Book Description
Knife fighting is ugly business, so you'd better know what you're doing if you ever find yourself in one. This book will show you the down-and-dirty reality of knife fighting, from choosing the best knife to devious street tricks commonly used to get in the first strike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

A Good Primer on Knives and Knife Fighting
"Knives, Knife Fighting, & Related Hassles: How to Survive a Real Knife Fight" by Marc "Animal" MacYoung is not his best book, but it does contain some gems of information that just might save your life if you ever face a knife.It is a rather short book, especially compared to some of MacYoung's other works.This book is only 116 pages long.But in this short space, MacYoung introduces some important topics related to knives and fighting with them.

Being a friend of Marc, sometimes I can't help but read things into his books based on training, working, and sharing together.Reading some of the things he has written makes me remember other things we have done or that he has shared in person which make the lessons more relevant.I find that true with this book, since reading it makes me remember the hours we spent out in the back yard in California practicing with knives.I point this out to let readers know that as a friend and someone who has trained and worked with MacYoung, I have a bit of bias.

As for "Knives, Knife Fighting, & Related Hassles," it is one of the earlier books that MacYoung wrote, and you can tell he was a bit closer to the streets at that time than he is now.(which is reflected in his later books too)The book by no means contains everything about knives and knife fighting, but then what book does.This book is a very good introductory piece on knives and knife fighting, and for some it may be all they need.After all, knife fighting is not something most people do on a regular basis, and even those who train in martial arts or self-defense systems should be focusing on staying out of knife fights rather than looking for them.Fighting is ugly, and when you add blades it multiplies that ugliness a thousand times.

This book contains eleven short chapters:

1. Knives and Related Hassles sets out a few of MacYoung's qualifications and what he is attempting with this book.He admits he doesn't know everything about knife fighting, but I guarantee you that if you read this short book you will know more than many people out there.

2. Nuts and Bolts contains some basic information about knives in general.He quickly covers some types of blades and points out that you should get a good one and keep it sharp.

3. Mental Homework is a chapter on how serious knife fighting is and suggests some good information on mindset, awareness and such.

4. Mobility and Balance are extremely important in anything physical and in any kind of fight they are especially important.This short chapter gives you a couple things to think about and practice to improve yours.

5. Guard is a very short chapter where MacYoung describes some Chinese based slap/whip blocks that he prefers.

6. Grip, Heft, and Balance describes ways a blade can be held and used.MacYoung covers some basic ways to hold a knife as well as a few that are more obscure and less practical.But it is good to be familiar with them, the information never hurts.

7. Stance obviously is how you stand and thus move in a knife fight.MacYoung covers some various ways and teaches his preferred way.Your stance will vary with the kind of training you do, but this chapter is a good introduction.

8. Quickdraw is a chapter that points out that having a weapon is not always the same as being able to get to it.Some good concepts here.

9. Draws covers some various ways to carry and draw a blade.

10. Fighting is a chapter with some good practical information.As is..

11. Combat

Overall, this is a quick read with some good information on knives and knife fighting.It is not my favorite of MacYoung's books, but for the price not bad to pick up and learn something.As I mentioned earlier, MacYoung was closer to the street when he wrote the book.His language and clothing reflect that.For people who have only read his recent works, this might surprise people.I think one thing is shows is how far MacYoung has come since those days.I for one am very glad he has evolved and shared his knowledge along the journey.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series

Very General
This book gives you a taste of whats available but does not give you a good bite. The book is well written and humerous, but it did not provide what i was lookinf for. All in all a good read.

Probably the best book on "knife fighting" in print
This book will save your life.Specifically, it dispels various extremely dangerous myths about knives and knife fighting.The knife is not a self defense weapon.The only purpose of carrying a knife is to kill someone, in an extremely messy and rather dangerous (to yourself) manner.There is no self defense aspect about it.And if you think different, you will either end up dead.Or you will end up being anally raped by psychopaths for the rest of your life.Most people carrying knives (who aren't murdering scum, that is) are dangerously misinformed about what a knife is, how to use it tactically (it's an assassination type weapon....as in you sneak up to someone and stab them while they aren't looking) and the psychological issues of knife fighting.There are hard lessons in this book from a hard man.

Heavy Knife-related Info
I have zero experience with issues covered in this book.However, M"A"Y has some very plausible things to say, and the section on various concealment grips alone was worth the $$.His information corroborates and expands on that contained in "Logic of Steel" (by another author), the book I chose to begin my study of steel.

One of a handful of good books on the subject!
Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Marc "Animal" MacYoung's, "Knives, Knife Fighting and Related Hassles."

As you already know, if you have read any of my reviews of Marc's books, one of the great things that I absolutely love about Marc's writing is his no-holds barred direct approach to getting his point across. There is never any sugarcoating or politically correct terminology is his books. He simply tells it like it is, whether you like it or not. Marc's not-so-politically correct way of explaining things is always refreshing in today's society where everyone wants to sugarcoat everything so as not to offend anyone. In some ways, I would compare Marc's method of teaching to the comical rants of George Carlin. You may be offended by what he says, but by golly it's the truth. And yes, sometimes the truth hurts.

Once again, Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book deals with the use of knives and the related problems that come from not only using them, but having them used on you. Marc stresses a very important point in this section, that fighting in a combat situation during war time is a whole lot different than fighting some obnoxious drunk at the local bar in front of a dozen or more witnesses.

Marc starts out with a brief overview, which is immediately followed with a "Nuts and Bolts" section in which he discusses the various legalities and types of knives you are likely to face when, and if, you are ever in a confrontation involving knives. Marc also gives you some good advice on how to choose a knife and what to look for in choosing one.

The next chapter, Mental Homework, I found particularly interesting. In this chapter Marc covers such areas as awareness, witnesses, using your brains, and my favorite M.P.S. Now I am not going to do a spoiler here and tell you what M.P.S. stands for, you are just going to have to buy the book in order to find out.

The next chapter discusses the use of avoidance as the best possible method and if that isn't a viable alternative, then the following chapter discusses the use of blocking and parrying the knife. Marc like most good instructors on knife fighting is a strong advocate of avoiding a knife fight first and then running if you can't avoid it. Only as a last resort should you actual engage in a knife fight if at all possible. This chapter also gives you a few good training ideas that you can use to increase your mobility and balance.

Chapters six through nine focus on the use of the knife during a fight from the perspective of you being the one with the knife. Marc covers all the basics in these chapters such as:

1. How to hold a knife and the various grips you can use.
2. Picking a knife that fits you.
3. Various knife fighting stances.
4. Utilizing a "Quickdraw" in order to get your knife into use.
5. Various types of draws for getting your knife out and ready to use.

The next two chapters are gems all by themselves. In the first of the two chapters, Marc talks about the difference between a knife fight and combat. In the former it may be possible to merely wound your opponent and then give them the opportunity to retreat. In the latter, you must be prepared to kill him, or be killed yourself. If you are faced with a combat type situation involving a knife, the final chapter in this book gives you some things to consider before you are ever in that particular situation.

Also in chapter ten Marc includes a section on basic training principles and methods in order to improve your knife fighting and defending skills. Like all of Marc's books, I find this information on the principles behind the techniques very useful, and it is usually a very good indicator of a high quality self-defense and/or martial arts book. ... Read more

Book Description
Originally published in 1936, this book is extremely rare in its early editions. Hugely informative and in-depth, it is a complete treatise on the breed covering the entire field, with particular emphasis on dog-fighting. Colby discusses selection, breeding, conditioning, gameness and care of the pit dog. Interviews all the trainers of the day, pictures and discusses all the greatest dogs, including Donovan's Boxer, Tige and Pilot, Brown's Tacoma Jack, Leeming's Butte and all of Colby's kennel. Details of many famous battles and lists of champions. Also includes conditioning, breeding and whelping chart. Contents Include: Origin of the Pit Bull Terrier - History of the American Pit Bull Terrier - American Pit Bull Terrier Standard - The American Pit Bull Terrier - An All Purpose Dog - Selecting a Puppy - Selecting the Brood Matron - Selecting the Stud Dog - Selecting the Pit Dog - The Greatest Pit Dog I Have Ever Owned - Mitchell's Prof-Spike - Barber's Hobo Joe - Colby's Pincher Pr. Exeter Ace - Colby's Bunch - Colby's Gully - Mexico's Champion Sordito vs Exchave's Jeff - Miller's Buddy vs Breeding's Tom - W.H.D. Vose and John P. Colby - The Treadmill or Conditioning Machine - Gameness and the Pit Dog - Preparing the Pit Dog for Battle - Conditioning the Pit Dog - General Care of the Dog After a Battle - Helpful Suggestions in Fighting Dogs - Rules Governing Recognized Pit Contests - Champions of Record - States Requiring Veterinarians Certificate - Suggestions on Shipping a Dog - Cropping the Ears - Technical Terms as Applied to Dogs - Condition Chart - Stud Service Chart - Breeding Chart - Whelping Chart ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A book ahead of it's time
If you can find a copy of this fine little book, get it!It is amazing how so many of the things written in this book about how the media and some of the public views the APBT back in 1936 is not much different than now.There are stories by other big dog men of the day also in this book.Brief info on dog selection, breeding, and conditioning are also covered.There are some interesting ads from the era at the back of the book.I would very much like to see a reprint of this book done, I would buy another copy!!! ... Read more

Book Description
Originally published in 1926, the book is extremely rare in its first edition. The book comprises of a collection of articles put together by the editor of the Pit Bull Fancier - the leading Game Dog journal of the day - and is packed with photographs and information. A fascinating read for any fan of the breed.Contents include: The Origin of the Bull Terrier - Famous Dogs of the Past - Battle Record of Maguires Old Smuggler - Farewell to the Game - The Famous Old Danger - Two Famous Battles - Jack the Ripper - The Turk vs Jim Battle - The Great Interstate Battle - Superior Gameness Shown in Major vs Shine - A Lively Dog Fight - The Famous Gas House Dog - Famous Battles - Battle Given by H.E Reynolds of Jackson, Mississippi - Corcoran's Terry - The Famous Crazy Kate - Through that First One - A Battle of Interest - Rules Governing Recognized Pit Contests - The Pit Bull Terrier of Today - A Word to Beginners - Careful Breeding - Training of a Pup -Feeding the Pup - How to Condition for the Pit - Handling in the Pit - Three Game Dog Types - On Gameness - To Chain Break a Dog - Diseases and Treatment - Rabies or Hydrophobia - Care of Bitch and Puppies -When to Breed - The Spring-Pole - Some of the Foul Tricks Used - Names of Some Great Dog Fanciers and Their Dogs - Learn By Doing - A Flea to the Jury ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A nice historical review of the American Pitbull Terrier.
What a great way to put such a great representation of this breed by having bobtail bob right on the front cover! I do not condone dog fighting, however that is part of this American breeds history! And that is where it remains, but its crucial information that we as owners should never forget....believe it or not, but if you actually know your dogs history, human agression was discouraged back then, it was a liability (considering there was no health insurance back then) these old time dogmen bred these dogs to have stable strong temperaments, not these weak unsound dogs that are being bred today. Educate yourself first before casting judgement on an entire breed of dog.

Historical Book on the American Pit Bull Terrier
This book is a collector's item for those who have studied the antecedents of the modern day American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Pit Bull Terrier.Our society has changed significantly from those early days.Back then, dog fighting was considered a legitimate "sport".In fact, popular dog fighting rules were called:"The Police Gazette Rules".
This is a valuable part of American History and is now a part of my APBT literature collection.Those who love this breed should ignore the self-righteous comments of those who would like to legislate what we should and should not read.
Barney Fife's Brother

Sick
I have decided to never again order anything from Amazon.com even though I love their service. That they do not get that they are promoting Animal Cruelty or don't care tells me they are not to be trusted now or in the future. ... Read more

Book Description
Fighting dogs have existed in some form and in numerous societies for thousands of years. These dogs and the purposes for which they were developed have been an endless source of fascination and intense study for several centuries. Now this important new book brings a meaningful historical perspective to the entire subject. A Complete History of Fighting Dogs details the dogs of war, and all the forms of baiting and fighting sports that were developed and the dogs that were used in them. When the reader is done a new appreciation is gained for the contemporary fighting breeds and their valiant ancestors.

With the help of a spectacular collection of historical and contemporary illustrations, this book provides a unique insight and much-needed understanding into one of the world's oldest canine groupings. Some of these are reproduced here for the first time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

One You Should Read
You will get exactly what you pay for in this book: a good education in the history of fighting dogs. From Lion Baiting to Ratting this book covers it all and will give you an understanding of the forces that shaped the grand fighting breeds we have today, like the noble American Pit Bull Terrier.

Excellent Research
Factually this book is highly enlightening and enjoyable to read.I was riveted at the first person narratives and inside jokes of the dog pits.My only complaint is that Mike loses track of himself towards the last three chapters and leaves the reader hanging for more at the end.I would love to see more books by this author and maybe a revised version of this book with a better conclusion.

