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The 16 biggest Myths about Selfdefense, Combatives & Krav Maga
Meine Coachings
The 16 biggest Myths about Selfdefense, Combatives & Krav Maga
Meine Coachings
The 16 biggest Myths about Selfdefense, Combatives & Krav Maga
Disarm an attacker? A pre-emptive strike is the silver bullet? There are special techniques for women? My trainer has to be a sociopath? Wrong.
The world of self-defense is full of myths that can cost you your life when it counts. Dominik Lansen ruthlessly separates hype from reality and debunks the 16 most dangerous misconceptions in the field.
This book isn't a promise of quick fixes. It's an honest reality check that shows you why your mindset is more important than any technique.
Are you ready for the truth?
Myth #1:
I Can Defend Myself with Martial Arts
Why traditional, ritualized martial arts are often not realistic preparation for chaotic, real-world violence.
Myth #2:
Combat Sports are not Selfdefense
Why combat sports are a valuable foundation for resilience but must be supplemented by real-world factors (weapons, rules).
Myth #3:
Whoever goes to the Ground loses
Why ignoring ground fighting is dangerous and why the civilian's goal must be to get back to their feet quickly and safely.
Myth #4:
You Don't Stand a Chance Against a Knife
Why this fatalism is paralyzing and how a strategic approach (the 4-E model) creates survival opportunities.
Myth #5:
You can disarm the Attacker
Why disarming attempts are extremely risky, often unrealistic, and legally problematic for civilians.
Myth #6:
Running Away Is the First Option
Why escape is an excellent option, but not always the first or even a possible one (e.g., when protecting others or in confined spaces).
Myth #7:
There are special Techniques for Women
Why effective principles are universal and why women's self-defense is more about realistic tactics and a safe training space.
Myth #8:
Size and Strength Don't Matter in Selfdefense
Why physics is undeniable and how physical disadvantages must be compensated for with tactics and mindset (rather than denial).
Myth #9:
The Myth of the Pre-Emptive Strike
Why the pre-emptive strike is a high-risk tool for experts and not a standard solution for beginners.
Myth #10:
I Can Defeat My Opponent with Pain
Why pain can be negated by adrenaline, drugs, or willpower, and why structural control is superior.
Myth #11:
My Coach Has to Be a Sociopath
Why martial self-promotion and fake resumes in the training scene are an illusion and why authenticity is crucial.
Myth #12:
You have to tell your Opponent what to do
Why verbal commands are often ineffective or escalatory without a credible readiness to act (a Plan B).
Myth #13:
You have to yell at your Opponent
Why panicked screaming can be paralyzing and why the voice must instead be a controlled, tactical tool.
Myth #14:
I Can Defend Myself After a Weekend Course
Why real competence only comes from continuous training (motor learning) and not from a crash course.
Myth #15:
Anti-Terror Training for Civilians
Why such training is unrealistic for civilians, psychologically dangerous, and less useful than simple basics (fitness, first aid).
Myth 16:
I am safe with a Weapon
Why a weapon is just a tool and is worthless or dangerous without mindset, tactics, and skills (the base of the Vital Pyramid).
Become part of the “Myths about Self-Defense” community and get access to over 16 videos in which Dominik Lansen revisits the individual myths.
As a purchaser of the book, you will receive exclusive access to the videos. Meet like-minded people and discuss with them and the author of the book about meaningful and less meaningful things from the world of martial arts, combat sports, or self-defense in all its facets, such as combatives, Krav Maga, etc.
Dominik Lansen is an experienced trainer for realistic self-defense. His passion for combat sports began at the age of six and led him from traditional disciplines like Judo and Goshin Jitsu to Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) and eventually to modern, reality-based systems like Krav Maga and Combatives.
His perspective is uniquely shaped by the combination of decades of training experience and his 23 years of work in public service. For 12 of those years, he worked at the Jobcenter (unemployment office), where he was also trained and active as a de-escalation trainer. During this time, he experienced daily how conflicts unfold in reality—far removed from choreographed techniques. He learned firsthand that assertiveness depends heavily on psychology, tactics, and clear communication.
These insights form the foundation of his work. While still working in public service, he started his own part-time business as a Krav Maga trainer in 2012. In 2017, he opened the Selfdefensebox Cologne, which is now a well-known school for selfdefense in Germany. Since the end of 2021, he has been working full-time as a professional trainer and entrepreneur in the field of self-defense.
