Silat for the Street

Book excerpt: Renowned silat instructor Burton Richardson, who has cross-trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kali, jeet kune do and muay Thai, reveals what his knowledge of those systems and MMA helped him identify as the best silat tactics and techniques for modern self-defense. His Silat for the Street breaks down fights into various sections to make them more readily understandable. They include the following: * Footwork -- These movement patterns will give you the advantage when you need to attack an opponent. * Entries -- They will enable you to safely and dynamically enter into close quarters, where you can fire your weapons or execute a takedown. * Clinch positions -- These inside control positions will permit you to trap your opponent's arms, neck or body while minimizing your chance of being hit. * Takedowns -- These moves offer a variety of methods for getting an opponent on the ground, all of which are explained in detail. * Ground fighting -- This part of silat enables you to quickly dispatch an opponent if you end up on the ground. * Sarong tactics -- This section demonstrates how you can use a towel or jacket as a makeshift weapon of self-defense.