Gary Benson

Self-Defense After 60 · Illustrated Edition

The Moves And Everyday Tools That Work When You're Older, Slower, And Outmatched

36 chapters and 164 illustrated pages: six simple moves, a version of each for bad knees, a cane or a walker, plus home safety, scams, the law and a 12-week practice program.

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From Gary Benson, 7.8K subscribers

Self-Defense After 60 by Gary Benson, book cover

The Problem

When You're Past 60, The Rules Change

You're not as fast as you were, and your grip isn't what it was. Most self-defense advice still assumes strong knees and quick hands.
A fall that used to mean a bruise can now mean a broken hip. So you wonder what happens if someone shoves you in a parking lot.
The man who picks you is usually younger and bigger, and he's counting on all of that, plus your good manners.

None of that makes you helpless. It means you need a plan built for the body you have now, not the one you had at 30.

Stop Believing

Myths That Get People Hurt

Hold your keys like clawsThe keys twist and cut your own hand. One key out the bottom of your fist and a hammer fist works far better.
A groin kick always drops himNot if he's full of adrenaline. Strike, strike again, and leave. Never wait to see what happens.
There's a secret pressure pointYou won't find it on a moving man under stress. Stick to big targets: eyes, nose, throat, groin, knees.
You have to be strong to winEvery move in the book goes for soft targets, where strength and size don't matter.

The Shift

The people who walk away safe are almost never the biggest or the strongest. They're the ones who knew what to do before trouble showed up.

So every page follows three rules. Short: each move takes one or two seconds. Soft targets: eyes, throat, groin, knees, shins, feet. Escape first: every move ends the same way, you create space and you leave. The goal isn't to win a fight. It's to end one fast and get home.

Why It Works

What You Walk Away Able To Do

Spot the build-up before an attack and leave before you ever need a move
Use six simple moves, from the palm strike to the wrist-grab break, that take a second or two each
Defend yourself from a chair, with a cane or walker, or with bad knees and hips
Know what to do if someone is in the house at night, with a safe room and a plan
Recognize the scams at the door and on the phone that target older people

Is This You

Who This Is For

This Is For You If

You're past 60, or you're helping a parent who is, and want advice built for an older body.
You use a cane or walker, or your knees, hips or hands aren't what they were.
You live alone, or you want a plan for protecting your partner too.

Not For You If

You want a sparring-style martial arts course with belts and ranks.
You're looking for firearms training. The book covers it only as a personal decision.
You need legal advice. The law chapters are general education on U.S. law.

Inside

What You Get

01See It Coming and The Six Moves: awareness levels, danger signs, your ready position, palm strike, eye rake and wrist-grab breakchapters 1–3

02Real attacks: grabs, chokes and bear hugs, fighting from a seat, getting off the ground, limited mobility, and facing a weaponchapters 4–8

03Everyday tools and the first seconds: cane, keys, kubotan, flashlight, pepper spray, your body under stress, and what to saychapters 9–13

04Home, scams, travel and the law: a room-by-room safety checklist, living alone, carjackings and ATMs, first aid, and pepper spray laws in all 50 stateschapters 14–28

05Practice and reference: strength and balance, a 10-minute weekly plan, a 12-week program, 20 "What would you do?" scenarios, printable cheat sheets and a glossarychapters 29–36

One illustrated PDF. No physical book, no video course, no coaching calls.

What It Covers

And What It Does Not

Scored on what the 36 chapters actually teach, not on what any one person will do with it.

Awareness and avoidance The most important chapter comes first, before any moves. 5/5
Simple strikes and escapes Six moves, each illustrated, each with a common mistake to avoid. 5/5
Limited mobility "Can't do that? Do this." versions for knees, hips, hands, canes and walkers. 5/5
Home, scams and travel Practical checklists and plans, not a guide to security systems. 4/5
Legal advice General education on U.S. law only. Check your own state's rules. 1/5

The Difference

Before And After

Without It

You stay put because leaving would seem rude.

You hold your keys between your fingers, the way the movies do it.

A fall leaves you on the ground with no plan for getting up.

A stranger with a good story at the door gets the benefit of the doubt.

With Gary Benson

You read the danger signs and walk away early, no moves needed.

You keep one key out the bottom of your fist and use a hammer fist.

You know the safe stand-up, which keeps you facing the threat.

You spot the scams at the door and on the phone before they work.

About

Who Wrote This

Years in the military taught me one thing about staying alive: the people who walk away safe are the ones who knew what to do before trouble showed up. I wrote this book to make you one of them. Not to win a fight. To end one fast and get home.

Years in the militaryWritten for people over 60

Creator of the Gary Benson YouTube channel, 7.8K subscribers

The Offer

Get The Complete Illustrated Edition

164 pages, one file. Print the cheat sheets for the fridge and the car, and keep the rest on your phone.

What You Get

All 36 chapters: awareness, the six moves, common attacks, limited mobility, weapons and everyday tools
Home safety, scams, travel, first aid, and pepper spray laws for all 50 states
A 10-minute weekly practice plan and a 12-week program
20 "What would you do?" scenarios, printable cheat sheets, a glossary and sources
One PDF, read on any device, yours forever with no subscription

$37

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FAQ

The Questions Buyers Ask

I'm 78 and use a cane. Is any of this realistic for me?

Yes. Most of the book doesn't need strength or speed: awareness, distance, your voice, your phone and leaving early work for anyone. Then there's the cane itself, used with short jabs, and simple strikes like the palm strike. A whole chapter covers self-defense with limited mobility.

Do I need to be fit or strong to use it?

No. Every move goes for soft targets where size doesn't matter, and most moves come with a "Can't do that? Do this." version for bad knees, bad hips or weak hands. There's also an optional chapter on staying hard to knock down, with easy versions of each exercise.

I already watch the videos. What's different about the book?

It puts everything in one place, in order, with illustrations, plus things a video can't do well: a room-by-room home checklist, a 50-state pepper spray law table, a 12-week program, and cheat sheets you can print and keep in the car.

Is it safe to practice at home?

Talk to your doctor before you practice, especially if you have heart trouble, joint replacements, osteoporosis, balance problems, or take blood thinners. Then practice slowly, with a partner who knows to stop when you say stop. Look for the "Practice it." notes, which show a slow, safe way to drill each move.

Is this legal advice?

No. The law chapters explain U.S. self-defense law in plain terms and list pepper spray rules by state, but laws change and differ by place. Treat them as general education and check the rules where you live.

Is it a physical book?

No, it's a 164-page illustrated PDF you can download right after checkout. It reads on a phone, tablet or computer, and you can print any page, including the cheat sheets at the back.

The Moves And Everyday Tools That Work When You're Older, Slower, And Outmatched

When You're Past 60, The Rules Change

Myths That Get People Hurt

What You Walk Away Able To Do

Who This Is For

This Is For You If

Not For You If

What You Get

And What It Does Not

Before And After

Real Pages From The Book

Ten Minutes A Week. That's The Whole Commitment.

Who Wrote This

Get The Complete Illustrated Edition

The Questions Buyers Ask

I'm 78 and use a cane. Is any of this realistic for me?

Do I need to be fit or strong to use it?

I already watch the videos. What's different about the book?

Is it safe to practice at home?

Is this legal advice?

Is it a physical book?

Read It Once. Practice A Little Every Week.