Right off the bat; this book is not for the squeamish. Their is no gender equality or respect in this book, there is hardly even any respect exept for those who fight and those who do it well. It is promoted as a guide of “must-knows” if one wants to become a professional MMA-fighter, but let’s face it; if that’s actually want you wanted to do you wouldn’t need to read Griffin’s book about it. So although the book does end with a series of fighter tips and fighter stances and combat moves what one should really read it for is the hilarious ride Griffin takes you on.
Here’s a man who’s bat-s**t insane. He watches Good Will Hunting all day and fights and is happy and used to be a cop and all his friends chime in to tell us; this dude is messed up. And I believe them. But through it all he comes through just so loveable. He speaks honestly about his victories and his oddities and he does not shy away from things that may be construed as embarrassing; e.g. crying and running out of a big fight. He lives based on some pretty solid principles and it must be these princinples that shine through because even as a hardcore feminist I let him speak derogatory about women, less manly men and homosexual people. He gets away with it, because he does it in such an over the top way with a glint in his eyes that you know he doesn’t believe these horrible things about any “group” in particular.
However, be warned, there is at times graphic content, and a rape joke/comparisson that may not be to the taste of everybody. I was uncertain how to feel. In one sense I am always against making light of rape on the other hand it was included in such a way as though it was meant to get people angry and in the flow and style of the book it felt funny, out of line and effortless.
This is a book that takes masculine to the extreme with a delightful bit of irony and craziness that let’s you feel like you go along for a very enjoyable ride. I would however, only recommend it if you have an interest in martial arts or fighting as it is a glimpse into the intenseness of that world and not everybody may understand it.