A Zombie Apocalypse)
Sean Ramey
Copyright © 2013 Defend Systems, Inc.
Readers should consult a physician prior to attempting any of the actions depicted in this book.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.
The Publisher makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any commercial damages.
2013-02-05
Dedication
This book is dedicated to those who take it upon themselves to prepare for the worst, but always expect the best. Though we cannot predict the future, there are some things that we can do to make living in uncertain times easier and safer. I commend you for having the courage and foresight to prepare for the unthinkable. Thank you for taking the time to read this book, and I wish you all of the best.
Be safe, my friends.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I would like to thank my family. Without their love and support this book would not have been possible. Each of you have made an impact on who I am, how I think, and what I believe. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for instilling in me the confidence to make my dreams a reality, and helping me understand that anything is possible with dedication, discipline, and determination. I love you both so much.
To my wife, Christy, you are truly the sail to my ship. Thank you for your enduring guidance, support, and love in this wonderful journey we have begun. I look forward to many, many more at your side. You are my everything, and I love you.
To my daughter, Kinsley, may you continue to chase your dreams when others tell you they are impossible. May you never settle for second best. May you face every challenge head on with a smile on your face. May you always be the one who lends a hand to lift people up rather than push them down. The world is yours to borrow, KJ. Achieve everything you can when you can, and be sure to leave the world a bit better than it was when you arrived. I love you, KJ.
To the Martial Arts, you have defined who I am and the choices I have made. Thank you for allowing me to taste the bitterness of defeat, but for allowing me to taste the sweetness of victory so much more. I believe in what you are, what you stand for, and what you give to the masses. I will forever be a fan.
Finally, to all the servicemen and servicewomen who have served or made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country, you are the true heroes and champions in life. I will forever be indebted to you for all you have done. Thank you.
Preface
The purpose of this book is to equip the living with the necessary unarmed combat skills to fight the dead. It is my goal to arm individuals with the necessary skills to survive if faced in a life-threatening situation with the living or dead, using only hand-to-hand combat. This book will be limited to a few simple but effective techniques that can be implemented when appropriate.
Please understand there are no guarantees or techniques that ensure victory. However, the skills included in this book will give you a far greater chance of surviving a crisis than having none at all.
You may have only one chance to save your life or that of a loved one. Don’t squander that opportunity. The more these techniques are practiced and used, the more effective they will become. Remember, this is no movie — you have only one take to get it right. Learn the techniques. Understand the techniques. Implement when necessary.
Introduction
I know what you’re thinking.
“Sean, you can’t be serious. Zombies?”
Let me explain my reasoning of this book. When you consider the end of the world, you imagine the collapse of our financial system, social uprising, and the spread of contagion. This is not a far cry from the society in which we’ve lived for at least the last decade.
Mention zombies, and people start imagining dead bodies rising from the ground moaning “Brains! Brains!” This sounds crazy to me, too.
It does get your attention, though.
Let me begin by saying I know the difference between the fictitious worlds of “The Walking Dead” and “Zombieland”, and the one in which we actually reside. But I do think it provides a backdrop that conveys the urgency with which we all need to greet self-defense.
Consider these alarming statistics:
According to City of Hope, one in every three women across the world has been subjected to rape or sexual assault. One-third of American women say they have experienced this sort of attack during their lifetimes.
In the United States, someone known to the victim commits 89 percent of sexual crimes.
Around 44 percent of rape victims in the United States are under the age of 18, while 30 percent are under 30.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a violent crime occurs once every five seconds in the United States. A rape or violent assault occurs once every two minutes. A murder occurs once every 34 minutes.
As you can see, awareness and self-defense needs to be a priority for all of us.
If the techniques presented in this book appear overly elementary, then I have achieved my goal. I will be providing you with strategies that are both easy to learn and battle-tested. It baffles me when I see self-defense instructors teaching men and women, most of whom will never step onto a mat ever again, an array of complicated holds, joint locks and blocking-striking combinations. If people don’t feel comfortable and understand a move completely, they will not use it in a dynamic situation. That which is simple is easily repeated, and therefore of the greatest use in a crisis. No less than Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
Nothing you will read in this book is biased toward those with flexibility or muscularity. Previous experience in self-defense is not needed here. You do not need to be an athlete, nor must you be particularly agile or flexible. You simply must be a willing-and-able human being who is ready to take control of his or her situation. You only need the conviction to be the victor, and not the victim.
So starting now, please consider the term “Zombie Apocalypse” to be a general stand-in for any situation of upheaval, be it personal or societal. We must all be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.
The truth is, most of us will become someone else’s prey at some point in our lives, in which case we must be prepared. There will be many tips and techniques that could potentially save your life regardless of the situation. The only way to ensure victory in any fight is to never get in one to begin with.
Now onto the apocalypse in question:
Let’s say a highly contagious infection has spread so rapidly that cures and antibodies have no chance of being developed. This has left most of the world infected; meanwhile, the living commit unthinkable acts of violence out of self-preservation. This book will focus on how to fight the living dead, better known as “walkers.” There will also be fighting techniques that will be useful in the case of looters, burglars, marauders, and flat-out psychopaths, all of whom know that the prime time to attack is during a disaster when their prey is distracted and vulnerable. When normal people are looking for answers and help, these predators are on the hunt for easy targets. Sadly enough, it is these people who will survive and actually thrive