Excellent Research
Factually this book is highly enlightening and enjoyable to read.I was riveted at the first person narratives and inside jokes of the dog pits.My only complaint is that Mike loses track of himself towards the last three chapters and leaves the reader hanging for more at the end.I would love to see more books by this author and maybe a revised version of this book with a better conclusion.

finally the subject matter speaks for itself!
The best book on game dog breeds I have yet to read.The author's painstaking, thorough research into his subject matter pays off in a book that gives the reader all that they could ask for pertaining to fighting dogs, their origins, and history.An added bonus for me with this publication was that I didn't have to sift through any passive/aggressive ego-stroking, and/or personal politcal flavorings from the author that taint the digestion of information in other books of similar subject matter.(I.E. c. semencic)

Puts all other pitbull books to shame
Telling you like it was back in the "good" old days. I've read a lot of books on the pitbull terrier and this is by far the best one. It has tons of old pictures and prints that I've never seen before. It is a complete history with accounts of bull~baiting, bear~baiting, lion~baiting, and of course dog~fighting. He doesn't sugarcoat anything, sometimes the dogs were simply over~matched and he tells it. A must have for the pitbull historian, I highly reccomend it. ... Read more

Book Description
Real fights almost always end up on the ground, where there's the ever-present danger of getting stomped, stabbed or worse. Animal shows you the necessary jerking, jabbing, gouging and biting nastiness you need to know to fight effectively once you're on the floor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

MacYoung tells it like it is.
It is imperative to understand and appreciate the differences between a wrestling match and a real-life struggle for survival on the ground. This book is a no-holds barred look at the reality of ground-fighting. Topics covered include breakfall techniques, offensive and defensive ranges, what happens when you hit the floor, counters, floor-fighting positions, triangle defense, defending against stomps, and striking from the floor, and keeping the other guy down.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction; co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt

Great book on the realities of fighting on the ground, not in the ring!
Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Marc "Animal" Mac Young's, "Floor Fighting."

As you may well know from my previous reviews of Marc's books, one of the things that I absolutely love about his style of writing is his no-holds barred direct approach to getting his point across. There is never any sugarcoating or politically correct terminology is his books. He simply tells it like it is, whether you like it or not.

Once again, Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book focuses on the subject of fighting on the ground, which as most of us know, is where the vast majority of fights end up. As with all of his books, Marc really gives you an in-depth look at the principles behind the techniques that he explains in his books. This is one of the true tests of a quality martial arts or self-defense book.

The Basics:

In this section, Marc goes over with you the four laws of surviving a trip or fall to the ground. He also goes over the techniques for rolling backward, forward, to the side, and over your shoulder. As always, the principles behind these techniques are gone over in great detail.

Breaking Grips:

This section not only shows you the techniques for breaking someone's grip on you, but also the four things that are likely to happen if you don't break their grip. One unique item I found very practical was that if you aren't able to break free from someone's grip, punch out of it. This is very practical and useful information. Marc also includes a brief section on how to deal with advanced grips.

Spoiling the Dance:

If you do end up falling down to the ground, this section supplies you with the principles and techniques that you can use to increase your chances of landing on top of your opponent, rather than on the bottom. Marc also shows you how to increase the damage to your opponent by using your elbows and knees on him when you fall. Also included in this section are techniques on how to roll with the impact of falling, gaining and keeping your distance from your opponent until you are able to get back to your feet, and how to deal with someone who knows how to throw you.

Floor work:

This section covers several areas such as;

1. Offensive and Defensive Ranges.
2. What happens when you hit the floor.
3. Countering, deflect the attack rather than blocking it.
4. Best floor fighting position.
5. Triangle Defense.
6. How to defend against the stomping kick.
7. Offensive Ground Techniques.

Wrasslin':

In this section Marc goes over some of the things to do and not to do when rolling around on the ground with your opponent. This includes generally speaking not punching your opponent, except for the use of hooks and uppercuts. Although you can make good use of the ground mauling techniques that Marc goes over in this section.

Keeping Your Man Down on the Ground:

Marc makes a very valid point here in the fact that once you have your opponent on the ground, make sure he stays down until after you have safely left the area or until you have ascertained that he is no longer a threat. Marc also takes a look at the very real possibility that you are the one who ends up on the ground. If this happens, he explains how not to get up from the ground and why. As well as, how to get up safely with minimal chance of getting hurt while doing so.

As with all of Marc's books and this one is no exception, it is loaded with tons of very good practical information that would be a definite asset to anyone wanting to improve their self-defense skills.

Fighting on the ground
As the name of the book implies, this book concentrates on fighting on the ground. The book starts with basics, where the author explains how to fall safely and without injury. Then the book handles techniques on how to break free from a grip, how to take your opponent with you when falling, how to defend yourself when on the ground, how to wrestle effectively, and finally how to get up from the ground.

The book covers some good principles on fighting. There are also numerous little tricks and techniques of ground fighting. Most of the techniques seem very simple, therefore easy to learn. What I especially liked was that the author does not just teach the techniques, but he also explains the physics and principles that make the technique work. That makes it easier to understand the techniques. There are some photographs and line drawings, to clarify the explanations. Sadly, there are some techniques without any pictures, making it somewhat harder to grasp what the author is saying.

Although the author does a good job on explaining the techniques, it is clearly visible how difficult it is to teach a physical skill with written text and a few pictures. That is the major shortcoming with all books like this, and not this book alone. With more pictures, this shortcoming could have been somewhat evaded.

Clearly, some readers are offended by the somewhat harsh language and sense of humour Animal is using, but they didn't bother me. I found the little stories Animal uses to illustrate a point somewhat amusing, but I can relate to readers who are put off by them.

To sum it up, I would say that to fully benefit from this book, you should have some previous experience on martial arts and/of wrestling, and a training partner with whom to experiment the techniques. As it is very hard to reach a physical skill without being able to present the action with moving picture, the techniques and some of the principles presented may be a little hard to understand by just reading the book.

Very useful
Fighting on the Floor is a very difficult thing. Everyone who does a martial art covering that topic knows that. But when a "real" fight goes to the ground, everything's much more difficult. So in this book, MacYoung describes ways to keep the damage on your side as low as possible, and getting the damage on the opponent's side as high as possible. And like all the other books from this author, it's the neat little tricks that make this topic interesting.

