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Psychology Memoirs and Biographies|From Gang Member to Self Defense Expert- An interview with Marc"Animal"MacYoung Episode
Dr. Kevin Keough, clinical psychologist, and host of North Star Guardians and Warrior Traditions, interviews Mr. Marc "Animal" MacYoung.
Topic: Martial arts, self defense and the way of the warrior
Growing up on the gang-infested streets of Los Angeles not only gave Marc MacYoung his street name "Animal," but also extensive firsthand experience about what does and does not work for self-defense. What he teaches is based on experience and has proven reliability for surviving violence. He is considered by many to be one of the most analytical thinkers on the subject of surviving violence and personal safety today.
He has taught police, military, martial artists and civilians around the world, his message is always the same: Hand-to-hand combat is a last ditch effort when other, more effective, preventive measures have failed. The best preventative measure of them all is not to put yourself into situations where you need to fight your way out. He knows that from personal experience and that is what he teaches, lest people find themselves in the same kind of situations that he did. Unlike many martial arts instructors, who claim to have been street fighters, his past is not a marketing promotion. Nor is it an exaggerated list of victories against legions of thugs through use of his undefeatable martial art style. It is filled with tales of ambushes, hit-and-run gang warfare, drugs, alcohol, bad behavior, stupid mistakes, weapons flashing in dark alleys, homicides, funerals and long nights spent in hospital waiting rooms praying for wounded friends to survive. That is the reality of being a street fighter. It is nothing any sane person would brag about -- much less pretend to be. As he often says It's a whole different ballgame when the other side shoots back...(1)
Yet, as one who lived despite the blood-splattered streets, MacYoung knows that survival isnât a matter of how "tough" you are or your ability to fight. Nor is it how many stripes you have on a black belt or how many tournaments youâve won. Although some physical skill is indeed necessary, survival is more a matter of knowledge and awareness. And that is what he stresses. Without those two key elements, you wonât make it out of a dark and lonely parking lot.
About that "Animal" part of his name... yes, he did all the stupid and dangerous things one needs to do to earn that nickname. It is a lifestyle he no longer lives or endorses. Unfortunately, since Animal is the name he was first published under, like a tattoo, he's sort of stuck with it as a constant reminder of a violent and dangerous youth.
[ Wed, 5 Sep 2007 23:01:00 GMT ]
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