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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An eye-opener where various punches are concerned., November 22, 2003
This review is from: Fists, Wits, And A Wicked Right: Surviving On The Wild Side Of The Street (Paperback)
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.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another "eye opener" for everyone from Animal!, October 8, 2006
This review is from: Fists, Wits, And A Wicked Right: Surviving On The Wild Side Of The Street (Paperback)
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!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Marc, May 8, 2010
This review is from: Fists, Wits, And A Wicked Right: Surviving On The Wild Side Of The Street (Paperback)
Having read most of Marc's books,it interesting to note how he's matured throughout his writing career. This was one of his first in the early '90's. It probably reflects the hight of his irreverent yet very insightful style. His presentation of close quarter street combat princples & technique is unsurpassed. The grim reality & consequences of street combat is stressed in his usual grim but darkly hilarious style. Recommend highly.
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