It's alright, but not the best
Cheap Shots, Ambushes, etc was better. Some right-on advice and a few nasty ideas/moves. Worth buying, but don't expect too much...he basically says being on the floor is bad, so don't do it, and get up really quick ifyou go down. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on February 21, 2003. The length of the article is 966 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Fighting birds, fighting words.(Politics)(Breeders and animal welfare groups debate new restrictions on raising poultry)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: February 21, 2003
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: C1

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

The four-volume Science of Everyday Things set illustrates the importance of scientific and mathematical principles through their use in everyday life. Each volume focuses on a specific scientific disciplinebiology, chemistry, earth sciences and physicsoffering an in-depth understanding of each discipline and its theories, creating a sense of real-life relevance for students and those not scientifically-inclined, and including interesting facts and details relating to each principle. The fascinating entries offer explanations of concepts using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, and present theories in their everyday applications. Some examples of the entries covered include how osmosis is used in dehydrating fruit; Charles' law and the chemical reaction that sets off an airbag; and how algorithms are used to figure out the NCAA playoff tournaments.

Book Description
"Young children will identify with this simple friendship story that provides a good lesson on working things out together. The soft, appealing watercolor characters and the tranquil background setting blend to make this a beautiful story to share. Children will easily relate to Davy and his struggles, whether this is the first or the sixth tiem that they meet him." (School Library Journal)

"In Davy's sixth appearance, bunny best friends battle and bond again. Neither saccharine nor angst-ridden, this is a comfortable, comforting take on a perennial picturebook theme." (Booklist)

Customer Reviews (2)

"I Thought You Two Had a Fight" "Oh, That Was Ages Ago!"
I recently discovered the "Miko" books written by Brigitte Weninger and so I thought I'd look into some of her other works. "Why Are You Fighting, Davy?" (which is illustrated by Eve Tharlet and nicely translated into English by Rosemary Lanning) is the first in her series of "Davy" books that I have read. It's a compelling story of friends who get into a fight, but decide to make up.

Davy has a best friend named Eddie and they enjoy playing together by the brook in their neighborhood. Their play on this particular day has a nautical theme --- one of them has decided to build a dam and the other is building a boat. They shake hands on it and get down to work on their building. They're having a lot of fun, but when the dam bursts, it sweeps away Davy's boat. Davy is terribly upset. They get into a fight and roll over and over until they fall in the water. Then, Davy says that he never wants to see Eddie again.

Davy decides to shun Eddie and looks for other opportunitites to play. But he begins to find that there's nobody available to play with --- and he sure doesn't want to play with his baby sister. Will Davy and Eddie get back together.

Anyone who's ever argued with a best friend can find something to identify with in this story. The illustrations have a simple, pastel look and are generally comforting. As bunnies, the characters are rather cute, but the illustrations have a unique and special quality.

A simple friendship story
After fighting with a best friend, Davy found less fun to play alone. The relationship is mended as they found strengths of each other and needed help. A good lesson for young children to work things out together. I also like the beautiful illustration and would like to read others in the series. ... Read more

Book Description
Animal says that it’s awareness, wits and fists that will keep you safe out there, not some fancy Oriental fighting form. And here, he gets down to the fine points and brutal technicalities of blows and targeting – the critical stuff that will keep you from becoming dead meat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Another "eye opener" for everyone from Animal!
Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Marc "Animal" MacYoung's, "Fists, Wits, and a Wicked Right."

Once again, Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book is simply loaded with sound principles and easy to learn techniques for making the most of a bad situation. Marc's not-so-politically correct way of explaining things is always refreshing in today's society where everyone wants to sugarcoat everything so as not to offend anyone. In some ways, I would compare Marc's method of teaching to the comical rants of George Carlin. You may be offended by what he says, but by golly it's the truth. And yes, sometimes the truth hurts.

If you are a strict traditional martial artist with a closed mind then (although this book would definitely be good for you), don't waste your time or money buying it. However, regardless of your training background, if you have an open mind and are willing to look at something from a slightly different viewpoint, then I would highly recommend that you add this book (and others like it) to your personal library.

I am a traditionally trained martial artist in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do, as well as being ranked in several other disciplines. However, unlike a lot of schools that have degenerated down to teaching a diluted "sport" version of these arts, I was fortunate enough to be taught the practical version of each technique alongside the traditional version.

Although a lot of what Marc teaches in this book I already knew, there were just as many things that I didn't know, or was shown from a different view point.

Remember, if you think you know everything, you actually know nothing!

An eye-opener where various punches are concerned.
Ah, my love-hate relationship with Macyoung continues...Mostly, I don't like the tough-guy attitude that goes with these books, but the techniques, while unorthodox, can work if you practice them, and the underlying principles are almost always sound.This is probably Macyoung's most technique-oriented book, and covers mostly targets, devided into general areas (head, neck, limbs).I like the fact that Macyoung addresses the often avoided question of what part of the fist to strike with, and offers several options without really playing favorites.I still don't really think his "hanging punch" is all that great, but it did open my eyes enough to tweek it a little bit to fit me.I'm also not too sure some of the body targets would be available in a stand-up fight.The chapter on "blows" (only hand techniques) only addresses the mechanics of the arm, and not stuff like "tuck in your chin" or "get your hips into it".It's almost a start-up book for fighting, but is kind of limited in it's scope, technically speaking.The only chapter on defense is all about shedding, which is an OK idea, but in order to roll with the punch, you have to get hit first, which isn't exactly my idea of fun.I think of this book as being the unwritten chapter of "Cheap Shots, Ambushes, and Other Lessons", and it's a great companion piece to that book.If you are a "hard" stylist looking to expand your horizons, or a guy trying to get a clue about how to put a hurtin' to someone, it's an alright book on it's own, just not in my personal top ten list.

To Bust or not to Bust
First let me say this is a worthwhile purchase. Why? It offers a "blow by blow" guide to punching in a non-grappling street fight. Now it is a bit wordy, but if you know how to read in-between the lines you are getting some useful street fighting information. There are some hardcore punching techniques *Hanging punch, read this and practice. There is more to a street fight than connecting your fists against somebody's head. It involves know where to hit and type of punch to use at a given time.

WoW
This book is great,I'm an experice wrestler in collegit,Greco Roman and freestyle. i have also done some sambo and judo.this book really gave me a cutting edge. it help me beat people on the streets who wanted to"test" my skill,outside of mats and rules.y goal is to be in theFC some day and this book will help any one from a 6 yearold to a eldely ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Disgusting
Capitalizing on the brutality, violence, and abuse of the dog fighting world for financial gain is ghastly.Selling this material supports and perpetuates this horrible industry and sends the wrong message about our society.Until Amazon stops distributing this and other dog and cockfighting materials, I cannot in good conscience give them my business, and I will urge friends and family to do the same.

This is a crime. Don't waste your money
Why would anyone be interested in seeing dogs kill each other. I am surprised that Amazon has stooped this low. No more soup for you Amazon!

