MartialSportsGear.com - Pool Cues, Beer Bottles, And Baseball Bats: Animal's Guide To Improvised Weapons For Self-Defense

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Manufacturer: Paladin Press

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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 613.66
EAN: 9780873645454
ISBN: 0873645456
Label: Paladin Press
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 152
Publication Date: 1990-05
Publisher: Paladin Press
Studio: Paladin Press

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Editorial Reviews:
Would you admit to getting your ass kicked with a hairbrush? Animal would, because as a seasoned veteran of streetfighting, he knows it can happen. Learn to pick up damn near anything and use it to survive.

Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: A Fun Ride
Comment: This is not an academic book. It's not perfectly organized, and it's not encyclopedic.

That said, it's a fun, fast read.

My feeling is that a book is useful if you get one useful idea from it.

On that score, this book does very well.

There's a nice balance in attitude in this book; it points out that fighting hurts, and particularly if you lose.

It also suggests that sometimes you have to fight.

That's a useful balance.

As to useful information, there's a wealth of anecdotal information that helps ordinary folks appreciate the texture of fighting in places that ordinary folks like me are never, never going to go, except on a bet. Belay that. I won't be going to the biker bar or the Dew Drop Inn (a cowboy bar full of lay dentists; tooth removal for free) even on a bet.

As to the technical information, Animal talks about the use of sticks in marial arts, and also in the Society for Creative Anacronism, a group that does simulated medieval tournaments using rattan sticks as swords and maces and axes and so on.

As a side note, the reason that SCA stickfighters are so good is twofold, and the rule applies to most competitive martial arts; they practice basics a LOT (hitting a rubber tire hung from a tree to develop hip movement and power in the shots), and then they fight (spar) with non-compliant opponents who are trying hard to hit them back.

This book won't make you a stick fighter, or any other kind of fighter. It is useful partly because it points out that you have to practice to make the use of sticks or any other improvised weapons effective.

Anyway, you'll enjoy this book. It's fun, it's fast, and you'll pick up interesting cultural observations that you don't get in sociology class. And you'll pick up some thoughts about fighting that may be useful to you (don't try to block flying chairs; duck).

And the guy you're in a friendly fistfight with may agree that you're winning, and instead of shaking your hand and buying you a beer, decide that pulling a knife is a better idea.

Which brings us back to a central thought of the book; real fighting hurts. It's not predictable.

So avoid it.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Great Introduction to Improvised Weapons for Self-Defense
Comment: You have to hand it to Marc "Animal" MacYoung, he has some of the most creative titles in the self-defense genre. "Pool Cues, Beer Bottles, & Baseball Bats: Animal's Guide to Improvised Weapons for Self-Defense and Survival" is definitely a creative title.

Once the creative title catches your attention, MacYoung hits you with his first sentences, "You know, I don't write these books so people can go out and kick somebody's... In fact, I write them so people don't go out and get their ... kicked." This was one of the earlier books MacYoung wrote, and you can see that he is not far from the street in his writing. There is a considerable difference between some of his more recent works and his earlier ones. Some of his language is much rougher in his earlier works, so if you are offended by this, you may want to stick to his later books. However, one thing that you find in all of his books is practical advice on keeping yourself safe and various aspects regarding fighting and self-defense. He has put out a lot of good information. You might not agree with everything he says, but I guarantee you if you read his works he will give you things to think about and will assist you with the topics he writes about.

This book is shorter than some of his others, but within the 136 pages are some very practical guidelines for using improvised weapons for self-defense. He starts out with a chapter on the seriousness of weapons. He then briefly explains keys to look for and patterns.

He then explains some different types of improvised weapons and things they share in common. The next chapters cover specific types of weapons, the first being a chapter on long weapons such as quarter-staff, polearm, and spear. MacYoung describes grips, stances and how to use long weapons, including shovels.

MacYoung then covers swords and bludgeons in the next chapter, covering a brief history, grips, blocking, swinging, physics and effects of the weapon. Basic blocks, guards and stances are also shown.

The focus of the next chapter is on strike enhancers. He covers a variety of enhancers such as brass knuckles and saps to keys and other improvised implements that enhance one's striking power. He finishes with short chapters on flexible weapons and diversions.

As I stated earlier, this book is only 136 pages long. So it was not meant to be a complete treatise on improvised weapons. Rather, it is an introductory text and a quick and dirty guide on using improvised weapons to protect yourself and survive violent encounters.

I read the first several books MacYoung wrote before meeting him. I remember reading and going, yep, I've seen that. I also applied some of the things I read in his book and they helped me during various fights and physical encounters. Later MacYoung and I met and became friends. I've learned a lot from his books, and even more from him in person. I recommend his works to anyone who wants to further their knowledge in self-defense and survival. You don't have to agree with him on everything, heck he will tell you he doesn't know everything and you shouldn't blindly agree with him or anyone. But I do guarantee he will open your eyes regarding various topics and give you something to think about. And I also guarantee that he will provide you with information to help you stay safe and survive.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series, and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer

Customer Rating:

Summary: Fun reading; not much use for civilian self-defense.
Comment: I was looking for a book about some basic self-defense using improvised weapons. Long ago I saw a book about bo staff fighting that talked about using umbrellas, canes and the like for self-defense, and was hoping this would be of the same order.

It is amusing and a great read. "Animal" talks like a Marvel Comics character like The Thing or Wolverine, and you can practically hear the Bronx voice as you read. But this material is intended for muscle men who work out regularly in a martial arts gym, who want fighting skills more real-world-based than formal martial arts. For someone who doesn't intend to fight for a living, or who would never enter a biker bar full of violent crackheads, the book has little practical use. Sorry, Animal, I ain't Batman. I'm more like Flounder from "Animal House," and this book won't help me.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Outstanding and comprehensive
Comment: A comprehensive look at improvised weapons you might encounter on the street such as beer bottles, pool cues, baseball bats, brass knuckles, fighting rings, saps, chains, shovels, bricks, and the like. Even hairbrushes and orange juice, two of the more unusual things the author has actually been assaulted with, are covered along with solid principles of how to spot, utilize, and defend yourself from these potentially deadly objects. Importantly, the book also delves into awareness, covering in depth some of the subtle and not-so-subtle cues that people tend to give when preparing to attack as well as patterns of trouble, diversions, distractions, and other things to look out for.

The author is the real deal. Growing up on gang-infested streets not only gave MacYoung his street name "Animal," but also extensive firsthand experience about what does and does not work for self-defense. Over the years, he has held a number of dangerous occupations including director of a correctional institute, bodyguard, and bouncer. He was first shot at when he was 15 years old and has since survived multiple attempts on his life, including professional contracts. He has studied a variety of martial arts since childhood, teaching experience-based self-defense to police, military, civilians, and martial artists around the world. Clearly a guy worth listening to.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction; co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt

Customer Rating:

Summary: Realistic and practical advice
Comment: This is a good book on using improvised weapons for self defense. On the positive side, MacYoung appears to have a wide range of experience and speaks with an air of authenticity. Buried deep in his stories and use of slang, you will find a person who has combined some formal training with street smarts and the school of hard knocks to create a very realistic view of the world and how to survive in difficult situations. For most people, those situations will never have the opportunity to present themselves because they will avoid the venue. For those who choose to frequent biker bars, rowdy night clubs and pool halls, this book will have more value.

Realistic and practical advice that can have applications in any environment. Exploring the self defense potential of common items is a great exercise and can keep you from getting locked into the mindset that if you are not "armed" then you are defenseless. It's a message that needs a wider audience, unfortunately due to the tone of his writing; this book will not appeal to that larger group.

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