Just released by Paladin Press – Charles Nelson’s School of Self-Defense Red and Gray manuals in one publication.
No glitz no glamour just some of Charlie’s skills plain and simple and as it was with the real deal Charlie Nelson and his teachings.
Charlie was never a highflying self-promoter or any kind of mass marketing guru. What he was, was the quiet professional that attracted realists.
He was never more uncomfortable than when he in his early days was persuaded to pose in martial arts attire or demonstrate techniques that he had never practiced or would never teach. He told me the pictures were a regretful reminder of what he had to do in those early hard days. Once he got established he made sure that it was his way or not at all and we all loved him for that.
He turned his back on lucrative publicity because he would not say it any other way than how it was. What mattered to him was doing the best by the people he trained and being politically correct did not concern him.
He said it how it was in regards to self-defense and did not suffer fools kindly, they got it straight and he would never sell out on principles for fame or fortune.
You got what you saw with Charlie, an expert who didn’t care about grade, style or ceremony, but did care deeply about his trade and providing the best and safest skills for his people.
History in many arts didn’t get it right, Charlie would say, and their practices could get you killed but he was not like that and his system was a living package that grew with him and with violence in society.
This is what you will find in Charlie’s book, a reflection of his life from childhood to the Military and the early days of his school of self defense until his last days and all the in-betweens.
One of Charlie’s many sayings was that your life was the most important trophy you would ever fight for or defend not some tin cup in a tournament.
This was the man and expert that I had the privilege of visiting and training from for over ten years. What he gave me, money could not buy, and his simple little gems of manuals the first the little gray manual and the second the little red manual are record of some of his teachings.
Charlie was never into fancy publications or snappy videos. There were no contracts or copyrights and we, his members, were the makers and assistants with his projects and he with ours. He gave so much so freely and lived his trade 24/7.
He attracted the serious realist that needed his skills and expertise and they got it.
I met police officers, military personnel, special agents body guards high ranking martial artists and champion fighters that all knew where to go when it came to their self protection against the everyday as well as the unorthodox dangerous and deadly real life realities of violence.
My last time with Charlie at his home in Arkansas.
Sadly Charlie is no longer with us but his legacy lives on through us, his devoted understudies, and now those that never were fortunate enough to have been trained by Charlie can secure copies of his two manuals combined in one publication.
I have been proud to assist Charlie’s daughter Carol with getting this book to publication and this book is something the Nelson family are very proud of.
I urge all former students of the Charles Nelson School of self-defense to purchase copies and all those interested in self-defense and close combat to do like wise.
The sales of this book will benefit Mrs. Nelson and will grow the legend that is Charles Nelson and in turn continue with his lifetime’s work of making people safer.
You can order the book in the US directly from Paladin Press www.paladin-press.com or in New Zealand or Australia from the Todd Group [email protected]
A must for the real serious enthusiast and instructor’s library.
This book will add an insight into the teachings of an American pioneer in practical self-defense and compliment your library.
The following are previous articles I have featured in my free on-line magazine Fight Times on Charlie:
