Cheap Shots, Ambushes, and Other Lessons: A Down and Dirty Book on Streetfighting & Survival

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 ha

Let's face it, the chances of a martial artist being attacked in the dojo where he or she is warmed-up, wearing loose fitting clothing, and ready to go are about zero. Bad guys are bad because they cheat (among other things). All the martial arts training in the world is useless if you get taken down in an ambush before you have a chance to use it or even know that you might need to. Knowing where, how, and when an attacker might act is essential knowledge for survival. MacYoung's straightforward, witty style makes this an excellent read. Lawrence Kane Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

I do not exaggerate when I tell you that reading Animal's book saved my life: using his awareness techniques, I was able to avoid a mugging in a rather seedy neighborhood of New York City. As a professional bouncer, it is my opinion that MacYoung covers the realities of fighting and violence like no other "martial artist" on this planet. This man has been there and done that! As I read this book, the truths of violence and fighting suddenly became very clear, due to MacYoung's no-nonsense, hilarious writing style. This is the book that started a whole new way of looking at the TRUTH of violence, self-defense, and fighting. I cannot recommend this book enough!

I like this book. I like the author, and get every book I can by him. He is funny as well as being informative. He is rude and uses some very rough language, but that is a breath of fresh air after reading some of the psuedo- zen stuff that passes as martial arts these days.MacYoung makes fun of himself and is quite willing to tell how he made mistakes so that the reader can avoid making the same ones. No huge egos here, well.....maybe he has an ego but it doesn't seem to get in the way like some of the ones I have seen.This book is described as a primer for reading cook books for martial arts. That may sound strange, but if you have never learned how to cook then the first time you pick up a cook book you will be lost because you will not know the language or the sklls needed to use it. In terms of martial arts, this book explains all the points that standard martial arts books leave off. After you read this you can look at other martial arts book and be able to tell what they are doing as well as being able to tell if they would be effective on the street or are just another "McDojo" trying to attract students.Even experienced martial artists should enjoy this book. In fact I highly recomend that everyone who is in martial arts for the purpose of dying in bed (either of old age or in the arms of a red head- preferably both) pick this book up and confirm that what they are doing is consistant with the real combat lessons that MacYoung and his friends have paid such a heavy price to learn.I am happy to say that what I do is consistant with what I read in this book, but there are some points I would not have been aware of had I not read it. This is the value of the book for even experienced martial artists. Some people just go through the motions and they have no meaning. This book will help add meaning to your practice IF you are doing something worthwhile. You may just find out that you are wasting your time, at which point this book may save your life by getting you out of a bad dojo before it is too late. I like to learn from my mistakes, I really like to learn from other people's mistakes- less blood on my part. Anyone who feels the same should get this book. And then they will probably do the same as I and get everything else this little maniac has published.

The majority of martial arts books/self defense books place much of their emphasis on technique, form,and tepid "how to instruction".Physical skills are emphasized at the expense of common sense and awareness. This was perhaps the first book to point out that exercising proper discretion and understanding why certain individuals pose threats to our well being can be more vital in many instances than possessing the ability to deliver lightning kicks and punches.The author,a veteran of many street wars when younger, believes your mind is still your best weapon and realistically exposes the myths behind traditional martial arts training which sadly leads many students to believe their training is a step towards immortality. I own this book approximately 8 years,have read it three times, and will continue to use it as a source of inspiration and reference. Many others of it's type have followed, so Mr.MacYoung must have been on to something.