Combat / defence skills and manuals Books
HarperCollins Publishers SAS Survival Guide
Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION COPY BESTSELLERTHE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SURVIVING ANYWHEREThe Collins Gem SAS Survival Guide is the pocket companion for adventurers everywhere. From making camp and finding food in the wild to security and self-defence in the streets, be prepared on land or sea. SAS legend John Lofty' Wiseman's unrivalled guide will teach you:Preparation Understanding and assembling latest, most resilient, kit.Navigation Skills, technologies and techniques to get you through unfamiliar terrain.Food and Health Finding resources in your environment, feeding yourself, healing yourself and avoiding disease.Safety and Security Recognising dangerous situations, defending yourself and saving others.Disaster Survival Dealing with unstable environmental conditions: what to do in the face of flash flooding or fast-spreading fire.Trade Review'An ideal level of detail for a single book ... The most valuable 'jack of all trades' book that currently exists' Bushcraft UK
£6.99
HarperCollins Publishers SAS Survival Handbook The Definitive Survival
Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION COPY BESTSELLERTHE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SURVIVING ANYWHEREThe SAS Survival Handbook is the complete companion for adventurers everywhere. From making camp and finding food in the wild to security and self-defence in the streets, be prepared on land or sea. SAS legend John Lofty' Wiseman's unrivalled guide will teach you:Preparation Understanding and assembling latest, most resilient, kit.Navigation Skills, technologies and techniques to get you through unfamiliar terrain.Food and Health Finding resources in your environment, feeding yourself, healing yourself and avoiding disease.Safety and Security Recognising dangerous situations, defending yourself and saving others.Disaster Survival Dealing with unstable environmental conditions: what to do in the face of flash flooding or fast-spreading fire.Trade Review'An ideal level of detail for a single book ... The most valuable 'jack of all trades' book that currently exists' Bushcraft UK 'A survival guide for any crazy situation. You will almost definitely never have to use the skills, but it'll make you feel powerful' Caitlin Moran
£17.99
Amberley Publishing Spitfire Manual 1940
Book SynopsisHow to fly the legendary fighter plane in combat using the manuals and instructions supplied by the RAF during the Second World War. An amazing array of leaflets, books and manuals were issued by the War Office during the Second World War to aid pilots in flying the Supermarine Spitfire, here for the first time and using the original 1940s setting, they are collated into a single book. An introduction is supplied by expert aviation historian Dilip Sarkar. Other sections include aircraft recognition, how to act as an RAF officer, bailing out etc.Trade Review'As a reminder of times as a fighter pilot in WWII this book is a must' -- Aircrew Association
£9.49
Amber Books Ltd SAS and Special Forces Self Defence
Book Synopsis Includes extensive advice on mental preparation Teaches strategies for dealing with unexpected assaults Over 100 photographs and instructional artworks bring the topic to life
£9.49
Amber Books Ltd Extreme Unarmed Combat: Hand-to-Hand Fighting
Book SynopsisDuck punch, cover block and knee strike. Boxing, wrestling and Ju-Jitsu. Gameplan, lines of attack and final disengagement. If you can’t take flight, you’re going to have to fight. Extreme Unarmed Combat is an authoritative handbook on an immense array of close combat defence techniques, from fistfights to headlocks, from tackling single unarmed opponents to armed groups, from stance to manoeuvring. Presented in a handy pocketbook format, Extreme Unarmed Combat’s structure considers the different fighting and martial arts skills you can use before looking at the areas of the body to defend, how to attack without letting yourself be hurt and how to incapacitate your opponent. With more than 300 black-&-white illustrations of combat scenarios, punches, blocks and ducks, and with expert easy-to-follow text, Extreme Unarmed Combat guides you through everything you need to know about what to do when you can’t escape trouble. This book could save your life.Table of ContentsIntroduction PART ONE: TOOLS 1. Basics 2. Defensive Tools 3. Striking Tools 4. Grappling Tools 5. Groundfighting Tools PART TWO: APPLICATIONS 6. The Unarmed Opponent 7. The Armed Opponent 8. Firearms 9. Multiple Combatants 10. Distraction, Misdirection & Psychological Techniques PART THREE: TRAINING 11. Physical Training 12. Application Work Final Notes Appendices: Civilian Applications Glossary Index
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC An Officers Manual of the Western Front
Book SynopsisA compelling insight into the lives of the soldiers behind the war that not only changed the direction of world affairs but also brought with it a modernised, mechanised style of warfare.Many people have the idea that the Great War' on the Western Front was simple, if ghastly, to fight with few tactics, and unbroken, monotonous, trench lines as the main feature of the battlefield. In such a scenario the archetypal image of battle is of soldiers with rifles and bayonets charging each other in blind obedience to stupid repetitious orders.Though undeniably bloody the war was in fact a ferment of new ideas and new weapons. Gas, flame throwers, super-heavy artillery, concrete bunkers, tanks, aircraft and other innovations were all introduced, whilst older notions such as barbed wire, machine guns and armour took on a new lease of life.No single manual was ever enough to encompass ''modern war'', and even before 1914 numerous publications were required. With the focus on the Western
£10.44
Tuttle Publishing Krav Maga Extreme Survival
Book SynopsisTrained by the top Israeli Defense Forces'' instructors, Gershon Ben Keren is one of the foremost experts on the martial art of Krav Magra. In his third book, Ben Keren explains how to survive life-threatening real-world offenses—terrorists, active shooters, carjackers, home invaders—and demonstrates how Krav Maga can be employed to respond to them. Each section of Extreme Survival provides detailed instructions alongside a series of photographs that show move-by-move how to defend yourself and others against: Attacks in workplaces, homes, and public places Unarmed attackers Assailants armed with knives, handguns, long barrel firearms, explosives, and improvised weapons One-on-one assaults and attacks on groups Attacks in open areas as well as in cramped spaces, such as inside a car A 2011 inductee into the Museum of Israeli Martial Arts, Ben Keren focuses on the psychology of violence to inform his self-dTrade Review"Should you judge a book by its cover? In the case of Krav Maga Extreme Survival, by Gershon Ben Keren, absolutely…The book has plenty of clear colour photos to take you through what to do…For a book about such bad events, which could easily have been gloomy, instead I found Ben Keren's ending, like the whole book, empowering and uplifting." --Professional Security Magazine"Written by Gershon Ben Keren, who's practiced Krav Maga for 25 years, this text covers--as the cover says--active-shooter scenarios, carjackings, home invasions, predator profiling and other aspects of self-defense. It's 223 pages long and includes numerous full-color, step-by-step photos." --Black Belt Magazine
£15.29
Trustees of the Royal Armouries Foot Combat Flipbook
Book SynopsisThe sequence here shows Andy Deane and David Perry from the Royal Armouries Interpretation team demonstrating an armoured foot-combat display using pollaxes. Shot at the Royal Armouries' Tournament Gallery in Leeds.
