| Being the author of several books on the martial arts | | | | identify and avoid a possible dangerous confrontation. |
| and fighting, I am always looking for books of | | | | This last part is strictly Marc's and others like him, and |
| exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a | | | | is not Irwin's by any stretch of the imagination. |
| book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One | | | | And finally, when unable to avoid a confrontation, |
| such book is Marc "Animal" MacYoung's, "Pool Cues, | | | | what options you have to inflict as much damage |
| Beer Bottles, and Baseball Bats." | | | | upon your opponent as you can while sustaining |
| As you may well know from my previous reviews of | | | | minimal damage to yourself. |
| Marc's books, one of the things that I absolutely love | | | | In the first chapter, Marc talks about the vital |
| about his style of writing, is his no-holds barred direct | | | | importance of awareness not only of your |
| approach to getting his point across. There is never | | | | surroundings, but also of yourself. He teaches you |
| any sugarcoating or politically correct terminology is | | | | some of the subtle and not-so-subtle cues that |
| his books. He simply tells it like it is, whether you like | | | | people tend to give off when preparing to attack. He |
| it or not. Marc's method of writing reminds me of the | | | | also goes into patterns of trouble, which are a series |
| comical rants of George Carlin. You may be offended | | | | of events that seem to always follow one after |
| by what he says, but by golly it's the truth. And yes, | | | | another on a one way course to trouble. With you |
| sometimes the truth hurts. | | | | usually right in the middle of it. One of the ways to |
| Once again, Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at | | | | avoid these things is to be aware of it. Hence, the |
| the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This | | | | lesson to be learned in this section, taking the time to |
| book focuses on the most common types of | | | | work on your awareness. |
| weapons you are likely to encounter during an | | | | The next chapter deals with long range weapons you |
| altercation on the street. For the most part, Marc | | | | are likely to encounter. Things such as pool cues, |
| leaves out the two most common ones, guns and | | | | staffs or poles, shovels, etc. The remaining chapters |
| knives. The reason for this is because these two are | | | | in this book are broken down into various sections |
| deserving of book all of their own. One of which I | | | | that focus on a wide variety of weapons, such as |
| know Marc has addressed, as that particular book is | | | | swords, sticks. Marc also goes into quite a bit of |
| on my "To Do" list. | | | | detail on impact weapons such as; wrist pins, brass |
| In the preface, Marc discusses the intent of his book, | | | | knuckles, rings, saps, etc. Marc even has a chapter |
| which is for you the reader to use the knowledge | | | | dealing with flexible weapons such as chains and |
| contained within to keep yourself safe and out of | | | | ropes. As with all of his books, and this one is no |
| trouble. It is not intended nor implied for you to go | | | | exception, Marc gives you a real good understanding |
| out and start causing it. As I was making notes to do | | | | of the principles behind the techniques that he |
| this review, it occurred to me that what Marc and | | | | discusses and demonstrates in his books. |
| others like him are trying to teach you is similar to | | | | Marc's final chapter in this book deals with diversions |
| what the late Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin | | | | and distractions that you are likely to encounter |
| was trying to teach all of us that watched him work | | | | during a street altercation. Some of them are |
| with animals. | | | | obvious, while others are not so obvious. As Marc is |
| First, that these are wild animals (violent and | | | | fond of saying (and completely right) awareness is |
| unpredictable individuals) and need to be treated with | | | | the key to survival. Buy Marc's books, read them, |
| respect. Secondly, if you know the "ins and outs" | | | | study them, learn from them, and then use that |
| (what to look for when dealing with this type of | | | | knowledge to stay safe and live longer. |
| person) of the animal, then you will be able to | | | | |
