Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Alain knows his stuf, December 14, 2002
This book will not teach you how to become a killer ninja-commando or how to prevail in your next no-holds-barred fighting event. What it does give is a great deal of common sense wisdom that is not so common in the world of martial arts. The martial arts world seems to get so bogged down in the minutiae of whether or not the mount is the preferred position or the guard or other such idiocy that we often lose focus on the truly important aspects of self defense - awareness, avoidance, legal repercussions and that violance is, at best, always a risky undertaking. Even the best practicioners can lose. Lose on the street and you may lose your life.
Mr. Burrese knows these truths and presents them in an easily read format with lots of "war stories" that keep the reader interested and entertained while educating at the same time, which is no mean feat. My kuddos to Mr. Burrese. As a 11 year veteran in law enforcement I could tell some war stories of my own, and probably would if someone would pay me to, but I ain't holding my breath.
The only flaw I can point out is less material devoted to legal issues, which are an important part of real self defense. The simple fact that these issues are broached, however, makes this work light years ahead of the majority of drivel put out as self defense instruction.
I highly recommend this book, particularly to those whose only exposure to martial arts and/or self defense has been in the dojo. It has been said that the wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Do yourself a favor - learn from Mr. Burrese's mistakes as well as his successes.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hard Won Wisdom...Take Advantage of His Experiences, June 7, 2001
Alain Burrese shares his experiences with us in order that we might learn from his mistakes and his triumphs. Burrese writes in a witty prose which is not too technical for the beginning martial artist and not too boring for the masters. I think we can all relate to the stories Alain weaves even if we havent experienced the situations first hand. Burrese is a talented martial artist, author, video instructor (Hapkido Hoshinsul), public speaker, motivator and an all around altruistic individual. His stories are told with a sense of wit and that "hard won wisdom" which makes him an entertaining authority on his subject. Burrese, whose closest friends include Mark "Animal" MacYoung and Peyton Quinn, is a streetfighter who knows when to step back or walk away. He understands the desire to fight, how to win one, and how to avoid one. He relates some great stories of awareness, bar brawls, street fights, and much more. The guy is a true warrior, an excellent martial artist, and a good man. Buy the book.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!, May 16, 2001
As a veteran of fighting in the real world, Alain Bureese does not glorify street fighting, bar brawling, fighting over women, or fighting for no other reason than a need to kick somebody's butt. He titles his first chapter, "A Little about the Game" but then points out in the first sentence that fighting is not a game. He says it this way. "Serious consequences happen when people fight. People get hurt and people get killed. Many wind up behind bars, and unlike in Jailhouse Rock, it's not fun spending time in prison on a manslaughter charge for killing a guy in a fight." Hard-Won Wisdom contains a slew of self-defense techniques, concepts and principles that the author has found applicable from his many years traveling around the world and frequenting some very rough places. However, the book is also about the nature of fighting and ways you can avoid it. He says: "There are people who become addicted to and like violent encounters. How you handle these feelings determines what kind of person you are. The first step to overcoming the problem is recognizing the feeling. The next step is to realize and determine what brings it out. This takes a lot of introspection, but it can be worth the trouble. You learn this about yourself and control it - or it will control you. Remember, it gets expensive paying for things you break and people you hurt." Hard-Won Wisdom from the School of Hard Knocks is applicable to the needs of police officers and martial artists, not only for the techniques that it teaches but for what it teaches about the nature of fighting toe-to-toe. The book will not only help you understand some of the dangerous people you encounter every day, but it will also help you understand yourself. As an author of 13 books on the martial arts, I highly recommend this one.
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