Knives, Knife Fighting, and Related Hassles: How to Survive a Real Knife Fight

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.

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. Utilizi

If you are looking to live a long, enjoyable life and expect to have to deal with knives in order to reach that goal, then this is the book you must have.There is a whole bunch of people who fancy themselves as knifers, knife fighters or whatever they wish to call themselves. But what they train for is vastly different from what one will see on the street. Sure, they can get in a ring with someone else with a wooden knife and beat them and feel real macho, but they will be the first to fall when they meet up with someone who does not flash a knife before sticking it in them. Boy, the ring really does not prepare you for that, now does it?This book is about what people will see on the street, as well as the techniques that the author has found to work when your veins are filled with adreneline, your vison has gone tunnel and your hands are clammy with either sweat and/or blood. It is a reality far removed from the training halls of JKD or any other martial art.One of the most valuable sections of this book is on common ways of hiding a blade that are used by street scum. It will help you to recognize such grips when used by others before they get a chance to get close to you. If you can not even do this, then all the fancy simawali drills or expensive fighting knives you have will not be worth a bucket of spit.My only reservation is that this book deals mainly with things that are best conveyed in the written form. Things that are too complicated to describe appear on two videos he has made, but he never mentions the videos in this book. I do not know how he could transfer some of the stuff from the videos to the written word, but I would be amiss in not pointing out that this book, like all books, can not give the whole picture of an activity like knife combat.

This book, like most of Animal's books, gives the reader a ring side seat into the reality of the street. This is not a book heavy on technique, its a book about about NOT becoming the featured guest at a knifing. The street lessons, to a large extent, ARE what's important. The most "basic and dangerous reality of knife fighting" on U.S. streets is that you are most likely NOT going to see the attack coming, and assuming you do and when it happens, it will be simple, savage and brutal. I've been told that knife use in the U.S. normally isn't based on a duelling mind set. In these cases, the blade is used as a strong arm weapon or as a means of assasination. It may be part of "Escalato" (great name for a bad game...Animal's term, not mine) or part of a "hot interview". Knife on knife is not that common. Knives are ubiquitous, and most criminal elements have a style all their own, most of it related to ambush and surprise. I doubt that the average crack head, thug, street person or 1% biker has trained in FMA's or JKD concepts. I also wouldn't doubt his skill or ability as a knifer. I've personally experienced some of what is written about here and in Grover's "Street Smarts" book. Train in combatives, or JKD and FMA's, or whatever, and train hard, but don't discount what you see here. The stances may look funny, but the guy attempting to shove an ice pick between your ribs or going for your crotch or face with a discarded steak knife could care less about largo mano range, 6 count, hubud, or what angle of attack he's using, much less his stance. He'll be moving fast and he's going to cut and stick you as hard and as many times as he can. Train, learn and prepare. Janich, Hoch, Keating, Worden, Vunak and the PFS crew stress conceptual learning (as does Animal)...that's their legacy to us. Listen to what these guys have to say. Train it and apply it.

Just like the other books from Marc Macyoung, in this book there are no specific techniques shown, but the psychic and emotional side of what is called a knife fight. This is the topic some other books I know lack about. Together with the chapters about stances and grips, this is the best base for realistic training you can get.