£5.62
FreeLance Academy Press Fiore dei Liberis Armizare The Chivalric Martial
Book SynopsisRobert Charrette here brings together his experience as a martial artist and respected 14th century historian to take readers on a tour of Fiore's manuscripts, and into the mindset behind its creation. This is a tool-kit that reveals Fiore dei Liberi's brilliance as a fighter, and as a martial arts teacher. Illustrated in b&w throughout.Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgements Introduction The Weapons of Armizare The Four Openings The Protection of Armor Il Fior di Battaglia's Organization Stance The Way Four Steps Three Turns Masters & Scholars Interplay of Masters and Scholars Lessons of Abrazare Abrazare Guards Abrazare Plays Lessons of the Dagger Dagger Guards Dagger Plays Lessons of the Sword: Sword in One Hand Holding the Sword Sword in One Hand Guards Sword in One Hand Plays Lessons of the Sword: Sword in Two Hands Sword in Two Hands Guards Sword in Two Hands Guards Lessons of the Sword: Sword in Armor Sword in Armor Guards Sword in Armor Plays Lessons of the Axe Axe Guards Axe Plays The Axe is a Sword Lessons of the Spear Spear Guards and Plays Lessons of Mounted Combat Appendices Distribution of Imagery in Il Fior di Battaglia Glossary Learning from the Many Faces of Donna Master and Scholars Organization Charts
£35.62
FreeLance Academy Press The Medieval Dagger
Book SynopsisThe term 'medieval martial arts' conjures images of armoured knights wielding sword, lance and axe. While the image is correct, at the foundation of knightly combat was a sophisticated form of close quarter combat, centred on fighting with - and against - the dagger, a deadly weapon of both self-defense and last resort. In Mastering the Art of Arms, Volume One: The Medieval Dagger, Guy Windsor presents a complete guide to the principles and practice of Italian dagger combat, as set down in Il Fior di Battaglia a manuscript written in 1410. Readers are guided step-by-step through the process of mastering this six hundred year old art, from choosing a dagger to striking with it; from guard positions to steps and turns; from disarms to locks and takedowns; from safe falling practice to formal drills, and finally pressure testing their skills with sparring. Both a primer on the art and a methodology for on-going training, this book will give the complete novice a solid starting point, while providing useful drills and ideas for advanced martial artists. Those who study other traditional knife arts, and modern military combatives, will find many familiar techniques present in this ancient system. Trade Review Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Mastering the Art of Arms Series Introduction to Volume 1 The Medieval Dagger Chapter One: Fundamental Principle Chapter Two: Foundations from Fiore Chapter Three: Mechanics and Movement Chapter Four: Falling Free Chapter Five: Is This a Dagger which I See Before Me? Chapter Six: Grips, Strikes and Breaks Chapter Seven: Remedy Masters: Control the Weapon Chapter Eight: The System in Brief Chapter Nine: Counter-Remedies Chapter Ten: Dealing with the Backhand Chapter Eleven: When in Doubt, Use Both Hands! Chapter Twelve: The Low Blow Chapter Thirteen: Defense Against the Grab-and-Stab Chapter Fourteen: A Knife for a Knife: Defense with the Dagger Chapter Fifteen: A Dagger Disarm Flowdrill Chapter Sixteen: Armoured Combat Chapter Seventeen: Expanding Your Skills Chapter Eighteen: One System, Many Weapons Chapter Nineteen: Sword vs Dagger Acknowledgments Bibliography Glossary
£20.42
HarperCollins Publishers Fight Like a Girl An empowering selfdefence guide
Book SynopsisFighting like a girl says I can be powerful in ways that are natural to me; I have access to power too it may not look the same as your power, but it's there and I can claim it.'It should never be a woman's job to have to protect herself but choosing to learn about self-defence can be incredibly liberating. Fight Like a Girl is a practical beginner's guide, in which women's martial arts expert and survivor Della O'Sullivan draws on her years of experience to give us the tools to protect our bodies and minds. A truly empowering illustrated handbook, it includes:easy-to-follow self-defence manoeuvreshow to spot red flags and protect yourself against alarming behaviourhow to adopt the mindset of a survivorIt is the book you'll want to press into every woman's hands.
£11.69
Columbia University Press Pursuit of an Unparalleled Opportunity
Book SynopsisThis analysis of the general subject of WWI prisoners of war focuses on the role of a non-governmental association in confronting the increasingly chaotic conditions of East Europe.Trade ReviewExtremely interesting and impressively researched. -- Arnold Krammer Journal of American Hsitory
£54.40
Columbia University Press Mission Revolution
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewTaw's tightly argued analysis should be of interest to all readers...highly recommended. Choice Well-researched and well-written... A job well done. Marine Corps HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction. Mission Creep Writ Large: The U.S. Military's Embrace of Stability Operations 1. Stability Operations in Context 2. Doctrine and Stability Operations 3. Practical Adjustments to Achieve Doctrinal Requirements 4. Explaining the Military's Mission Revolution 5. Implications of Mission Revolution 6. A New World Order? Notes Bibliography Index
£21.25
Columbia University Press Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy
Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] rich, useful, and important book. -- Thomas Powers New York Times Book Review A thoroughly documented, cogently argued work by an author with vast personal experience of his topic. Kirkus Reviews A vigorous and hard-hitting insider's account, -- Lawrence D. Freedman Foreign Affairs Pillar provides a telling and comprehensive new perspective from the inside. -- Steve Coll New York Review of Books This is a well-written effort by a former intelligence offer and academician. Hopefully, members of the national security community and their staffs will read and benefit from it. Choice Pillar's book is extremely detailed and informative, providing a better understanding of just how hard it is to be an intelligence professional in a world where all that matters is being wrong... once. -- James M. Burcalow Military Review Important and highly readable... This is a book that should be widely read by both the public and policymakers. -- Richard Harris The Manhattan MercuryTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Preface 1. Introduction: A Comforting Explanation for Calamity 2. Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Iraq War 3. Alternative Visions of the Iraq War 4. Congress and the Politics of the Iraq War 5. Great Decisions and the Irrelevance of Intelligence 6. Politicization 7. Scapegoats and Spectator Sport 8. The Never-Ending Issue 9. Catharsis and 9/11 10. Responses to Catharsis 11. The Illusion of Reform 12. Real Reform 13. Adapting Policy to Uncertainty Notes Index
£67.20
Columbia University Press Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy
Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] rich, useful, and important book. -- Thomas Powers New York Times Book Review A thoroughly documented, cogently argued work by an author with vast personal experience of his topic. Kirkus Reviews A vigorous and hard-hitting insider's account, -- Lawrence D. Freedman Foreign Affairs Pillar provides a telling and comprehensive new perspective from the inside. -- Steve Coll New York Review of Books This is a well-written effort by a former intelligence offer and academician. Hopefully, members of the national security community and their staffs will read and benefit from it. Choice Pillar's book is extremely detailed and informative, providing a better understanding of just how hard it is to be an intelligence professional in a world where all that matters is being wrong... once. -- James M. Burcalow Military Review Important and highly readable... This is a book that should be widely read by both the public and policymakers. -- Richard Harris The Manhattan MercuryTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Preface 1. Introduction: A Comforting Explanation for Calamity 2. Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Iraq War 3. Alternative Visions of the Iraq War 4. Congress and the Politics of the Iraq War 5. Great Decisions and the Irrelevance of Intelligence 6. Politicization 7. Scapegoats and Spectator Sport 8. The Never-Ending Issue 9. Catharsis and 9/11 10. Responses to Catharsis 11. The Illusion of Reform 12. Real Reform 13. Adapting Policy to Uncertainty Notes Index
£21.25
Indiana University Press Tank Warfare
Book Synopsis-Examines the development and use of Tanks in war from their introduction in WWI through the present day. -Jeremy Black is one of the pre-eminent military historians writing today. -Black's narrative style should appeal to scholars and armchair generals alike.Trade ReviewBlack's text is far more than a mere chronological account of tank warfare. It is indeed much more. It is a critique to a sort of tank-centric approach of military culture, one that appeared after World War Two and has been in vogue for the whole duration of the Cold War, an approach which derives from a flawed use of military history. The book is also an overview of what tanks are today and, of course, what tanks should be tomorrow. -- Matteo Mazziotti di Celso * Nuova Antologia Militare *Tank Warfare is recommended for any student of land warfare in the twentieth century. The broad scope and inclusive efforts provide a starting point for detailed research, assisted by Black's chapter notes and selected reading. -- Brian North * H-Net War *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgementsAbbreviations1. The Start2. The 1920s3. The 1930s4. The Second World War, I: Axis Advances5. The Second World War, II: The Allies Attack6. The Early Cold War, 1945–19677. The Late Cold War, 1968–19908. Since 19909. The FutureConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex
£18.99
Trustees of the Royal Armouries The Art of Prowling
Book SynopsisThe Art of Prowling is one of a series of training booklets written by Colonel G. A. Wade for the newly-recruited Home Guard. This reproduction by the Royal Armouries shows how trainees during the Second World War learned to sneak up on the enemy without being seen.
£6.99
FreeLance Academy Press In Saint Georges Name
Book SynopsisAs a window into the knight and his craft, In Saint George's Name: An Anthology of Medieval German Fighting Arts brings readers a treasure trove of historic combat treatises, musings on the culture and context of the martial arts in the late Middle Ages and hands-on training exercises for wrestling, dagger, falchion and poleaxe. Trade Review Table of ContentsDedication Acknowledgements About the Author The Selohaar Fechtschule Preface Introduction Chickens and Eggs: Which Master Came First? Master Peter Falkner's Dagger "Lance, Spear, Sword, and Messer" The Messerfechten of Master Paulus Kal Hot, Wet, Cold, and Dry: the Four Guards A Late 15th Century German Poleaxe Treatise Master Paulus Kal's Four Hip Wrestlings Introduction to the Von Danzig Fechtbuch The Von Danzig Fechtbuch - 1452 Ownership and Catalogue Information Johannes Liechtenauer's Verse Epitome [Zettel] Anonymous Commentaries on Liechtenauer's Longsword Anonymous Commentaries on Liechtenauer's Mounted Combat Anonymous Commentaries on Liechtenauer's Armoured Combat Andres Lignitzer's Armoured Combat with the Half-Sword Andres Lignitzer's Sword and Buckler Combat Andres Lignitzer's Wrestling Andres Lignitzer's Dagger Techniques Martin Huntfeltz's Armoured Combat with the Half-Sword Martin Huntfeltz's Pinning Techniques in Armour Martin Huntfeltz's Dagger Techniques Martin Huntfeltz's Mounted Combat Ott's Wrestling Peter von Danzig's Commentary on Liechtenauer's Armoured Combat Glossary Bibliography
