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Campfire Tales From Hell: Musings on Martial Arts, Survival, Bouncing, and General Thug Stuff
Life out at the edges can be rough, scary and, at times, dangerous. Campfire Tales From Hell is a collection of essays from people who have been there, done that -- some of whom had to fight for their title of ‘survivor.’ Some are professionals, calmly going to work knowing a bad day means someone dies -- and that ‘someone’ could be them. Others came through by being smarter, more aware, better trained or just having it more together than the other 'team.' Some of the authors looked into the abyss and spit in its eye when it looked back. Still others were normal people thrown into extraordinary circumstances.
Campfire Tales is not a collection of macho stories. It's a primer for what you'll need to know to make it out on the edge. It's what to remember when you're dealing with dangerous people and difficult situations. It's what attitudes, knowledge and perspectives you'll need to get through. It's 'what I wish someone had told me when I started.' It's how Hollywood and fiction can -- and will -- get you killed or thrown into prison. It's what you need to know to fill the holes in your self-defense or defensive tactics training. In a different direction, writers can learn from the people who actually do what they're writing about. But most of all, Campfire Tales From Hell is a collection of stories and wisdom that tells you, 'you too can get through.'
Campfire Tales is not a collection of macho stories. It's a primer for what you'll need to know to make it out on the edge. It's what to remember when you're dealing with dangerous people and difficult situations. It's what attitudes, knowledge and perspectives you'll need to get through. It's 'what I wish someone had told me when I started.' It's how Hollywood and fiction can -- and will -- get you killed or thrown into prison. It's what you need to know to fill the holes in your self-defense or defensive tactics training. In a different direction, writers can learn from the people who actually do what they're writing about. But most of all, Campfire Tales From Hell is a collection of stories and wisdom that tells you, 'you too can get through.'
- GenresMartial Arts
236 pages, ebook
First published May 15, 2012
4 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Rory Miller
64 books137 followersSergeant Rory Miller is a corrections officer, a martial artist, and an instructor in both of those areas.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 3, 2012
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.
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.
May 12, 2013
As a longtime martial artist, I am always interested in gaining new perspectives from the life experiences of people who have encountered more violence than I have. "Campfire Tales from Hell" sets out to address this need by pulling together essays from a broad range of self-defense experts, law enforcement officers, medical practitioners, ex-military personnel, former criminals, and more. As with many anthologies, it's a bit uneven in terms of the tone and quality of the writing, but it is almost all interesting and useful stuff.
The contributions from Marc MacYoung, Eric Gaden, Wim Demeere, Jael, Don Roley and Rory Miller, in particular, are excellent, but there are also a few misfires. To my mind the chapter on how to navigate a psych ward was interesting, but of likely limited value for most people. Another on one gaijin's experience in a Japanese prison was engaging, but more macho and less practical than I would have liked. And finally, an essay in which Barry Eisler's fictional assassin, John Rain, sits down for a scotch with the very real-life Marc MacYoung struck me as out of place. (Which pains me a bit to say, as I'm a huge fan of both John Rain and Barry Eisler.)
Nonetheless, while "Campfire Tales from Hell" doesn't completely succeeed in its stated objective to be a "primer for what you'll need to know to make it out on the edge," it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in getting some straight dope on the physical, legal, social and psychological issues surrounding violence and self-defense. For me, it's a worthy companion to works like Rory Miller's outstanding "Meditations on Violence", although not, in my opinion, as essential.
The contributions from Marc MacYoung, Eric Gaden, Wim Demeere, Jael, Don Roley and Rory Miller, in particular, are excellent, but there are also a few misfires. To my mind the chapter on how to navigate a psych ward was interesting, but of likely limited value for most people. Another on one gaijin's experience in a Japanese prison was engaging, but more macho and less practical than I would have liked. And finally, an essay in which Barry Eisler's fictional assassin, John Rain, sits down for a scotch with the very real-life Marc MacYoung struck me as out of place. (Which pains me a bit to say, as I'm a huge fan of both John Rain and Barry Eisler.)
Nonetheless, while "Campfire Tales from Hell" doesn't completely succeeed in its stated objective to be a "primer for what you'll need to know to make it out on the edge," it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in getting some straight dope on the physical, legal, social and psychological issues surrounding violence and self-defense. For me, it's a worthy companion to works like Rory Miller's outstanding "Meditations on Violence", although not, in my opinion, as essential.
January 8, 2013
"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writing, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." --- Socrates
That quote, in a nutshell, describes my perception of this book. Each story offers some nuggets from the perspective of someone who's been down their particular road, some many times. Many of them are stories that directly relate to situations I might find myself in, so it's very important to pay attention to what they have to offer from their experiences. Others are more obscure, such as a stay in a UK mental institution or a Japanese prison, but I found them no less interesting.
The bottom line is, this book is packed with tidbits and helpful hints from people who've been in the line of fire, who've put their lives on the line, who've done things I not only have never done but, in many cases, hope I never have to. So I'm listening and taking notes. You never know what direction life might take you.
That quote, in a nutshell, describes my perception of this book. Each story offers some nuggets from the perspective of someone who's been down their particular road, some many times. Many of them are stories that directly relate to situations I might find myself in, so it's very important to pay attention to what they have to offer from their experiences. Others are more obscure, such as a stay in a UK mental institution or a Japanese prison, but I found them no less interesting.
The bottom line is, this book is packed with tidbits and helpful hints from people who've been in the line of fire, who've put their lives on the line, who've done things I not only have never done but, in many cases, hope I never have to. So I'm listening and taking notes. You never know what direction life might take you.
May 18, 2013
I find MacYoung and Miller to be two of the best writers on real-world violence and combat out there, and had high expectations for this book. Their pieces were good, as were several others, and there is much useful information in the collection, but it generally is so heterogenous in content and such a mix of practical and non-practical that I can't recommend it without some warning or qualification. Read Miller's Meditations on Violence and Facing Violence or a few of MacYoung's many great books before this book, if you have not done so already.
September 2, 2016
This is an anthology put together by Rory Miller, the author of "Meditations On Violence" and "Scaling Force".
It was a bit of a disappointment. While some of the essays were outstanding, some simply didn't mesh with my interests or expectations. I'd hoped for more "war stories" and reflections by guys like Miller, but they really weren't in here.
It was a bit of a disappointment. While some of the essays were outstanding, some simply didn't mesh with my interests or expectations. I'd hoped for more "war stories" and reflections by guys like Miller, but they really weren't in here.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews