The most important self-defense skill is how to avoid a fight in the first place. Even the toughest person alive has a non-zero chance of dying in a fight. Even the weakest person alive has a 100% of surviving a fight they don't get into. Avoiding dangerous situations is a set of skills all of their own, and a set many self-defense books never get around to teaching. One problem with martial arts books and other media is we spend so much time on what to do if somebody throws a punch, but precious little on how to keep that punch from getting thrown in the first place. This is an attempt to help reverse that trend. There I Was...When Nothing Happened combines over 50 powerful stories by seasoned professionals in law enforcement, military, martial arts, and even the world of crime. Each focuses on an event where they avoided going hands-on by specifically applying one or more of five key violence prevention Preparation - using personal knowledge, research, or early action to keep violence from becoming an issue Awareness - seeing violence coming before it arrives, and taking the necessary steps Avoidance - getting away from impending violence through swift, intentional action De-Escalation - communicating in a way that resolves a potentially violent situation before it turns physical Escape - avoiding violence and evading injury through rapid flight Each skill has its own section that includes hints, tips, and hacks to help you practice, internalize, and use them to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This won't be the sexiest, most action-packed self defense book you ever read. It will be the most valuable. The world-class professionals who contributed to this project include household names in the martial arts and self-defense sphere. Names like Rory Miller, Beverly Baker, Marc MacYoung, Loren Christensen, and Alex Bromley and Ziggy Siegfried of Verbal Judo Fame, along with martial arts and safety podcast hosts like Joe Saunders of Managing Violence, Randy King of Randy King Live, Andy Murphy of The Secure Dad, and What's Your Emergency's Justin Schorr and Jason Hoschouer. The lineup also includes names you might not recognize because they work behind the scenes to keep people safe, like executive protection specialists Will Geddes, Chris Story, and Alan Baker, along with over a dozen professional instructors in martial arts and self protection. It's an incredible lineup. Any martial arts enthusiast needs this collection on their shelf. Anybody who is serious about staying safe in an increasingly dangerous world will benefit from the stories and knowledge inside. Add it to your library today.