£29.92
FreeLance Academy Press Venetian Rapier
Book SynopsisThis book takes you to the fencing School of celebrated renaissance rapier Master Nicoletto Giganti of Venice. This faithful translation of Giganti's The School by internationally-known rapier teacher Tom Leoni includes the complete text, original illustrations and an introduction on rapier fencing that will make Giganti's text easy to follow. Trade Review Table of ContentsAcknowlegements Introduction What we know about Giganti What we know about Gaganti's 1606 Book Giganti's Voice and Language, and a note on the Translation Giganti and the Italian Tradition What You need to Know to Tackle Gigante The School, or Salle, by Nicoletto Giganti of Venice, 1606 The Guards and Counter-guards Tempo and Measure How to Deliver the Thrust Why I Begin with Single Sword Guards, or Postures Explanation of the Strike in Tempo The Correct Way to Gain the Opponent's Sword and Strike Him While He Performs a Cavazione The Correct Way to Perform a Cavazione The Contracavazione to the Inside The Contracavazione to the Outside Feints-Explanation The Feint of Cavazione From the Hand How to Strike to the Chest With Single Sword-From the Measure and Parity of Swords The Pass With Feint from Out of Measure The Pass With Feint Above the Opponent's Point The Feint to the Face from Out of Measure The Correct Way to Deliver a Thrust While the Opponent Attacks You With a Cut The Correct Way to Deliver a Sure Strike Using Both Hands The Correct Way to Defend Against a Mandritto or a Riverso to the Leg The Inquartata or Void An Artful Way to Strike the Opponent in the Chest after Pressing Against Each other's Blades How to Play Single Sword Against Single Sword, With Full-intent Thrusts How to Parry Thrusts to the Chest With Single Sword The Thrust to the Face, Turning the Hand Counterattack with Cavazione from out of Measure How to Use Single Sword Against Sword and Dagger How to Parry a Thrust to the Face in Sword and Dagger How to Correctly Parry a Thrust to the Left Flank How to Correctly Parry a Thrust to the Right Flank in Sword and Dagger How to Parry a Thrust to the Face in Sword and Dagger How to Parry a Cut to the Head in Sword and Dagger How to Parry a Riverso with the Dagger Thrust to the Chest in Sword and Dagger Delivering a Thrust While the Opponent Moves Thrust Above the Dagger A Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Left Side of the Body Open A Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Right Side of the Body Open A Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Chest Open The Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike Above the Dagger Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike in the Chest Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike to the Face With a Cavazione Over the Dagger-point How to Use the Sword to Parry a Lunging Thrust While Bringing Your Body Back How to Parry with the Dagger with Your Body Back Dagger-parry with the Body Back, with Simultaneous Sword-strike Sword-parry and Strike to the Face The Pass in Sword and Dagger, to Grapple the Opponent and Strike Him in the Face with the Dagger The Thrust to the Right Shoulder in Sword and Dagger The Pass in Sword and Dagger Glossary
£19.95
FreeLance Academy Press Captain of the Guild Master Peter Falkners Art of
Book SynopsisIn this first, printed edition of Falkner's work, a full translation and analysis, combined with a photographic reproduction of the original manuscript are included. The result is an attractive translation of a 500 year old picture-book that shows an adaptation of the Liechtenauer tradition, by a known master of its most prestigious school. Trade Review Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements About the Author The Selohaar Fechtschule Introduction The Knightly Art Falkner and the Marxbruder General Observations on the Manuscript The Manuscript in Detail Related Manuscripts Master Peter Falkner's Art of Knightly Defense Longsword (ff. 1v-18r) Messer (ff. 18v-44r) Dagger (ff . 46r-56r) Saint Mark (f. 57v) and Staff Fighting (ff . 58r-61r) Poleaxe (ff. 62r-65r) Franconian Rite Shield and Club Duel (ff . 65v-67r) Roáfechten (ff. 67v-72v) Glossary Bibliography
£71.25
FreeLance Academy Press Ridolfo Capoferros The Art and Practice of
Book SynopsisRapier instructor Tom Leoni offers a full, accurate and accessible English translation of Ridolfo Capoferro's teachings in the Great Representation of the Art and Practice of Fencing, complete with high-resolution reproductions of the 43 original illustrations. Includes a glossary of rapier-fencing terms.Trade Review Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Foreword Introduction Making Capoferro Accessible to the Modern Rapier Student A Personal Journey Who Was Ridolfo Capoferro? The Two Faces of Capoferro: Period Literature Versus Victorian Scholarship Jacopo Gelli: The Main 19th-Century Source on Capoferro Capoferro, His Treatise and Its Importance to the Modern Student Language, Translation, and Editorial Decisions What You Need to Know to Tackle Capoferro Additional Resources Great Representation of the Art and Practice of Fencing To the Most Serene Lord Don Francesco Maria Feltrio della Rovere, Sixth Duke of Urbino To the Kind Reader General Table of the Art of Fencing Here Follows the Great Representation of the Practice of Fencing. Beginning with the Explanation of the Difference Between Art and Practice A Few Recommendations about Fencing Explanation of Some Practical Fencing Terms The Plates and Practical Synopses Some Principles Regarding the Cut A Failsafe Way to Defend Against Any Attack by Parrying with a Riverso and Always Striking with an Imbroccata Glossary of Common and Useful Italian Rapier Fencing Terms
£21.38
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Lessons in Imperial Rule
Book SynopsisPractical guide to soldiering during the British era of the Indian ArmyIncludes tips on fighting an insurgent enemy, the principles of security in mountain warfare and tactics for hard fightingReveals interesting parallels with the twenty-first century War on Terror
£17.12
Orion Publishing Co Operation Mayhem
