Our book

Self Defence for Beginners

A practical guide to real-world self-protection, written by our founder and head instructor, Ondrej Matej. Learn to spot danger early, avoid conflict, and get yourself and your loved ones to safety.

Available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

What you’ll learn

Most people hope they’ll never face a threatening situation, but a little preparation makes a real difference. This book explains self defence in plain language, with no jargon and no martial arts experience needed.

It follows the same order we teach in class: awareness first, then de-escalation, and physical techniques only as a last resort. It also covers what the law allows, so you can act with confidence.

Inside the book

Look inside the book

A sample of the pages. Select a page to take a closer look.

01

The cover

02

Why learn self defence

03

Learning the techniques

Who it’s for

Written for complete beginners who want to feel safer in everyday life.

Beginners

No previous training needed. Every idea is explained step by step.

Students and commuters

Practical advice for travelling, nights out and getting home safely.

Parents and families

Help you talk about safety with teenagers and older relatives.

Ondrej, founder and head instructor

About the author

Ondrej Matej

Ondrej is the founder and head instructor of London Self Defence Academy. He has spent many years teaching self defence and martial arts to schools, companies and individuals across London.

The book brings together the practical approach he and his team use in every class.

Book details

Prefer to learn in person?

The book is a great start, but nothing beats practising with an instructor. Join a private class, a seminar, or book a workshop for your school or team.

Free articles from the book’s topics

Is Self-Defence Legal in the UK? What Every Beginner Should Know Before You Act

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Self-Defence for Women: Awareness, De-Escalation, and the Basics That Actually Work

Self-defence for women gets talked about a lot — but too much of that conversation jumps straight to…

Situational Awareness 101: The Self-Defence Skill You Use Before Trouble Starts

When people think about self-defence, they usually picture the physical part — a strike, a block, an escape…

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