This is available is School and Library binding??
I pray this (or any other book on this topic) finds it's way to any bookshelf and especially a school!Disgusting!

Great history book
I don't understand why people are so upset about this book. It is a history of the sport of fighting dogs and the breeds used to do it. I don't think it's right, but nothing will change the past. I don't hear people screaming that the Holy Bible shouldn't be sold because it's illegal to crucify people now... If you are simply looking into the history of some dog breeds, then this is a good place to start. Carl doesn't gloss over anything, the horror of a beautiful animal being used for such a purpose, or their loyalty and intelligence. Pit bulls are one of the most wonderful dogs out there, and it is a shame that they were bred purely for fighting, but that isn't their limits or what you have to use them for. I support Amazon for not being a close-minded, book burning company. The truth shall set you free.

Okay Book
This book is certainly an original, scribed in the authors own words.

The author is definitely a fighting dog breed enthusiast; however, he states at the beginning of the book he does not promote dog fighting.I find it interesting how previous reviewers are shocked to find references to dog fighting in a book entitled "The World of Fighting Dogs".

The book covers many of the famous dog fighting breeds, but not the more obscure breeds and most of the pictures are black and white.This would not be my first choice for a book on the History of Fighting Dogs Breeds or the History of Dog Fighting, but there are so few contemporary books on the subject that it is worth picking up when you have the extra cash. If you have a question, please do not hesitate to email me spevans@sympatico.ca

The chapter titles are:

Acknowledgements...7
Introduction...9
The General Background of Dogfighting...21
Organized Dogfighting...39
Of Kennel Club and Fighting Dogs...49
Guardian: The Fighting Dog...61
The Fighting Dogs...83
The Akita...89
The Tosa...121
The American (Pit) Bull Terrier...131
The American Staffordshire Terrier...147
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier...157
The Bull Terrier...169
The Neapolitan Mastiff...185
The Dogue de Bordeaux...199
The Bandog...209
The American Pit Bull Dog....237
The Shar-Pei...245
The Olde Bulldogge...259
Dogfighting form the Pit Man's Point of View...269
Dogfighting form the Humanitarian's Point of View...275
Conclusion...281
Index...286 ... Read more

Book Description
Streetfighting is a down and dirty topic, and the author, an ex-streetfighter, shares his hard-learned lessons here. Want to know how to recognize a mugging setup? How to avoid getting sucker punched? It's all here, as well as tips on bullies, weapons, martial arts vs. streetfighting and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Excellent Book on Street Violence and Real Fights!
I first read Cheap Shots, Ambushes, and Other Lessons while stationed in South Korea. I was serving with the 2nd Infantry Division and did not know that in the future I would become friends with Marc, work together, train together, and teach at the same events. I did not know he would write the foreword for my first book. What I did know was I was seeing the same kinds of things in the bars I was fighting in that he wrote about.

Many years later, I still believe this book shares some valuable realistic advice regarding real street fights. When Marc wrote this book, he was a lot closer to the streets and had not experienced some of the martial arts he has now, and that shows in his writing.

I put some of Marc's practical advice about fights into practice in the bars and other places I was frequenting. It helped me then, and it could help you now if you find yourself in violent situations. I have learned a lot from Marc both in person and from his books. This was the book that started it all, and it is still an excellent book on self-defense.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D. - Author, Speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks; DVDS: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series.

This books has saved me alot of pain and suffering
As an 18 year old Marine fighting full contact karate in Japan, I picked up a copy of this book looking to discredit it....I mean a guy named "Animal"c'mon...

But what I found was a great if rough read(Marc was just starting as an author then).This is a book by someone who has been there and done that(even the bad things) and was willing to share his life experience and sense of humor.

I learned how fast I was heading down the path to destruction and changed up.

I have since had the opportunity to train with Marc and I can assure you that he is the real deal and a really nice person.

Cheap Shots Yes, but One Hell of a Great Book!
Once again, Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book is simply loaded with sound principles and easy to learn techniques for making the most of a bad situation. Marc spends a good deal of time discussing the principles behind the techniques and what to look for. I find this information on the principles behind the techniques very useful, and it is usually a very good indicator of a high quality self-defense and/or martial arts book.

Because of the limited amount of space I have to write and post this review, I am only going to hi-light just a few of the many interesting things in this particular book.

Introduction: It is painfully obvious that Marc has had some bad experiences with formal martial arts training and that is too bad. However, one must remember that, "One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch babe." I believe that is either an old parable, or a line from the Jackson 5, if I'm not mistaken. Or it may even be both.

The Foundation: Attitude or Spirit: This can also be summed up as your desire to do whatever you have to do in order to not only survive a violent encounter, but also to come out on top.

Fear and the negative voice in your head: In this section Marc discusses fear and the negative reinforcement training that we receive from the time we are able to crawl until the time you are put into a wooden box.

Difference between fighting and combat: Believe it or not, there is a difference between fighting and combat. Generally speaking, fighting is usually a combination of stupidity and hormones gone amuck. While combat is serious life and death. And yes, sometimes fighting can lead to combat.

Blows: In this section Marc discusses 4 different types of blows and what their designed or intended to do. They are as follows:

Set-ups: These can be (and do include) the boxers jab. These are designed to confuse and create an opening or openings on your opponent so that you can exploit them with heavier more dangerous blows.

Rattlers: These blows hit a little bit harder than an initial set-up blow and are designed to "rattle" the senses of your opponent.

Maimers: These are blows that are designed to do the most damage after initial contact with your opponent has been made. For example; a slap to the side of the head by an open hand that once it hits the head, reaches up and grabs a hold of the ear and rips it off the side of your skull.

N.N.B.R.: I have to chuckle every time I read about N.N.B.R.'s. Not that they are inherently funny, but what the acronym stands for is pretty hilarious. What these blows are designed to do is to put your lights out, nappy time, kissing the canvas, etc. They knock you out!

Punches: Although several good points are brought up in this section, the one that is perhaps the most important is this, "As fast as your punch goes out, it should be just as fast coming back in."

Kicks: Now before I get into the "nuts & bolts" of this section, I have to admit that the subject of kicking is a sore spot with me. Not in the sense of being against it, as a matter of fact it is quite the opposite, but as being totally in favor of kicking as a means of self-defense when the kick is executed correctly, and applied properly. This in itself can be the deciding factor between improving your chances of victory, or total humiliation with a smattering of pain thrown in for good measure.

Here are two important points to remember when reading this section.

a. For the most part, a lot of what Marc says about kicking is correct.
b. However, it is not the kick that is ineffective, but rather the improper application of the kick that is ineffective.

