Latest news with #memoir
Associated Press
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
GySgt. Dale Simmons' Life of Combat Now Available as Audiobook, Offering Insights into Revolutionary Military Hand-to-Hand Combat System
Life of Combat by GySgt. Dale Simmons, detailing his journey to introduce the SAMBO combat system to the U.S. Marine Corps, is now available in audiobook format, offering powerful insights into military combat and resilience United States, June 28, 2025 -- GySgt. Dale Simmons' Life of Combat Now Available as Audiobook GySgt. Dale Simmons' highly anticipated memoir, Life of Combat, is now available in audiobook format on Amazon. This gripping autobiography chronicles Simmons' remarkable journey as he worked to introduce the Russian hand-to-hand combat system, SAMBO, to the U.S. Marine Corps. The audiobook offers a firsthand account of his experiences training Marines in a counter-combat technique, overcoming both physical and psychological challenges along the way. Life of Combat captures the struggles and triumphs of a man who, despite a difficult and traumatic childhood, grew into a respected combat instructor. It's a story of resilience, persistence, and the mental and physical toll that military combat demands. For those interested in military history, martial arts, and personal stories of overcoming adversity, Life of Combat provides an unparalleled, authentic perspective on military life. From Personal Struggles to Combat Mastery Simmons' story begins long before he became a Marine Corps instructor. As a child, he faced significant trauma, from abuse to a severe dog bite injury that left lasting scars. These early life challenges shaped his determination to learn martial arts, leading him to teach himself various combat techniques, from hand-to-hand combat to assassination methods learned from other cultures. Through intense self-discipline, Simmons eventually found his calling within the Marine Corps. He noticed a gap in the hand-to-hand combat training for Marines and worked to fill it by introducing SAMBO, a Russian system known for its brutal effectiveness. His Counter-SAMBO course became an integral part of Marine Corps training, eventually training 93 Marines to instructor level. 'I always felt that the Marines deserved better training to survive in hand-to-hand combat,' says Simmons. 'The Soviets had mastered SAMBO, and I believed that American troops needed a counter-system that was just as effective.' Overcoming Resistance and Bureaucratic Challenges Simmons' attempt to introduce the Counter-SAMBO program was met with resistance from military leaders, who were reluctant to adopt foreign techniques. Furthermore, Simmons faced bureaucratic roadblocks, psychological opposition from colleagues, and even personal attacks throughout his journey. Despite these obstacles, Simmons refused to back down, believing that the course could ultimately save lives. His story is one of determination and the pursuit of excellence against all odds. 'I had the weight of 172,000 Marines on my back,' Simmons recalls. 'It wasn't just about teaching combat—it was about ensuring they were prepared for the realities of close-quarters combat.' A Powerful Message of Perseverance Simmons' memoir is not just for military professionals or martial artists—it's a source of inspiration for anyone who has faced adversity. The book is a testament to the power of perseverance and never giving up, even when the odds seem impossible. Simmons' journey demonstrates that no matter how difficult life may seem, determination, hard work, and self-belief can lead to success. 'The fight wasn't just physical—it was mental, emotional, and bureaucratic,' says Simmons. 'But I knew I had to keep pushing forward, no matter the cost. If it meant saving the lives of my fellow Marines, it was worth it.' Simmons Receives Prestigious Award for Martial Arts Instruction Adding to his accolades, GySgt. Dale Simmons has recently been honored with the Best Martial Arts Instructor for Military Personnel in the U.S. of 2025 award, as announced on June 27, 2025. This award, given by Best of Best Review, recognizes Simmons' groundbreaking work in martial arts training for military personnel, especially his development of the Counter-SAMBO combat course. His work has revolutionized the approach to military hand-to-hand combat training, combining practical techniques with a deep understanding of psychological and tactical expertise. 'It's a humbling honor to receive this award,' says Simmons. 'It's a recognition of the hard work and sacrifices made to ensure our Marines are ready for any combat scenario. I'm proud to continue contributing to the legacy of excellence in military training.' Now Available in Audiobook Format In addition to the book's written version, Life of Combat is now available in audiobook format. The audiobook brings Simmons' story to life, offering an immersive listening experience that reaches an even wider audience. The format is ideal for those who prefer to absorb the narrative while on the go, making it a valuable addition for both casual listeners and combat sports enthusiasts. 'I'm thrilled to offer this book in audiobook format,' Simmons says. 'It allows even more people to hear the story of perseverance, the lessons of combat, and the dedication it takes to make a difference in the world.' The audiobook version of Life of Combat is now available for purchase on Amazon. To purchase or learn more about the book, visit About Life of Combat Life of Combat is the true story of GySgt. Dale Simmons, a former Marine who developed the Counter-SAMBO hand-to-hand combat system for the U.S. Marine Corps. The book details his journey from a traumatic childhood to becoming a leader in military combat training, and his mission to help fellow Marines survive the brutal realities of close-quarters combat. With a passion for martial arts and an unyielding drive to save lives, Simmons' story provides insight into overcoming adversity and the importance of resilience in combat. Media Contact Dale Craig Simmons Close Combat Scientist Email: [email protected] Website Contact Info: Name: Dale Craig Simmons Email: Send Email Organization: Life of Combat Website: Release ID: 89163446 Should you detect any errors, issues, or discrepancies with the content contained within this press release, or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team will be available to promptly respond and take necessary steps within the next 8 hours to resolve any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. We value the trust placed in us by our readers and remain dedicated to providing accurate and reliable information.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
