When Seconds Count: Everyone's Guide To Self-Defense

This no-nonsense self-defense system instructs law-abiding citizens on defending themselves against the rising threat of violent crime. It provides the practical skills, proven techniques and necessary confidence to avoid, defuse, confront or neutralize armed and unarmed assailants. When seconds count, you don't have time for mistakes.

Sammy Franco is among the world's leading authorities on armed and unarmed combat. Highly regarded as a pioneer and innovator of combat sciences, Mr. Franco is the founder and creator of Contemporary Fighting Arts, a scientific and practical combat system designed specifically to provide the most efficient and effective methods possible to avoid, defuse, confront, and neutralize both armed and unarmed assailants. Mr. Franco has authored numerous magazine articles and several books, as well as a series of instructional videotapes. He has also been featured in newspaper articles and on radio and television programs, including CBS' 48 Hours with Dan Rather.

Mr. Franco is a Law Enforcement Master Instructor who teaches and supervises defensive tactics training for local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the United States Border Patrol. He is a member of the prestigious American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET) and is also listed in the "Who's Who Directory of Law Enforcement Instructors." In addition, Mr.Franco is a nationally certified police instructor in the following curriculums: PR-24 Side-Handle Baton, Police Arrest and Control Procedures, Police Personal Weapons Tactics, Police Power Handcuffing Methods, Police Oleoresin Capsicum Aerosol Training (OCAT), Police Weapon Retention and Disarming Methods, Police Edged Weapon Countermeasures and "Use of Force" Assessment and Response Methods. He is also a nationally certified firearms instructor (police and civilian) who specializes in firearm safety, personal protection, and advanced combat shooting.

Mr. Franco holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and is regularly featured as a speaker at a number of professional conferences. He also conducts exciting and enlightening seminars on the martial arts, self-defense, and firearms. As part of his ongoing mission to deliver "the combative truth," Mr. Franco has also authored seven books. Four of these--Street Lethal, Killer Instinct, When Seconds Count, and 1001 Street Fighting Secrets--are currently available through Paladin Press. The other three, tentatively titled "First Strike," "The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall," and "War Machine," are under contract with Paladin.