Book Synopsis''Captures the confusion, black humour, raw courage and sheer exhilaration of combat brilliantly'' THE TIMES''Read this account of his stint with the 26-man strong X Platoon in the sweltering jungle, living on grubs, outnumbered 80 to one, battling heavily armed rebels with bamboo sticks and home-made grenades, and you''ll be asking the question... Why wasn''t he given TWO MCs?'' SUNDAY SPORT2,000 blood-crazed rebels. 26 elite British soldiers. One man''s explosive true story.Airlifted into the heart of the Sierra Leone jungle in the midst of the bloody civil war in 2000, 26 elite operators from the secret British elite unit X Platoon were sent into combat against thousands of Sierra Leonean rebels.Notorious for their brutality, the rebels were manned with captured UN armour, machine-guns and grenade-launchers, while the men of X Platoon were kitted with pitiful supplies of ammunition, malfunctioning rifles, and no body armour, grenades Trade ReviewSergeant Steve Heaney captures the confusion, black humour, raw courage and sheer exhilaration of combat brilliantly. This book is one of the best accounts of low-level tactical soldiering since Fred Majdalany's WW2 classic Patrol. But Heaney tells a broader tale that has rarely been captured so well... I commend it to the professional soldier and layman alike. * THE TIMES *'... read this account of his [Steve Heaney] stint with the 26-man strong X Platoon in the sweltering jungle, living on grubs, outnumbered 80 to one, battling heavily armed rebels with bamboo sticks and home-made grenades, and you'll be asking the question... Why wasn't he given TWO MCs?' -- Jon Wise * Sunday Sport *
£9.49
Skyhorse Publishing The Complete U.S. Army Survival Guide to Medical
Book SynopsisHere in this critical guide is all the important medical techniques that you’ll need to know in order to survive in just about any situation. From wrapping life-threatening head wounds to treating a poisonous spider bite, The Complete U.S. Army Survival Guide to Medical Skills, Tactics, and Techniques has got you covered. Within these pages, you’ll find: First-aid techniques for hundreds of different kinds of wounds. Medical procedures necessary for properly treating animal bites and stings. Proper procedures to follow when dealing with toxic environments. And thousands more essential medical tips.With dozens of photographs and illustrations demonstrating these medical techniques and procedures first-hand, this guide is an essential read for every outdoorsmanfrom the novice weekend camper to the most seasoned survivalist. If you can’t find it in The Complete U.S. Army Survival Guide to Medical Skills, Tactics, and Techniques, then you don’t really need it.
£10.99
YMAA Publication Center Krav Maga Weapon Defenses: The Contact Combat
Book SynopsisBECAUSE NOT ALL KRAV MAGA IS THE SAME® Hardcover format includes all photos in FULL COLOR! Israeli Krav Maga is the Israel Defense Force's official self-defense system. The system is simple, instinctive, adaptable, and if necessary, brutally effective to thwart a life threatening assault. This book presents the most up-to-date and effective techniques to prevail against armed threats and attacks. Many of these updated defenses have never been seen before. Grandmaster Haim Gidon has improved and evolved this material with the late krav maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld's formal approval. Contents include Weapon awareness training; functionality, range, and deployment Dominant control holds over a stunned assailant Edged weapon defenses Impact weapon defenses Handgun defenses Rifle defenses Defending against weapons while on the ground Defending against continuous attacks Non-conventional weapon threats First-party hostage situations Kravist weapon defense drills Regardless of strength, size, age, or gender, you can learn krav maga techniques to fend off an armed attacker.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Language of Krav Maga Street Violence Human Emotional Responses in a Life-threatening Encounter Krav Maga’s Methodology Krav Maga Tactics The Best Use of This Book Chapter 1—Control Holds Reviewed Chapter 3—Leg Defenses Against Edged-Weapon Attacks Chapter 4—Hand Defenses Against Edged Weapons Chapter 5—Handgun Defenses Chapter 6—Rifle/Submachine Gun (SMG) Defenses Chapter 7—Kravist Weapon Defense Drills Appendix—Vehicle Safety Tips, Road Rage, and Carjacking Krav Maga Vehicle Safety Tips Road Rage Incidents Carjacking When the Carjacker is Outside of Your Vehicle Brandishing a Firearm Defenses Against Carjacking Situations Index Biographies
£35.09
YMAA Publication Center Krav Maga Professional Tactics: The Contact
Book SynopsisBECAUSE NOT ALL KRAV MAGA IS THE SAME ™ Hardcover format includes all photos in FULL COLOR! Israeli krav maga is the official self-defense system of the Israel Defense Forces. Krav maga training shares the same principles for civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel alike to deliver them from harm's way. Goals however, are different for law enforcement and military personnel. This book is designed for security-conscious civilians, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and security professionals alike who want to improve their chances of not just surviving an armed attack, but increase the odds of prevailing without serious injury. Krav maga's popularity in professional law enforcement, military, and security circles is attributable to its practicality, simplicity, quick retention, easy learning curve, and brutal effectiveness. This effectiveness is built on a few core tenets and simple building blocks. General principles are applied and customized to suit the needs of a dynamic violent situation. Contents include: Mind-sets, reactions, and tactics in response to violence The highest-level counters against multiple armed attacks and threats Core kick, clinch, and tackle defenses Core ground survival tactics Multiple-opponent strategies and tactics Impact weapon defenses Edged weapon defenses Firearm disarms and retention Includes 954 detailed photographs The most up-to-date tactics presented in this book focus on the most common violent scenarios. These techniques derive from the author's translation of the Israeli Krav Maga Association (IKMA) curriculum. The IKMA is the governing body for krav maga, recognized by the Israeli government and headed by Grandmaster Haim Gidon. Responsible people seek krav maga training as a shield against violence.Table of ContentsForeword Acknowledgements Introduction The Professional Level Three Reaction-Proaction Levels Fight Timing The Best Use of This Book Chapter 1—Civilian, Law Enforcement, and Military Krav Maga Training Chapter 2—Defending the Most Common Upper-Body and Lower-Body Attacks, Throws, and Counterthrows Chapter 3—Clinches, Choke and Takedown Defenses, Escorts, and Ground Survival Chapter 4—Impact-Weapon Combatives and Defenses Chapter 5—Firearm Cold Combatives Chapter 6—Defending Edged Weapons: Open Handed and When Your Handgun Is Inoperable Chapter 7—Multiple Assailants Chapter 8—Firearm Defenses Chapter 9—Firearm Retention and Professional Kravist Weapon-Defense Drills Appendix—Use of Force Use of Force and Law Enforcement, by Sergeant First Class Mick McComb, Ret. Use-of-Force Standard: Objective Reasonableness Summary of Force Options Severe Threat Level and Factors Biographies Resources Index
£35.09
YMAA Publication Center Krav Maga Fundamental Strategies
