A review of our book by Steven Dick, Editor of Tactical Knives Magazine

May 2006

The Rhythm of One: Hittatsu no Hyoshi
Self-Defense concepts and techniques against a knife attack

By: David Wm. Decker & Gwynne Erin Decker, softcover, 148pgs., $25.00, 60 Steuben Street, Dept. TK Addison, NY 14801, ghdave2@hotmail.com


"As the title indicates, about 80% of this book is either on unarmed defense and/or the use of improvised weapons against a knife attack. Though both Western and Asian schools of martial arts are utilized, the emphasis would have to be said to be the eastern techniques. The authors are fairly opinionated and, without using their names, openly criticize the systems taught by several well-known instructors.

Many law enforcement instuctors feel it is first necessary to train in knife combatives before you can really understand how to defend against a blade. Using the reverse logic, studying unarmed combat should also help you become more proficient with a knife. The actual knife combatives section of the book are basic but useful, and the author has an excellent section on selecting a self-defense knife.

Like any close-combat manual, simply reading it will not make you significantly safer. You must actually train with a real live sparring partner. The Deckers' book is a useful step-by-step training program if you are willing to put the work in. "