| Being the author of several books on the | | | | how hard you try not to, there is a 90% plus |
| martial arts and fighting, I am always | | | | chance that if a physical confrontation lasts |
| looking for books of exceptional quality to | | | | much more than a few seconds it will probably |
| add to my library. If I have a book in my | | | | end up on the ground. A place you definitely |
| library, it's definitely worth owning. One | | | | don't want to be in a self-defense situation. |
| such book is Alain Burrese's, "Hard Won | | | | In my opinion, it is best to do whatever you |
| Wisdom from the School of Hard Knocks." I had | | | | can in order to not end up on the ground, and |
| purchased Alain's book several years ago when | | | | if you do how to quickly get back up on your |
| I had just caught the tail end of one of his | | | | feet again. |
| seminars on Hapkido. I took the book home and | | | | |
| read it a few days later. | | | | The next section gives you a brief but |
| | | | informative overview of training methods and |
| Boy was I impressed! Not so much by the book | | | | fitness routines that you can and should |
| itself, as I was by the author. Alain's grasp | | | | implement in order to not only improve your |
| of the philosophical aspects of the "war | | | | fighting technique, but also to keep you in |
| stories" that he recounts shows a remarkable | | | | shape for normal day-to-day activities. |
| insight into the various situations that we | | | | |
| seem to put ourselves in, never once thinking | | | | One section that Alain included in his book |
| of the possible consequences that could | | | | that I can't recall ever seeing in any other |
| transpire because of our lack of foresight. | | | | books is a section dealing with women. Now |
| | | | you can tell by reading this section that |
| Some of the major points that I got out of | | | | Alain is by his very nature the knight on a |
| Alain's book are as follows. | | | | white horse racing to save the damsel in |
| | | | distress. I find this to be a very chivalrous |
| The lessons that Alain teaches the reader are | | | | attitude and one that seems to be sorely |
| from his own personal experiences and, liked | | | | lacking in today's society. However, having |
| I stated in the previous paragraph, show a | | | | said that, I would like to ask the following |
| remarkable insight into how doing a couple of | | | | question, "Who is to blame for this prevalent |
| small easy things can keep you out of a lot | | | | modern attitude, the man, or the woman?" I |
| of the trouble that you could easily find | | | | will leave it up to the individual to decide. |
| yourself in. | | | | |
| | | | They say that hindsight is 20/20, and I |
| Alain has a good solid section covering the | | | | happen to agree. However, if you would like |
| use of your hands, elbows, and knees as | | | | to have 20/20 foresight, do the following. |
| personal striking weapons to use against an | | | | |
| opponent. This is more of a principle based | | | | 1. Purchase this book |
| teaching and less of a "How To" section. I | | | | |
| have seen way too many books that spent a lot | | | | 2. Sit down with this book, a notepad, and a |
| of time on the "How To" sections, but then | | | | pen. |
| little to nothing at all on the principles | | | | |
| behind the techniques. This is definitely not | | | | 3. Make three columns on the notepad. Mark |
| the case with Alain's book. | | | | one "Mistakes," "Options," and the other "End |
| | | | It." |
| The one section that I was looking forward to | | | | |
| was, in my opinion, a little too brief. | | | | 4. As you read this book, write down the |
| Although I am sure that this is primarily | | | | "Mistakes" that were made in each recounted |
| because my particular field of expertise just | | | | story. |
| so happens to be the section in question. | | | | |
| This is Alain's brief section devoted to | | | | 5. Then write down other "Options" that could |
| kicking. Now although a lot of what Alain has | | | | be used to avoid each situation. |
| to say on the subject I happen to agree with, | | | | |
| there are other things that, shall I say, we | | | | 6. And finally, if unavoidable, what other |
| share a difference of opinion. | | | | things could have been done to "End It." |
| | | | |
| Alain then follows up with a section on going | | | | 7. After you have done this and have had the |
| to the ground during a fight, and the | | | | time to thoroughly digest it, sit down and |
| possible ramifications of what could happen | | | | write a letter to Alain thanking him for the |
| once this occurs. One point that everyone | | | | wonderful book that you just had the |
| should agree on, is the fact that no matter | | | | opportunity to learn from. I did! |