Book SynopsisBECAUSE NOT ALL KRAV MAGA IS THE SAME® Hardcover format includes all photos in FULL COLOR! This book introduces and codifies big-picture thinking to take you to the next level of self-defense expertise. The material is designed to conform to your strengths; you need not conform to the system. In this latest volume from David Kahn, you will find practical, battle-tested stratagems and insights that are equally applicable across the spectrum of martial arts and fighting systems. The text is supported by 180 dynamic separate photo series representing a rich krav maga gamut of self-defense strategies and tactics. Topics include: The Best Use of a Training Partner The Difference Between Anger and Rage Recognizing Your Own Triggers to Avoid Violence Contending with Road Rage Conflict Avoidance and Escape Physiological Reactions to Threats and Violence Legal Use of Force Requirements Defensive (Dis)Engagement Mindset Anatomical Targeting and Self-Protection Preemptive Linear Strikes Absorbing and Moving with an Attack Fighting Ranges Combatives Power and Balance Self-Defense Fight Timing Tactical Retreating When and How to Counterattack Defending against a Skilled Fighter Deceptive Fighting Ground Survival Defending an Ambush Multiple Opponents Breaking Up a Fight As good tactical minds generally think alike, whatever your martial arts or defensive tactics background, this book is designed to synergize any previous professional self-defense knowledge to enhance your personal survival blueprint. Krav Maga Fundamental Strategies draws on ideas and techniques from nearly every level of the Israeli Krav Maga curriculum, including violence avoidance and prevention. The result is an adaptable strategy supported by tried and true defensive tactics, coupled with sound defensive principles, all of which will serve to deliver you from harm’s way.Trade Review"David Kahn’s books were the perfect blend of tactical instruction and practical application during the COVID 19 quarantine, when his classes were not available. He remains an excellent teacher, with a valuable skill set, at a time when our world is becoming increasingly dangerous.” —Rick William, News anchor WPVI-TV, Philadelphia, PA "I highly recommend David Kahn for his deep knowledge, passion and drive in delivering top-notch combative instruction. As a SEAL for the past 24 years, I would easily rate David as one of the best I’ve ever worked with." — Commander Andrew K. Ledford, PhD, United States Naval Academy "We recognize [David Kahn’s] high-degree of skill in this discipline and especially Krav Maga's ability to be learned and mastered in a short period of time-enabling our future lieutenants to easily adopt and disseminate these techniques to their own units.” — John R. Stark, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, Director of Army Officer Training and Commissioning "Kahn, the United States’ chief instructor for the Israeli Krav Maga Association, offers further insights into the Israeli fighting system in this seventh guide in a series. A comprehensive, no-frills krav maga manual."—Kirkus ReviewsTable of ContentsForeword Chapter 1—Disengagement Strategies Chapter 2—Training and Legal Strategies Chapter 3—Defensive Engagement and Disengagement Strategies Chapter 4—Anatomical Targeting Strategy: Works for Both the Attacker and Defender Chapter 5—Representative Decision-Making Strategies Chapter 6—Strategies for Defending an Ambush Chapter 7—Preemptive Linear Strike and Breaking-Up-a-Fight Strategies Conclusion Notable Biographies Training Resources Index About the Author
£35.09
Nova Science Publishers Inc Combat & Tactical Vehicles: Developments &
Book SynopsisIn April 2009, then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced he intended to significantly restructure the Army''s Future Combat System (FCS) program. The FCS was a multiyear, multibillion dollar program that had been underway since 2000 and was at the heart of the Army''s transformation efforts. It was to be the Army''s major research, development, and acquisition program, consisting of 18 manned and unmanned systems tied together by an extensive communications and information network. This book provides an overview of the development and considerations of the Department of Defense with regard to combat and tactical vehicles, with a focus on the Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC); the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV); Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles; and other defence acquisitions.
£63.74
Skyhorse Publishing Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Wound Treatment
Book SynopsisHere is the official manual from the US military on treating burns, field dressings. Whether you are US Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Marines—or just want the best possible advice on field medical care, this book is for you!Military surgeons must assume a leadership role in combat casualty care in circumstances that are far less than ideal. This handbook provides much of the information needed to tackle these issues and features state-of-the-art principles and practices of forward trauma surgery as used by military physicians in far flung locations around the globe. In this volume you’ll learn such integral skills as: Tactical field care Field dressing Applying pressure dressing Treating burns Treating inhalation injuries And more! Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Wound Treatment is the most trusted and up-to-date manual offered by the Department of Defense for military medical personnel in the field.
£12.99
Watkins Media Limited The Book of Ninja: The Bansenshukai - Japan's
Book SynopsisThe first complete translation of the ultimate Ninja manual, The Book of Ninja provides a fully comprehensive guide to the ancient arts of the ninja, including espionage, warfare, trap building, infiltrating castles, assassination, hiding magic, lock by-passing, bridge building, thieves' tools and much more
£24.00
Fonthill Media Ltd Operational Test: Honing the Edge
Book SynopsisThe process to deliver a modern combat aircraft from concept to introduction to service is often measured in decades. Described as a weapon system, modern designs such as the Eurofighter Typhoon are intricate jigsaws with a fusion of new techniques and sometimes unproven, emerging technologies. By the time the new weapons system reaches the front line, it will have been tested by the manufacturer, evaluated by test pilots, and assessed by service pilots. There have been examples of success but also some spectacular failures, with projects cancelled late in development. This book will investigate why. It will take you from the original requirement through the complex testing and evaluation process, showing recent examples of the path to declaring a new combat aircraft operational on the front line. It will look at how today's test organisations have matured to meet the task and investigate the pressures they face, and will also look at real-life examples of systems testing. David Gledhill and David Lewis, both experienced test evaluators, will uncover the reasons why some aircraft serve on the front line for years before becoming truly effective in their role.