Anger, Bullies, and Berserkers: Marc gives you an extremely good profile of the 3 types of people you are most likely to be confronted by during a self-defense type situation. He also gives you sound advice on how to handle each one of these threats.

Sucker Punches, Low Blows, and Tricks: In this section Marc discusses the theory and principles as well as some myths about cheap shots and so forth. Very informative information that, like the rest of the information in this book, should be stored in the old grey matter.

Weapons: Marc discusses various types of weapons you are likely to encounter and spends a good deal of that time discussing the most common of them all, the knife. He also includes 4 rules for using a weapon that are very sound and should be followed.

Martial Arts vs. Street Fighting: Once again I have to take a bit of an exception with Marc's comparison of PKA (Professional Karate Association) to self-defense. To me, this is like comparing apples to oranges. Although I do understand the comparison he was trying to make. Again I must emphasize that, "One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch babe."

Teachers: A good teacher is worth their weight in gold, just like a bad one is worth their weight in crap.

Like all of Marc's books, this one is straight forward and well worth the price.

Mixed Bag
This has some good advice mixed with lots of unnecessary filler.

First, the good:
1.It has lots of valid criticisms of the martial arts and their applicability to self defense such as there is too much emphasis on 'polite fighting' and rules.He makes a good case for why martial arts instructors should have students practice fighting in different environments such as uneven ground, confined spaces such as hallways, different environmental conditions, etc.
2.He defines 'fighting' and 'combat' differently and makes a case for much a much different approach for 'combat' situations.
3.He is very good on discussing environmental awareness and avoiding possible setups by criminals.

Now, the bad:

1.The book is full of braggadocio.If the author has really been in as many fights as he claims, he evidently does not practice what he preaches.His book has lots of information about how to avoid street fights, yet it seems that he boasts about some situation he was in on every other page.The best self defense is avoiding a bad situation.That being the case, MacYoung either is not that great at self defense or else loves storytelling.
2.He is rather crude.It is fine to be realistic, but his language is gutter level throughout the book.It adds nothing and makes him sound like he doesn't have a big enough vocabulary to write without crudity.
3.He uses some goofy terms that he evidently thinks are quite clever but are not commonly known and frankly add nothing to the content.Here are some examples:'Nighty Nite Bunny Rabbits (NNBR's)' referring to a knockout punch commonly known as a 'haymaker'.Another is 'rattlers' which is a term he uses for a jab like punch.'PIBU' is another one of his 'homemade' terms that is meaningless to most readers.

Although some of his information is very good, I would recommend finding another book if you're looking for something good on self defense.One that is particularly good is 'Strong On Defense' by Sanford Strong.I believe it is out of print and hard to find, but it excellent.

Entertainment and Advice
After reading several of his books, I feel like I've come to know Animal. I'm familiar with some of his old stomping grounds in Ventura and have met the acqaintance of people like him. The real tragedy is that there are areas across the U.S. that breed brash troublemakers who not only put you in the precariouis position of haing to defend yourself with a crude weapon like a knife, but themselves. Many such punks routinely bite off more than they can chew, relegating them to mere predators, and not too smart ones at that.

Animal says it and I've seen it, but the best way to stay out of trouble and avoid the situations he teaches you how to deal with when things have gone too far, is courtesy. I'm sure Animal would never say so in print, but I'm certain he's forced loudmouthed louts into fights when they would rather not have fought because they said or did something that he found to be rude to himself or someone else. One can't be in that crowd without being part of it.

Now, looking back on it, he's realized how senseless it all is. He still commands respect in his circle and under some situations others might find innocuous, he's probably capable of being driven to violence to this day. And if he's known as the author of books, there are probably those who are anxious to take him on.

All this brings not only a wealth of knowledge to his books, but a tremendous sense of the senselessness of violence. Dying for a noble cause--something one believes in--is honorable. Dying because you are piss poor drunk and said the wrong thing to the wrong person is a tragedy that, like AIDS, can be avoided by keeping everything where it belongs.

If you're a yuppie or a retiree, you're probably not going to be in situations Animal describes; however, it's still insightful to see how the psychology of the biker bar stand works. Long hair, bandanas, pony tails, leather jackets, leather armbands, hairy arms, ego and, of course, knives, beer bottles and puke. This is the world you'll be hearing about in Animal's books which are in essence guides to living in his world. When you're done with the entertainment there, pick up a book on the mob and learn how to survive with the Sopranos.

I enjoy Animal's books, but I've never been part of that world and never hope to be. But hey, if you ever find yourself living in a post-nuclear world with Mad Max, it might come in handy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very poor reprint
The original edition of this book (printed by Pet Library) was fine for its time (30 years ago!) but to reissue it now with a very few new photos (which still don't show the latest developments in Bettas) whilst slamming the original editon is a very unprofessional approach. By their own admision TFH says that the original author was not consulted on this reprint so the edition obviously suffers from a lack of the author's current extreme expertise on the subject. The "new" photos are usually of very poor quality specimens yet glorified with extreme captions which should be considered insulting to the quality fish that are on the market. The old All About Bettas by Walt Maurus (also a TFH publication) or the current Barron's Bettas, A Complete Pet Owner's Guide are far superior books which impart much more information to the Betta enthusiast. Having kept Bettas for 42 years I cannot recommend this book even for the photos. I grew up and have grown old with TFH books and I am very disappointed with this apparent trend to wrap old information in a new cover or size with any expectation of remaining the finest publisher of pet care books on the planet!

A Complete Authoritative Guide Siamese Fighting fish
This is a great book for anyone wanting to learn the genetics behind the different colors and fin shapes of the Siamese Fighting fish( Betta ). This book will really help you to understand the hows and whys of breedingbettas. ... Read more

Book Description
Most real fights are short, fast and brutal. And there are no rules. The martial artist who thinks he's trained to handle what's coming may be in for a painful surprise. But this isn't one of those books about bringing your martial art up to street speed that rips on everything you've worked so hard to learn. It's a book on taking your moves and making them fast, fanged and fierce enough to stand up to a surprise attack. Ex-streetfighter Marc "Animal" MacYoung knows from experience that no matter how much training they've had, most people get overwhelmed in the first critical seconds of a streetfight. And it's nearly impossible to get over the shock of being attacked and organize a viable response while someone is tap dancing on your face. With photos, illustrations and detailed instructions, Animal brings the martial artist from the structured safety of the dojo to the mayhem of the street, alley and biker bar. He teaches you the quickest ways to get your attacker off his feet; how to do bulletproof blocks and throws; how to anticipate a strike and how to make a kicker howl. He also gives you important tips on what to do after a brawl, because such issues as legalities, revenge seekers and your own mental well being last long after the fight is over. Anyone who's ever wondered if his or her martial arts training would hold up to a real-life attack needs to read this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

One of Marc's better books and a real winner!
I just finished reading Marc "Animal" Mac Young's, "Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective," and found it to be the best book that Marc has written. This book focuses primarily on the principles behind the techniques in order to take that which you have already learned and either adapting it to practical use as a legitimate street effective self-defense technique, or discarding it altogether.

