First, you’ll get a lot if you pay attention, think about what Miller discusses, and implement his ideas into your overall self-defense strategies and training.  Second, watch this DVD because Miller knows what he’s talking about and addresses a lot of things that aren’t mentioned in most self-defense and martial art training DVDs.

This DVD is a companion to Miller’s book of the same title.  Both the DVD and the book Facing Violence cover seven important things any martial artist or person wanting to know about self-defense must consider when dealing with real fights, real attacks and real violence.  These seven areas are: 1) Legal and ethical implications  2) Violence dynamics  3) Avoidance 4) Counter-ambush  5) Breaking the freeze  6) The fight itself  7) The aftermath.

Much of the DVD is lecture format. Some of the material is better in written form, such as the legal considerations, so Miller doesn’t go into as much depth here.  Miller has a group that he teaches to, and they interact with Miller, and thus is makes this DVD more like being in a live seminar with Miller. In fact, Miller does teach these seminars.  At times, it takes on the appearance of a live program and not the rehearsed “DVD programs” that many of us are used to.

I hope that some won’t become bored with some of the lecture format and talking.  Again, as I mentioned, there is much more talking and lecture than action and techniques. But this stuff is important!  You need to listen to this.  You need to pay attention.  And you need to let these lessons sink in to help you be better prepared to face actual violence.

Miller is not the most polished or dynamic speaker.  You’ll hear some ums and ahs, and you’ll hear some profanity.  He’s not real animated and his voice is rather quiet. However, what he does have is a lot of hard-won knowledge that he shares honestly.  He sincerely delivers the information in this program to help people avoid if possible, and survive if necessary, when dealing with the real-word violence found in today’s streets.

No, this isn’t the normal self-defense DVD, it’s something different.  It’s a program I strongly recommend people watch and learn from to help with their martial art and self-defense training.  If you are a self-defense instructor, you must be including these seven areas in your teaching.  If you aren’t, you are doing a disservice to your students.  This DVD, together with the book of the same name, you’ll be much better prepared to face real violence, and you’ll be a much better self-defense instructor.

Facing Violence on amazon:

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Recently, a number of us got together and put some lessons in an anthology.  The book is a collection of a lot of different lessons from members of the Animal List (The annual Animal List BBQ at Marc’s came from this list)  I’m glad to be a part of this project, and below is the review I submitted to Amazon.  It really is a great collection of tales and lessons.

I’m one of the authors that contributed to Campfire Tales From Hell: Musings on Martial Arts, Survival, Bouncing, and General Thug Stuff, and I’m honored to be along side all of the individuals that contributed to this collection of stories, tales, wisdom, advice, and practical experience from people who have been there and done that. This book isn’t full of techniques that will turn you into a killer commando, or some super elite martial artist. Rather, Campfire Tales From Hell is a book full of personal experiences, many of which are not nice or good, and what you can learn from them to survive and make it through your own personal horrors, no matter how large or small they may be.

The book is hard to explain, because there is just so much in it. It comes from the history of a group of people, all with wide experienced backgrounds, getting together and telling stories over BBQ and alcohol, after a hard day of training. (And the training was taught by these same people, sharing the skills they’ve spent years developing.) As a participant of many of these gatherings, I’ve heard some of these stories first hand, heck I was there with one of Marc MacYoung’s tales, and I am glad they have been captured in print for others to learn from. There are things about talking to cops, law enforcement thoughts on fighting, the differences between stage fighting and real fighting, how to read your opponent, some history on European martial arts, PTSD, trauma, winning and losing, teaching, training and conditioning, how there are no secrets, breaking, various war stories and what was learned, advice for bouncers, how to stay out of trouble as a psych ward patient, martial art cults, how to leave abusive relationships, being nice when working security, gambling with your life, learning the old to understand the new, how there is no magic, and a new fiction story/interview by Barry Eisler.

As I said, this is an eclectic group of stories by an even more eclectic group of individuals that come together once a year to destroy Marc MacYoung’s lawn. It is not only an engaging and interesting read, but one that teaches a lot of valuable lessons for those that pay attention to them. Remember, these lessons were learned with much sweat, tears, and blood. Read the book, enjoy the book, but most importantly, learn from the book.

Available from Amazon:

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