Customer Reviews

The Ancient Art Of Strangulation

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first bought this book, I was buying it for the irony. A book on strangulation by a guy named "Lung"? But also, I was buying it for the pointers too, admittedly. I've been a practicioner of the modern strangulation arts and they just don't quite seem to cut it. I mean, either the person always ends up not entirely dead or mostly dead or not dead at all. So when I bought Dr. Lung's book, expecting something of a parody and found it to actually be a really helpful book, I was pleasantly surprised. Who knew that these ancient primitives could have such successful techniques? I owe my entire career to this one book. If you're looking to be an assassin who prefers not to use guns, this is the book for you.

This book is broken in to mainly two sections, history and practice. The history section is a very good read. I had no idea how influential Asian-Indian combat tactics were. The practice section is full of information you probably shouldn't know. After reading this it is almost painful to watch movies where anyone gets taken out by a sentry. The book is rather short and can most likely be read in under a few hours. There are positively brutal diagrams and some information on the human anatomy I'm less comfortable for knowing. This is truly a no BS history and lesson on how to attack the neck of another human being, and also some information on stalking. It's definitely a permanent addition to my 'WTF' collection of coffee table books.

This book is one of the few books I've been able to find regarding India's martial arts heritage. The illustrations and descriptions of grappling & chocking techniques are very clear and easy to follow which makes this pretty good reference for martial artists of any style. Also it includes a fascinating history of the "Thuggee" sect of Kali worshippers. However, it's a bit off in its information on Hindu belief.

An excellent monograph on the history of the Thugees in India and their influence on the world of secret warrior societies. Worth a read and a place in the library of history, especially military history readers.

What am I suppose to say? Yes, it works? I love novel out-of-the-way books, and this is one. Don't take it too seriously. You'd have to practice to make perfect, so don't practice.

Sure we all know that strangulation is an effective and economical way of ridding yourself of nosy neighbors, rude in-laws and the obnoxious corporate 'go-getter' who thinks he desrves your promotion because he is more talented/better educated/ more into hygiene than you are. We've seen scores of books on the subject. Although the illustrations ARE marvelous( you can almost hear the last gasps of breath rasping over the victims windpipes) Dr. and I believe Congressman Lung adds nothing new to a tired, footsore genre. He neglects to mention the Roman tradition of strangulation, a method employed to dispatch the Empire's political enemies. Information on the Thugee cult is also incomplete, as the book fails to mention that Harrison Ford, aided by a syphilitic lounge singer and an Asiatic dwarf, destroyed the last of their number at Pancock Palace back in 1984.

The highlight is the foreward by Australian rock band INXS's front man, Michael Hutchence. His insights are illuminating.

I guess I'm partially at fault, but I was mislead by the title. I bought the book and was disappointed.

I expected this book to consist mainly of ancient art depicting strangulation. Boy, was I let down.

I've got many pieces of artwork (pen & ink, charcoal etchings, woodcarvings, photos...)displaying someone either being strangled or celebrating after a strangulation. This book, had it lived up to my expectations, would have been a solid companion to my authentic faux-Bayeux tapestry depicting "drawing and quartering."

My opinion: Not nearly enough ancient art. Too many words explaining obvious tactics/demonstrations. As if no one knows how to strangle someone.

I find this, as with all of Dr. HaHa Lung's books, very entertaining, enjoyable and satisfying. Alot of useful info with the right amount of history an "why come" in it. All I can say to any potential readers is this, read the history, don't skip it. It helps with the understanding of the rest of the book and it reads like a good story. Oh, and Dr HaHa Lung's Assassin and Theater of Hell are also really good. He kicks a$$.

Sitting next to me was a young boy, who couldn't have been more than ten years old, or maybe he was two, melancholically reading The Ancient Art of Strangulation. For the briefest of moments I thought to use my Pepper Spray on him, but decided against it. Alas, this was not how Master Goh taught me in my Zubaz Pants on my thirty year quest for revenge against the No-armed man for the murder of my wife, my parents, my ex-wife, John W. Trimmer, and my dog Skippy. Rather, I placed my fifth glass of bourbon down on the bar counter and I asked the boy his name.

Jack Trimmer, he announced.

Is your father... John W. Trimmer? I stammered.

Why indeed he is, he answered me. Lo my gaze has not fallen upon mine father these past two decades.

I cried then as I told the child of his father's bleak outlook. Jack Trimmer cried with me and we raised a glass for his father, lost in the arctic tundra of Kamchatka with only one arm to fend for himself. I asked him if the innocuous book was a gift from his father.

No, Jack said, it's from my uncle.

That's nice, I turned back to my bourbon, something in me not wanting to hear what was coming next, smoe inner premonition screaming at me to run away.

My uncle used to give me hugs as gifts, Jack said, his words about to crush my brain. But now he just buys me random things because he doesn't have any arms.

the illustrations need improvement. he constantly quotes himself out of other books. I'm checking out some of his other books, and trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.