If you've read any of Marc's previous books, you can tell that he has really progressed in his writing and philosophy concerning the martial arts and their benefits, compared to a lot of his earlier works. A lot of what Marc discusses in this book is a direct reflection on one of the primary principles that the late Bruce Lee was so adamant about, "Absorb what is useful and discard the rest."

One thing that should be made clear is that every martial art and "almost" every technique is effective within the context of its purported purpose. Just because a technique is taught in a certain systems curriculum, does not mean that it was intended to be used in a self-defense encounter. This is one point that Marc and I tend to agree on. This is not so much the fault of the student, but more often the instructor who either doesn't know or fails to realize the importance of teaching the principles behind the technique instead of just teaching the technique itself and leaving its use up to the uninformed minds of the students or at best its historical context.

Marc is arguably one of the best people out there to learn the nuances and subtleties of the street and the ability to operate within it with a minimum of problems. His grasp of the intricacies and principles behind the execution of a lot of techniques is superb and well worth your time and attention. My only complaint and this is and always will be a sore spot with me, is his seemingly lack of regard towards the use of kicks in a fight and kickers in general.

Now I know that a lot of that stems from my own personal passion for kicking and my own ability to use it effectively on the street. I have used kicking countless times in numerous situations with great effectiveness. In all the years that I have been in situations where confrontations occurred, I have only used kicks in maybe 1 out of every 4 encounters. Not that I couldn't have used it in more, it just wasn't practical or necessary. I suspect that this will probably always be a point of contention between Marc and I, kind of like the old Lite Beer commercial, "Tastes Great, Less Filling."

Marc covers so much solid and pertinent information that it would be almost an insult to try and review everything that this book has to offer in anything less than several pages. Therefore, I am going to keep this review short and to the point. This book should be required reading for any and all martial artists regardless of style, purpose, or affiliation. This book and the information contained therein are invaluable to anyone who wants to improve their abilities to survive the realities of a violent encounter on the street.

I highly recommend this book and am proud to include it in my own personal library.

Shawn Kovacich, martial artist/author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

It's All the Same...With a Grain of Salt
Marc "Animal" MacYoung is on another roll. This "ex-streetfighter" turned bookwriter sounds like he's shooting the crap at a party where he's the center of attention and no one can get another word in. At times he sounds full of himself. He starts stories in the middle, very rarely finishes them and pontificates on life and society sometimes where one has no other choice but to fast forward.

If I were one of those people listening to him as he told these stories, I'd find myself constantly saying, "So what happened?" or "How did this thing start. What did you do to cause this guy to pick you, of all the people in the room, to want to stomp?" It's frustrating when he gets into his storytelling, only to trail off into social commentary when he's left everyone begging a number of questions.

As a journalist, I've heard a great number of stories by a great number of interesting people: death row inmates, wardens, World War II heroes, including infantrymen, submariners and the sort. And most could leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. Sometimes I find myself almost yelling at MacYoung's books: "Can't you give it a rest? Get back to the story. How did you get yourself into this and did the guy ever come back to even the score?"

I'd be dishonest if I said I didn't enjoy his colorful language or his stories. His interspection into the other characters in his life aren't given much thought. He'll say things like, I don't know what the guy's problem was, maybe he got a verbal beating from his old lady and hadn't gotten laid that day." What kind of social analysis is this. He'd just been talking about why certain societies rise and fall and now THIS?

Grain of salt is how I'd take MacYoung, but he is entertaining. He knows that, his editors know that and he's making $$$ on being entertaining. And that's great up to a point. He now has to find ways of making his books not just more of the same. And he's got a real chore ahead of him.

***-1/2 stars

A missing link for practitioners of "hard" martial arts.
Many buyers of this book are undoubtedly practitioners of "hard" arts seeking guidance on application of the more dubious moves of their disciplines in street confrontations. If readers expect to be instructed in realistic applications of Karate or Taekwondo blocks and stances, they may feel misled by the title since such subjects are barely touched upon.

MacYoung's purpose here is a different one. "Hard" arts generally teach practitioners to exchange blows at a certain distance. Grappling arts show how to fight an opponent from a clinch or on the ground. Authors like Geoff Thompson emphasize sizing up a potential attacker and resolving with pre-emptive strikes. What none of these address is how to handle the wild onrush of an attacker who has already initiated his assault and who is not going to stand back and trade blows.

This book aims to make "hard" martial arts street effective not by re-explaining their existing techniques but by filling in certain gaps, principally by applying "soft" blocking and takedown concepts from Wing Chun and Silat. Karate/Taekwondo practitioners may find this difficult to reconcile with their own styles - unless they subscribe to the opinion (not addressed in this book) that the "hard" arts once had a considerable "soft" content, and that movements like those now labelled "blocks" were originally something else altogether - but is a valuable and effective complement nevertheless. The book also includes good advice on the nature of violence and how to avoid it, and emphasizes "winning while escaping".

Stylistically, MacYoung's easygoing tone and humour may or may not please, but behind it is a well written book which succeeds in communicating concept and technique in words. Some sections can at first seem repetitive or difficult to follow (not helped by the lack of clear labelling of photos - my one major gripe), but this is due to the complexity of the concepts examined. This book requires more than one reading to get the most out of it, and will certainly reward those willing to do so.

answering the critics
I love this book, and I really am a huge Marc MacYoung fan. I would really like to take this opportunity to answer the critics. First of all, there have been a lot of reviews of this book that basically say "how can we know that Marc has real street experience". Well, true. But how do we know anyone has real street experience ? Like, um, how do we know that Geoff Thompson is not a computer IT consultant who wrote his bouncer bio while riding the train to and from work - i.e. making it up ? the truth is, we don't. But, I have to say, from reading a LOT of what Marc MacYoung has written, it has never crossed my mind that he is not for real. In fact, he makes a big deal about saying how the "street" sucks. Also, the gangs that shot at him were probably Mexican gangs in the 1970s or 1980s, not today's gangs. also, regarding knife fighting, he states very clearly that he spent his "knife fighting career" either running away, or retreating. I doubt that if Marc had made it all up, he would state that. It just sounds too realistic to me. Also, see his website www.nononsenseselfdefense.com. That also looks real. I also doubt that Peyton Quinn would associate with Marc, if Marc were a "wannabe". Unless Quinn is too, which I also seriously doubt.