£21.25
Amber Books Ltd Unarmed Combat: Hand-to-Hand Fighting Skills from
Book SynopsisWith the aid of superb line artworks, Unarmed Combat demonstrates to the reader how special forces soldiers are taught to excel in hand-to-hand fighting: how they maximise bodyweight, and the use of various strikes, throws, locks and constrictions to defeat opponents. It explains how different martial arts have been combined by military units to create hand-to-hand combat systems for defence against multiple assailants, for fighting on the ground, for dealing with edged and impact weapons, what works against attackers with firearms and – more importantly – what doesn’t. With tips and techniques from unarmed combat experts, the book is divided into two main sections. The first covers the mental preparation needed to be ready to defend yourself. The second covers the physical techniques needed to defend yourself, and if necessary, strike back to temporarily incapacitate your attacker and escape. With more than 300 easy-to-follow artworks and handy pull-out lists of key information, Unarmed Combat is the definitive guide for anyone wanting to be ready for anything - it could save your life.Table of ContentsIntroduction PREPARATION 1. The Threat 2. Win Without Fighting 3. Training to Win TOOLS OF THE TRADE 4. The Basics 5. Unarmed Combat Training 6. Your Body’s Weapons 7. Striking and Grappling Methods 8. Locks, Controls and Chokes IN ACTION 9. Tactics 10. Defeating Unarmed Attacks 11. Defeating Hand-Held Weapon Attacks 12. Defeating Firearm Threats 13. Fighting on the Ground 14. Fighting Under Adverse Conditions Final Notes Index
£13.49
The Pool of London Press The Royal Navy Officer’s Jutland Pocket-Manual
Book SynopsisPublished months before the Battle of Jutland, W. M. James'' book was originally published as New Battleship Organisations. It was considered the ultimate guide to command and organization of every aspect of a modern First World War capital ship. Now republished as The Royal Navy Officer''s Jutland Pocket-Manual 1916, this reprint marks the centenary of the First World War''s most famous and deadly naval encounter. This small, but infinitely interesting manual provides a unique and highly revealing insight into life aboard ship: the mechanics of command and seamanship, the issuing of orders, and the broad expectations placed upon British naval officers. Specific sections are dedicated to the organization of watches; the division of work; naval routine; parades; anchor and cable work; coaling; the organization of chapel; on-board shops; cleaning; and even the ship''s barbers. A series of detailed tables, diagrams, and humorous cartons accompany the lucid, period language of the First World War Senior Service and provide a further glimpse below-deck that will appeal to social and family historians as well as anyone with an interest in naval history.
£8.54
FreeLance Academy Press Royal Jousts at the End of the Fourteenth Century
Book SynopsisFew images of chivalry are stronger in the popular mind than that of two armoured knights in a joust, crashing together astride their chargers. Yet, considering the importance of formal combat to the medieval aristocracy, we possess surprisingly few detailed accounts of tournaments, jousts or duels. As the great sporting event of its day, fans of feats of arms enjoyed hearing about them, but extensive descriptions of the actual events involving contemporary warriors were not what they were looking for. Sometimes, however, there was an upswing of interest that inspired poets and chroniclers to write more detailed descriptions of both combats and accompanying celebrations. One particularly rich time for source material are the years 1389-90, when diplomatic competition between Charles VI of France and Richard II of England inspired the kings to sponsor some of the most spectacular formal combats of the entire Middle Ages. These feats of arms attracted a great deal of attention from contemporary writers and they were not soon forgotten. As a result, we have valuable descriptions of how jousting was performed and appreciated at the highest social levels in the two great rival kingdoms of the West. Bringing together some of the most important accounts of medieval jousting, especially those of the jousts at St. Inglevert, Royal Jousts is a direct look at the sources that have influenced our modern notion, and every modern reconstruction, of late medieval jousting. It is also the first entry in our new Deeds of Arms series a series of short, colour-illustrated readers that make primary source accounts of famous displays of martial and chivalric prowess of the High and Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance accessible to a broad audience. Trade Review Table of Contents1. War, Peace, and Jousting, 1389-90 The Joust at St. Denis, May 1389 The Joust Accompanying Queen Isabella's Entry into Paris, August 1389 The Joust at St. Inglevert, March-April 1390 The Joust at Smithfi eld near London, October 1390 Some Notes on the Translations 2. The Joust at St. Denis, May 1389 Deschamps' Poetic Invitation The Monk of St. Denis' Account of the St. Denis Joust 3. The Joust Accompanying Queen Isabella's Entry into Paris, August 1389 Deschamps' Poetic Invitation Froissart's Account of the Jousts at Paris 4. The Joust at St. Inglevert, March-April 1390 Froissart on the Preparations for the Joust Chronographia Regum Francorum on St. Inglevert An Anonymous Poem on St. Inglevert Monk of St. Denis on St. Inglevert Froissart on the Jousting at St. Inglever Book of the Deeds of Boucicaut on St. Inglevert (Anonymous) 5. The Joust at Smithfi eld near London, October 1390 The Cry (Announcement) Froissart's Account of the Joust Appendix - Summarizing Froissart's Account of the St. Inglevert Jousting Bibliography Texts and Translations Secondary Works
£22.50
FreeLance Academy Press In the Service of Mars Volume 2: Proceedings from
