The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

Two things will become readily apparent after just a few pages of this book.
First, Alain is one of those men who has had the benefit of a loving and wise
father, whom it is obvious Alain respects very deeply. Second, Alain is not the
man with whom to pick a fight.

I normally discount as bravado someone’s tales of his violent past, taking with
a few grains of salt those war stories of bar fights and street skirmishes won
and lost. From the outset, though, Alain’s honest style and earnest desire to
impart what he’s learned put the reader at ease. The advice Alain offers is the
type of common sense that isn’t too common. I found myself agreeing as I turned
the pages — and saying to myself, “That’s so obvious. Why haven’t I been
keeping that in mind?”

That’s Alain’s gift. He has a way of taking those things that should be
obvious, but which aren’t, for whatever reasons, and beating you gently about
the head and neck with them.

The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 includes Alain’s introduction, the
admonishment that Anyone Can Be Beat, and chapters on legal ramifications as
well as the importance of awareness in self-defense.

Part 2 covers Balance; Stance and Footwork; Defense; Using Your Hands; Kicking;
Infighting Tools; The Ground; Chokes and Sleepers; Training; and Fitness. As you
can see from the chapter titles, this is Alain explaining the physical building
blocks of fighting and self-defense.

Part 3, though, is where things get really interesting. Alain offers his insight
into everything regarding fighting and self-defense that isn’t about the
physical aspects — at least not primarily. Mr. Burrese touches on several very
interesting subjects, including the complications that arise regarding women,
the differences made by the types of friends one chooses, the dangers of drunks,
the use of weapons, clothing considerations, and a variety of other factors.

In Part 4, Alain ties together what he’s written by offering some keen insights
into the mindsets behind those who fight, those who want to fight, and
those who realize they no longer want to fight. Alain’s chagrin at his own
youthful indiscretions is obvious, and this more than anything lends weight to
the lessons he’s learned and is trying to share.

Throughout, the book is dotted with fascinating anecdotes from Alain’s life. I
must admit that it was these I found most interesting, and I caught myself more
than once scanning ahead for paragraphs that started with, “This one
time…” or “I knew this guy…” or “One night in…”
so I could read the best parts before going back to see what the author was
trying to illustrate.