Yes, Marc's book is highly silat/kali/wing chun based, but so what ? those are great arts. I do silat, and it is by far one of the most street-effective arts out there. I like the fact that this book is principle-based. for example: take the centerline seems like really good advice to me. Also, many, many people (and I do JKD, so I know), will say, "whoever hits first wins", but Marc makes the point that he has seen guys hit first and then get thrown across a pool table by a guy who could "eat the punch". How often do even the best boxers get a k.o. with ONE PUNCH ? I doubt even Ali or Tyson in his prime could win a street fight that way. One main point in this book is takedowns are a MUCH more effective way to win a real fight than beating someone with your fists, or [worse yet] with kicks. The reason is, many people can "eat" incoming punches if they really want to get to you. However, noone can battle gravity if you throw them down. AND, the floor is very hard. I know this because I have done takedowns on the street, and I can tell you, they DO work. The thing Marc says about protecting the bad guy's head in order not to go to jail also totally rings true, and was totally also my experience, in that I once put an old aggressive drunk down, and had to protect HIS head in that way, to avoid really hurting him.

Anyway, the real hype to my are some of the critiques of Marc. he is the real deal, as far as I can tell. This is a great Martial arts, self defense book.

Principle Based Effectiveness
The principles in this book will help make just about anyone more effective in their day-to-day self-defense.I recommend it to anyone who asks me how to improve their basic self-defense knowledge.

The principles include:

1 - Understanding that the normal rules of polite society are out the window. (i.e. the "no kicking in the jimmy" rule doesn't apply in a real fight);

2 - Understanding the different distances involved in fighting;

3 - Using your opponent's axes and controlling the centerline;

4 - Using the wedge and other blocking techniques;

5 - Stepping into your opponent rather than retreating (when appropriate);

6 - Dealing with kicks;

7 - Proper and effective footwork;

8 - Dirty tricks;

9 - Understanding the realities of street fighting (e.g. "If the guy wasn't sure he could take you, he wouldn't have moved against you in the first place" i.e. he has stacked the deck in his favor and it's your job to unstack it);

10 - many other useful and important things.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to help people augment their training.It won't replace training, but it can certainly help people understand that, when fit and shan collide, there are other things to consider besides a head-high round kick.Things which may just save your life.

Additionlly, I recommend checking out his website, http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/

As for the negative reviews on this book, it seems to me that many of the people who have knocked this book have done so for one of two reasons:

1 - they don't like Marc's attitude; or,
2 - they don't believe his background.

As for #1, like it or not, fine. To each his or her own.But these reviewers generally complain without ever really engaging the principles contained in the book and their effectiveness.

Concerning #2, the same idea applies.While I happen to very much believe that Marc has been where he says he has and done what he says he has done, the people who make this argument also do not make many fact-based criticisms of the material inside the book. ... Read more

Book Description
Here Animal tells you how to survive when you're outflanked and outgunned. Rather than clashing head-on with every problem that comes along, you need to learn to apply hit-and-run tactics, utilize the environment and use your enemies' weaknesses against them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Readable, common-sensical, on-topic
The book gives brief mention of fighting, focused mostly on things you might do while being pursued.As the title says, it is focused on avoiding a fight and getting away from one before or after it starts.This is going to be more useful to most readers than trying to teach martial arts or knife fighting in a book.

Most of the advice in the book is common sense if you think about it--But I at least, didn't think about most of it before.Things like why you should almost never make a right-angle turn while being chased, how and where to park your car, and things you may want to actually practice ahead of time.

The book isn't a new one (1993) and I'm sure cell phones have an effect on some of the things discussed.I'd like to see a book with that in mind.

The writing style isn't exactly formal.The author definitely wants to explain what a tough guy he is.The book reads like a conversation, though it actually does have footnotes (mostly a further comment on an idea rather than a citation).

Excellent
Let's face it, unless you are a law-enforcement professional there are very few legitimate reasons to get into a fight. Rule number one for survival is 'don't get hit'. The best way to do that is not being there. Before things get ugly, leave. On occasion, however, you can't just strap on those Nikes, make like brave Sir Robin, and beat a hasty retreat. The bad guys have a habit of getting in the way.

MacYoung shows you how to survive when you're outnumbered or outgunned. Real life isn't like a kung fu movie. Rather than wading in with fists and feet flying, you need to learn to apply hit-and-run tactics, use the environment to your advantage, and use your attacker's weaknesses against them.

This book is chock full of street survival lessons from a guy who knows. Marc MacYoung is a bad man (and I mean that in the best sort of way). He's been there, done that, broken a lot of people, and picked-up a lot of scars along the way. His writing style is engaging, entertaining, and sarcastically witty. The knowledge he imparts is realistic, practical, and very important.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Animal's Finest
In my opinion, this is the finest of Animal's books.Animal has always written in order that the reader does not get his butt kicked.The first couple of chapters are nothing more than a condensed version of his other books.But the later chapters are what makes this book work.

Animal does a great job in giving you tips in leaving a scene in a hurry, especially if you are running away from a gang.Some require prior actions, liking feeding neighborhood dogs, but most do not.He also discusses how you can counterattack your pursuers.

Lastly, Animal talks about how to stay away from those seeking you out. First he tells you how to hide away from the police and organized crime.Then he tells you how to avoid the local yokals.

All in all, a fine book.

RUN AWAY!
Oh, man -- this book was a disappointment. I've read ALL of Animal's books, and they're ALL good, but I just disagreed with the core concept of this particular work. I guess it was pretty good, and I'm sure that a lotta folks will be able to get something out of it, but I could never run away. Maybe I'm stupid or something, but I just can't do it. Of course, for all of you folks running away is probably really good advice -- especially if you're facing three attackers and they've all got knives. Valhalla, here I come!

It's common sense
Testosterone aside it is nothing but common sense.If another human being is interested in mudering, raping, stabbing, or beating you up then it goes without saying that you should run away.Of course every man out there that is proud of his ability to "fight" people and will argue this point.In the real world running away is almost always want you want to do if you can.If you need a book to tell you how to run away from a murderer then you probably are not too bright in the first place.And therefore I doubt your "book" knowledge will save you from the murderer.It's entertaining to read to a certain point.Just depends on what kind of mentality you have and how scared of bullies you are.Those things will be what determines whether you should buy this book or not. ... Read more