Books and reading materials on personal safety and violence prevention in Boston
Books By Gershon Ben Keren

Personal Safety & Self-Defense Books

Boston Personal Safety Author Gershon Ben Keren

Gershon Ben Keren is an author, criminologist, security professional and Krav Maga instructor, based in Boston, whose writing combines academic research with decades of real-world experience. He holds master’s degrees in Psychology from Newcastle University and in Criminology and Criminal Psychology from the University of Essex. His particular academic interests include violent offending and environmental criminology. Ben Keren has worked in the security industry since 1990, including operational, training and consultancy roles, and has provided services to government agencies and private-sector organizations internationally. A 5th Degree Krav Maga Black Belt, his three books published by Tuttle Publishing combine research into violence with practical experience, presenting self-defense within the broader contexts of prediction, prevention, de-escalation and personal safety.

Cover of Book One

Real World Solutions

Gershon Ben Keren

Krav Maga – Real World Solutions to Real World Violence by Gershon Ben Keren is a practical guide to Krav Maga self-defense that examines how people can respond to realistic threats and violent situations. Rather than treating Krav Maga simply as a collection of physical techniques, Ben Keren explores the context in which violence occurs, helping readers understand how confrontations develop and how appropriate responses can be selected.

The book considers striking, movement, defensive techniques and responses to common forms of aggression while emphasizing the realities of real-world violence. Ben Keren's approach connects physical Krav Maga training with awareness, decision-making and an understanding of violent behavior. This makes the book useful both to Krav Maga students and readers interested in practical self-defense and personal safety.

Krav Maga – Real World Solutions to Real World Violence provides an accessible introduction to applying Krav Maga principles outside the training environment, where situations are unpredictable and personal safety is the primary objective. Photos taken in real-life locations, where violence is likely to happen.

Cover of Book Two

Tactical Survival

Gershon Ben Keren

Krav Maga – Tactical Survival by Gershon Ben Keren explores Krav Maga from the perspective of practical self-defense, personal safety and surviving real-world violence. The book moves beyond simply learning individual techniques by considering the tactical decisions that people may need to make when confronted by aggression, threats and potentially dangerous situations.

Ben Keren examines how Krav Maga principles can be applied to realistic encounters, emphasizing awareness, movement, positioning and effective responses to violence. The book encourages readers to understand the dynamics of an incident rather than assuming that every confrontation can be resolved through physical techniques alone. This tactical approach makes it valuable for Krav Maga practitioners seeking to connect their training with real-world self-defense.

Krav Maga – Tactical Survival is particularly relevant to readers interested in Krav Maga, violence prevention, situational awareness and practical personal safety, providing a framework for understanding not only how to defend yourself, but how to make better decisions when facing violence. Full color photos, with techniques demonstrated at full speed.

Cover of Book Two

Extreme Survival

Gershon Ben Keren

Krav Maga – Extreme Survival by Gershon Ben Keren examines the application of Krav Maga to serious real-world violence and high-risk self-defense situations. Focusing on practical survival rather than competition or martial arts performance, the book considers how Krav Maga techniques and tactical principles can be used when dealing with dangerous and unpredictable threats, focusing on active shooter, home invasions and car-jackings.

Ben Keren emphasizes that effective self-defense involves more than knowing how to strike, block or escape. Understanding violence, recognizing threats, making effective decisions and responding appropriately to rapidly changing circumstances are all essential components of personal safety. This approach places physical techniques within the wider context of situational awareness and survival.

Krav Maga – Extreme Survival is a valuable resource for Krav Maga students, self-defense practitioners and anyone interested in personal safety and violence prevention. It demonstrates how realistic Krav Maga training can prepare individuals to predict, prevent,and avoid violence and, when necessary, how to physically respond to potentially dangerous/deadly encounters.