The book starts off with some terminology and a discussion of some of the maneuvering strategies, ranges for striking and grappling, and the way to learn and combine techniques.
Then Kirby goes through a series of what he calls "Variations on the Basic Drop Throw." These range from a standard tai-otoshi to drop-knee seoi-nage, and yoko-wakare. But Kirby just calls them all "drop throws." Then he goes through a series of pretty good wristlock counters to knife attacks.
Next is a chapter on multiple attackers. He shows a couple of scenarios using two attackers but most of the stuff is written theory. But I like the way Kirby presents things (realistically) and he gives you some ideas to think about. For example, he discusses how a wall can help to protect your blind side but at the same time can cut down your range of movement. While there can be no hard and fast rules with multiple attackers. I agree with most of what Kirby says except that it is always bad to be on the ground.
Then we start to get to some silly stuff. In the review of the Basic Techniques book I mentioned a few of the techniques that I thought were not so good. The tables are turned here so I'll just mention the ones that I think are okay and workable.
Actually, that was more good ones than I thought now that I look at it. Having said that, the ones I skipped over were truly abysmal.
Then Kirby has a chapter on reverses. First he shows three ways to counter ippon-seoi-nage (one arm shoulder throw). The counters are fine but it is an odd technique to spend so much time on. I would think that your average street thug would be more likely to do something like a hip throw or a leg trip. Then he shows a counter to a kote-gaeshi wristlock. Again, unless you are Steven Seagal's wife you are probably not going to get into a fight with an Aikidoka.
Then Kirby has a chapter on "Applying Standing Techniques to Ground Situations." He shows four techniques for when you are on your back and your attacker is straddling you but still on his feet. Why anybody would attack you this way is beyond me. Kirby says that the techniques he shows would work just as well or better if the person was sitting on your chest (i.e. mounted). I doubt it. First the guy is choking you while…I'm just gonna call this position the High-Altitude Mount (HAM) for lack for a better term…in the HAM position and so you just reach over and wristlock one of his arms and flip him off you. Or you could just reach those arms straight up grabbing his chin and some hair and neck crank him off. Or if he is punching you just intercept one of those punches and whizzer it and armbar the guy off of your. Or cross-block the downward punch and armlock him the other way.
Next there is a chapter on "Ground Defenses" which is where you are on the ground but your attacker is still standing (but not in the dreaded HAM position). This is good stuff and a lot of books and videos don't cover this kind of situation. In one Kirby is in the fetal position (Fred Ettish joke anyone?) and his attacker is soccer kicking him. Kirby has you absorbing the kick and rolling up onto the leg to bring the guy down. I think this would work, as would one where the guy is doing a stamping kick. Mind you, the kick will still hurt but with your adrenaline flowing you could, I think, counter this way and carry on fighting.
After this are some situations where you are on your back and your attacker grabs your legs. An odd set up but you are basically in the same position as you would be if someone were standing up in your guard. Kirby shows some moves that would best be described as primitive sweeps but they may work against a total non-grappler. But the oddest move in the book is where Kirby is lying on his back and the attacker comes in from his head side and grabs both of his wrists and starts dragging him along the ground. Kirby curls back and does a two-foot tomoe-nage. What is this move for? Maybe if your attacker thinks he has killed you and is trying to hide your body you spring up "Haha, I was only mostly dead!"
Then there is a chapter "Reversing Holds and Pins on the Ground." The only one worth mentioning is the escape from a scarf hold that is pretty good. The other two may possibly help in getting a totally dead corpse off you.
Finally, we have a chapter on "Staff/Baton Defenses." Not using a baton, but defending against one. Kirby's opponent attacks with cross-checks and butt ends, not the way your average crackhead is going to use a baseball bat or section of lead pipe. Maybe if you tangle with the riot police on occasion. But then Kirby notes: "As a word of caution, you should be aware that a person skilled in the use of a baton, hanbo, or jo may also know effective (and painful) counters to the techniques shown here." So what's the point? Even if the person was not skilled in using a baton I think most of these techniques would never work unless the baton was superglued to the attacker's hands.
I sum up the book in one phrase: stick to the basics.