Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on June 27, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Marc MacYoung is one of the few people that I am aware of that not only writes primarily about violence, but has the experience to back it up. He’s been there, grew up IN it, and survived to educate the rest of us. As someone that also deals with violence, regularly, I can honestly say that his words have changed my world. He has made it possible for me to make it through 7 turbulent years of disagreements, fights, conflict of every kind, and physical confrontations. I have a good-sized library now because of Marc’s writing. I have an appreciation for violence because of Marc’s writing. Yeah, that sounds odd, but it’s true. When you are expected to deal with violence, you need to get educated in it. Marc’s words and thoughts therein will help you get a lot of things you thought you already knew, you don’t and he’ll explain why. Avoidance is always stressed in many of the things that Marc points out – get the hell out, walk away, don’t go there. But, if like me you haven’t got that option, then keep reading and learning from an expert who has been-there-done-that, because he has on many fronts and in many ‘venues.’ Marc’s books are a great investment.

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on June 27, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This stuff must have been a hard write. The material is disturbing, and if you think it couldn’t happen – well, will we ever really know anything about what happens around us everyday? Can we really ever believe everything we’re told? Do you think that the good guys don’t struggle with this every single day? I think we’ve all been in a situation, where only our up-bringing, our morals and beliefs kept us from crossing over the line to even the score, don’t you? Maybe we can live vicariously through reads like this – maybe it helps us for one more day. Tackling some really tough issues takes a toll ultimately. I can truly admire a man or woman that can fight the fight as if if weren’t personal, yet you have to wonder – how can they do what they do, for those that need ‘representation.’ Is this believable – oh yeah. We’ve all read the headlines, we’ve probably been their neighbors, or co-workers. We want to think that someone, SOMEONE will even the scales – sometime, if not today. We want justice, we want THEM shut down. We want them to pay, right? That’s a given, unless you’re one of them. John has taken a few disturbing ‘trends’, created a believable scenario, and served up some justice – clearly outside the lines, but hey, who cares – justice was done, and it’s fantasy anyway, right? Do you wonder? I do. I found the material disturbing on a few levels. It made me think, it made me uncomfortable, but it made me think. It also made me aware. How much of the time do we all just ignore these events, or are maybe just unaware, or avoid it because it makes us uncomfortable? Why does media under-report some of these crimes, keeping us in the dark, and allowing it to continue? Why aren’t the courts doling out real justice? Yeah, you really have to read this too-short story. It will give you hope, it will make you think, it may even prompt you to get involved. My guess is that some of this is based on real events, somewhere, sometime. But that’s just me. To the author – take your time, flesh it out more, develop the characters – good and bad. Pay attention to the details, and draw us in more. You need to get us involved, and invested if it’s to affect change in the world. Thanks for writing this, because while it made me uncomfortable, I know that it was meant to do so – to create awareness, to create change, to push us into the darkness just a little to force us to look at many disturbing things, and to invite us back into that next book…. job well done sir for such a short read. Read this, let it seep in, and get back to writing and by doing so, informing and educating your readership.

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on June 12, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I don’t usually read fiction, but this three-volume series hooked me. It’s storyline is loosely based on recent historical events, pseudo-facts, and a lot of realism. It was hard to put down and thoroughly entertaining. The use of factual incidents and realistic depictions drew me into the storyline deeper and made it worth the time invested to finish it off. Thanks to the author for his service, and for his imagination and attention to details! Great read and highly recommended!

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on April 2, 2015
Format: Unknown Binding

Alain delivers some good information in this video. I like his style, his Martial Art, his delivery. He’s a good man, stands behind his material, and is always available to answer questions about his material. Alain is in the minority in the Martial Arts marketplace – teaching without ego!

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on April 2, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I’ve been interested in Doc’s work since finding him in 2008. This is BOOK #4 in a series of Verbal Judo offerings. Sadly, Doc passed in 2011, but his legacy lives on through his output and teaching. You don’t have to be LEO to benefit from Doc’s words – this stuff works in everyday life!

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on April 2, 2015
Format: DVD

I own MOST of what Alain has put out – probably ALL of his books and DVD’s. Alain is one of the NICEST MA guys in the marketplace, the only HAPKIDO teacher that I know, and worthy of high-praise for not only sharing/teaching, but for his world-class personality. There’s no ego, lots of good information, and his demonstrations in the videos are fully explained! I’m not a cane guy, but bought this product anyway to see what the possibilities are!

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on March 7, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This book is the second of four, and in it Doc takes us through several stories to support each of his maxims – the underlying principles that he wished to convey to his readership.

© Copyright 2015, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on September 28, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This book should be required reading in lieu of many recent events, including Ferguson. Don’t believe the headlines, do your research and get all of the relevant facts BEFORE you criticize the next news event that mentions ‘police brutality’ or some other headline that is designed for one purpose only. Rory has laid out a roadmap for the layperson to understand how and why Police use force to obtain good outcomes. You may not agree the next time you read an ugly story, but you will at least be doing so from an informed position.

© Copyright 2014, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on March 4, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Rory Miller and Marc MacYoung dominate a lot of my training these days – mostly my thought processes! Rory’s talents are woefully overlooked in my opinion. He’s got an awful lot to say, and share about things that we all need to know about if we are to get any better at out jobs, or in our lives. Yes, it can get uncomfortable looking at life through his lens, but don’t let that discourage you in the least. Life is not pretty, and it can be a game, but if you want to move up, get better at job skills, life skills, then spend the cash, read the material and let it stew. Then go back AFTER the lights go on, and re-read it with a fresh set of life-skills and tools that you didn’t have before. I guarantee that this book will open your eyes to things that you have seen all of your life, without seeing it for what it really was. Game ON!

© Copyright 2014, tim boehlert

Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on February 4, 2014
Format: DVD
Short review on Rory’s New YMAA Joint Locks DVD:

[…]

Rory’s goal was to make Joint Locks accessible – make them easy to understand, and to remove the complications and mystery. It works. He has boiled down JL’s to a lesson in less than one hour timeframe, removed a lot of the BS, explained some of the tricks, but most importantly – once again – made us all think! Since I use JL’s as a primary stepping off point, and use them more than most, they’ve always been on my list of things to ‘master’ – it can’t be done, and it shouldn’t be done. It’s messy, but it can still work if you listen, and learn. The Principles is a personal tome that I’ve asked Rory to publish in the past and to share – without ’em we’re all flailing. Rory has provide some basics, some great demos, and some great thinking and talking points in this new release – long overdue, and sure to compliment any MA/LEO library of existing titles. It’s just got some great basic foundational ideas. Mine came yesterday, and I spent three hours today capturing his ideas on paper to think about, and review while I can’t be watching – fine tuning my abilities with some restructuring, some fixes to my mess, and some new information that I hadn’t seen anywhere else. My biggest problem with Rory’s stuff is this: he gives you tools, and they make you want more. I know that Rory doesn’t intend this specifically, but I’m always waiting for his NEXT release, and the one after that, and so on. He always brings something new to my table and library, and he always makes me think differently. It’s always a joy to get a new Miller product in the mailbox, and this one was no exception. In fact, it’s very relevant to my needs and journey to go home safe. Thank you Rory for your talent, and ability to deliver your experience to those of us out here that need your knowledge.

© Copyright 2014, tim boehlert