My Cousin Maria Schneider by Vanessa Schneider, translated by Molly Ringwald
My Cousin Maria Schneider: A Memoir Author : Vanessa Schneider, tr. Molly Ringwald ISBN-13 : 9781472158574 Publisher : Corsair Guideline Price : £10.99 Recounting the press coverage of her cousin Maria Schneider's death (known to most of us as the actor from Last Tango in Paris), Vanessa Schneider writes: 'No one writes about how, when you die, you are sipping champagne, your favourite drink … You leave us amidst bubbles and bursts of laughter, loving faces and smiles – upright with your head held high, a little tipsy. With panache.' Beside this, in the margin I have written 'the dream'. Not that Maria's life was a dream, but scenes like this show Vanessa's magnificent balance of tone . There is something distinctly French in this ability to recount injustice and pain without wallowing in it. There's an enviable simplicity of form, reminiscent of a jumbled photograph album, with each section recounting a memory or fact taken (seemingly) at random. Vanessa's sentences, too, translated by another actor, Molly Ringwald, put me in mind of those of Annie Ernaux, in their all-encompassing brevity. It's almost as if the best French writing is like the best French fashion, each paragraph conveying its message with straightforward elegance. She even pulls off the (usually dangerously insipid) second person, writing directly to 'you', Maria – no mean feat. READ MORE As for Maria herself, it's quickly made clear that the perfect storm of an abusive mother, a manipulatively charismatic father, precocious physical attractiveness, natural talent, a taste for fun and professional mistreatment all led, perhaps inevitably, to addiction. Yet, although her heroin problem is recounted in graphic detail, it's again without the excess of pathos one might fear from an adoring relative. I felt only admiration when Vanessa writes: 'There are few people who admit to fearing the madness of others and fleeing in the face of it. [He] put into words our family's ambivalence – the rush of relief, and the attendant shame we feel when we don't hear from you.' All in all, this is a timely recounting of the toxic misogyny that existed in filmmaking in the 1970s, contained within a candid yet loving celebration of an actor who was offered up as one of its many female sacrifices. Yet, despite the numerous harrowing events of her life, one comes away from these pages admiring rather than pitying Maria. A quiet triumph.
Fast Company
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Navigating the unknown: Jon Gluck on his cancer journey and embracing uncertainty
This week on The Most Innovative Podcast, Josh and Yaz sit down with Fast Company senior editor Jon Gluck to discuss his powerful memoir that explores the unexpected twists and emotional terrain of his battle with cancer.
Wall Street Journal
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘The End Is the Beginning' Review: Her Mother's Days, Unspooled
Iris Yvonne Bialosky typified a generation of women taught to value marriage and family—above all, pleasing a husband—over a career or other measures of accomplishment and self-worth. Those traditional mores nourished her at times. But they also handicapped her, especially when unexpected tragedies—a husband's premature death, a daughter's suicide—pushed her promised life off course. In 'The End Is the Beginning,' Iris's daughter Jill Bialosky portrays her mother's yearnings and stumbles with tenderness and candor. Inspired by Thomas Mann's 'The Magic Mountain' (1924) and T.S. Eliot's 'Four Quartets' (1943), Ms. Bialosky starts her narrative with 86-year-old Iris's death, from Alzheimer's disease, in a memory-care facility. Ms. Bialosky's grief is accentuated by the timing—late March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic made traveling and attending funerals nearly impossible. Stranded on Long Island, N.Y., Ms. Bialosky witnesses her mother's Jewish burial in Cleveland over FaceTime. This memoir, moving backward through the past, constitutes a more nuanced and final farewell. Each chapter describes a major event or turning point in Iris's trajectory, as foreshadowed in previous chapters. Instead of squelching suspense, Ms. Bialosky—a novelist, memoirist and poet—skillfully uses reverse chronology to build it. The most resonant mystery involves the author's untangling of her own feelings about the woman who raised her with love but also negligence. 'My mother could be inscrutable, irrational, impulsive, willful, demanding,' Ms. Bialosky writes. 'She was never ordinary.'
Washington Post
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
A writer faces her painful past, with the help of Virginia Woolf
If you're looking for a memoir with a logical structure, like a beginning, middle and end, Heather Christle's meditative 'In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf' is not the book for you. The author of the best-selling 'The Crying Book,' as well as four books of poems, Christle, the daughter of an English mother and an American father, travels to England to find out more about the maternal side of her family. While there, she reconstructs her own memories of visiting London, and steeps herself in the life of Woolf, who serves as her guide on this journey, a kind of Virgil to Christle's Dante.
