#316 — Self-Defense: Reality and Fantasy

Sam Harris speaks with Matt Thornton about his new book, “The
Gift of Violence: Practical Knowledge for Surviving and Thriving
in a Dangerous World.” They discuss his background in martial
arts, the reasons to train in combat sports, the UFC and the
evolution of mixed martial arts, the fundamental principles of
effective martial arts, the "street" vs "sport" fallacy,
grappling vs striking, the persistence of fake martial arts,
Bruce Lee’s legacy, male violence and emotional maturity, the
male fear of humiliation, violence against women, the validity of
instinct, the behavior of predators, weapons, avoiding violence,
and other topics.


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Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment
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