The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

Bryan Scott Williams’ Welcome to the Real World: A Dangerous Place to be Caught Unprepared,
is 220+ page softcover printed by Infinity Publishing.  William’s
company, Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC, is described on
its website as “a full service tactical firearms training and executive
security consulting firm” based in Shelton, Connecticut.  In the
book, Williams is described as having been “active involved in law
enforcement, close security, and profesional firearms training for over
18 years,” as well as being a certified NRA training counselor and NAUI
Master Level Scuba Diver.  Apart from having talked to him on the
phone about his book and this review, that is the extent of what I know
about him.  This puts me in the position of being able to describe
his book objectively based on the merits of its content, which is how I
prefer to approach every review.

The book beings with a brief preface describing the stark contrast
between September 10, 2001, and September 11, 2001.  This
recognition of the threat to Americans represented by terrorism (in
addition to other personal security threats, ranging across the
full spectrum one would expect from a “real world” self-defense
text) 
sets the tone for the book and frames its context.  Brian is
concerned about your safety, and he goes on to explain in broad and
sometimes specific terms precisely how to mitigate the risks posed to
you.

To cover the whole of self-defense issues facing the average
concerned citizen is a remarkably ambitious thesis for a book.
 Entire texts could be and have been written about many of the
sections covered in Williams’ treatment of this broad topic.  What
the book constitutes, then, is first a conceptual guide to mindset.
 It prepares the reader to explore the topic of self-defense
further, giving the concerned citizen a framework, a list of topics, to
cover in more detail in the course of his or her own training.  At
the same time, it provides enough specifics on some topics to be both
informative and entertaining (in that way that gaining and keeping
useful information can be entertaining).

The text begins, appropriately, with sections on situational
awareness and threat assessment. These are the single most important
aspects of self-defense, a commonly acknowledged fact among tractical
personnel and self-defense trainers of all types.  Williams then
ties to this another brief section on the threat presented by terrorism
(though this is not a book about terrorism only).  Sections on
color-code awareness and the all-important combative mindset follow.
 This material is, for students of self-defense, relatively
common-sense.  There is nothing remarkable here, but that I do not
mean that the book is not informative.  Rather, these principles
are failry universal,. simple facts that must be acknowledged.

The lion’s share of the book is devoted to Bryan’s thoughts on
carrying, drawing, and shooting a firearm for self-defense.  These
start with “basic shooting fundamentals,” including targeting and grip
(Bryan even decries the use of the “cup and saucer” hold that I so
despise when I see it on television) and progresses through basic
stances (Weaver and Isosceles) to trigger and breath control.
 Using your sights, shot placement, analyzing common shooting
errors… these are also covered, as are ready positions and even
choosing a holster to carry and conceal your weapon.  Ask twelve
shooting instructors how they prefer to do things and you’re going to
get some number of responses less than or equal to twelve (though
almost never one or two) answers.  Those instructors examining
Bryan’s curriculum may or may not agree with how he does things, but
there is nothing here I find objectionable and much I find perfectly
reasonable.  Reloading, clearing stoppages, and “combat shooting”
techniques are also discussed.

Bryan exhorts the reader to seek “advanced” training and rounds out
the book with some brief sections covering sundry other concerns,
including the use of pepper spray. An extremely short section on knives
for self-defense is also included, but is barely noticeable compared to
the volume on shooting and the extensive treatment of OC. The last
section of the book consists of anonymous “reference letters” from
students and clients of Mr. Williams’ company.

For the prospective student of self-defense, the concerned family
member who has yet to do any training, and the serious student who
seeks both review and some new thoughts and “war stories,” this is a
great introductory book that covers the basics and does a good job of
touching on a very broad selection of necessary self-defense topics.
 I would  happily recommend the text to anyone who’se just
started to train for self-defense and needs some theoretical and
conceptual foundation on which to build.  Those already familiar
with the topics covered may also find the book worth reading.