Book SynopsisMartial Arts are literally "The Arts of Mars," the Roman god of war. For over two and a half millennia, the combat arts of Europe served the hoplite, gladiator, legionnaire, knight, duelist, boxer and wrestler on the battlefield, in duels, and in the ring. Interest in these traditions has grown dramatically over the last twenty years, bringing together a unique combination of fighters and scholars to preserve the heritage of fighting lore. The Western Martial Arts Workshop (WMAW), founded in 1999, gave students of these martial arts the opportunity to meet, train, and exchange research. In the Service of Mars, Volume Two is both a compilation of the most popular and detailed lectures and class notes from WMAW's first decade, and a record of the growth of the Western martial arts community over the same time. From longsword to sword and buckler fencing; deadly knife-fighting to mounted combat, the martial traditions of England, Germany, Italy and Spain are all amply represented and combined with detailed, practical instruction. Trade Review Table of ContentsForeword Part One: Martial Arts of the Middle Ages, ca. 1300-1550 English Longsword: a Tactical Approach - Paul Wagner The Spear-Play of Fiore dei Liberi - Gregory Mele A Conceptual Look at the 24 Winden in Johannes Liechtenauer's Art - Jörg Bellinghausen Fighting from the Nebenhut: Longsword Plays from the Ringeck Fechtbuch - Christian Henry Tobler Mounted Combat: A Continuation of the System - Theresa Wendland Part Two: Martial Arts of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, ca. 1500-1850 From the Page to the Practice: Fundamentals of Spanish Swordplay - Puck Curtis and Mary Dill Curtis The Iberian Montante: Sources, Techniques, and Tactics - Steve Hick and Eric Myers Understanding the Partisan: Forgotten Weapon of the Italian Renaissance - Tom Leoni Bolognese Swordsmanship: An Introduction to Renaissance Sword and Buckler - Steven Reich Keeping it Simple: Italian Rapier Tactics for Dummies - Tom Leoni Part Three: Western Martial Arts in Their Historical Context Frog DNA, Concentric Rings, and Old-Fashioned Necromancy: Reconstructing Historical European Swordsmanship - Gregory Mele The Medieval Sword Blade: Form and Intended Function - Craig Johnson Part Four: Pedagogy-Teaching and the Western Martial Artist Flow Drills as a Teaching Tool for Medieval and Renaissance Dagger Training - Jörg Bellinghausen Decision-Making for Instructors - Guy Windsor Developing and Training with Solo Forms: An Overview - Guy Windsor About the Contributors
£36.10
FreeLance Academy Press Captain of the Guild: Master Peter Falkner's Art
Book SynopsisIn the late 14th century, the German swordsman Johannes Liechtenauer developed and codified a system of armed combat with sword, spear and dagger that spread through the Holy Roman Empire and dominated German martial arts for nearly 300 years. By the end of the 15th century, a fellowship of swordsmen in Frankfurt known as 'the Brotherhood of Saint Mark,' or Marxbruder, had been granted an imperial charter to train and test swordmasters. Peter Falkner was a long-time member and sometime captain of this famed fencing guild, and it was during this tenure that he set about creating an illustrated fight book of his own; colourful, painted figures and short captions depict combat with a wide variety of weapons: the longsword, dagger, staff, poleaxe, halberd, dueling shield and mounted combat. Where his work excels, however, is in its extensive treatment of the falchion-like messer and the unique variations of core techniques of the Liechtenauer canon. In this first, printed edition of Falkner's work, German martial arts teacher and scholar Christian Tobler includes a full translation, transcription and analysis, combined with a photographic reproduction of the original manuscript. The end result is a lovingly rendered, English translation of a 500 year old picture-book that shows an adaptation of the Liechtenauer tradition, by a known master of its most prestigious school, as taught over a century after its foundation. Trade Review Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements About the Author The Selohaar Fechtschule Introduction The Knightly Art Falkner and the Marxbruder General Observations on the Manuscript The Manuscript in Detail Related Manuscripts Master Peter Falkner's Art of Knightly Defense Longsword (ff. 1v-18r) Messer (ff. 18v-44r) Dagger (ff . 46r-56r) Saint Mark (f. 57v) and Staff Fighting (ff . 58r-61r) Poleaxe (ff. 62r-65r) Franconian Rite Shield and Club Duel (ff . 65v-67r) Roáfechten (ff. 67v-72v) Glossary Bibliography
£37.50
FreeLance Academy Press Medieval Wrestling: Modern Practice of a
Book SynopsisIn the Middle Ages, wrestling was practiced as both pastime and self-defense by every level of society - nobles, townsman and peasants alike - and was regarded as the foundation of all other martial arts. And no medieval wrestler's name looms as large as that of the Jewish master Ott, 'wrestler to the noble Princes of Austria', whose treatise is included in over a dozen fencing manuscripts. In this first of its kind book, Jessica Finley of the renowned medieval martial arts association, the Selohaar Fechtschule, guides the reader on a journey that begins with the historical background of Ott's wrestling and culminates in step-by-step instruction for practicing the techniques of this ancient fighting art. Both the lover of history and the wrestler on the mat will find this work an invaluable resource. Trade Review Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Martial Arts of Medieval Germany Chapter 2: Master Ott, the Baptised Jew Chapter 3: Organization of Ott's Treatise Chapter 4: Ott's Prologue and Fight Theory Chapter 5: Basic Wrestling Chapter 6: Stance and Grips Chapter 7: Treatment of the Techniques Appendix A: Ott's Wrestling from the Von Danzig Fechtbuch Appendix B: Ott's Treatise across Manuscripts Appendix C: Drills and Class Notes Bibliography Primary Sources
£29.50
FreeLance Academy Press 'Can These Bones Come to Life?', Vol 1:
Book SynopsisUnderstanding the past takes more forms than historiography. Since 2005, professional and amateur scholars have come together at the annual International Medieval Congress in Western Michigan University to discuss the role re-construction, re-enactment and re-creation can play in 'breathing life into these dry bones' to deepen our knowledge of the past. Under the sponsorship of the Higgins Armory Museum and the Oakeshott Institute, presenters have looked at subjects ranging from ore smelting to equitation to the use of recreation and reenactment in the classroom. A special focus of these sessions has always been the critical examination of European fencing books, or Fechtbucher - not only for the sake of reconstructing the arts found therein, but also for what these sources can tell us about intellectual, cultural and social history. Thanks in part to editors' Mondschein and Cramer's work, the study of fencing books has rapidly become a recognized field of academic study. This volume brings together eight papers examining the study and reconstruction of medieval and early modern fight-books and related subjects. The subjects covered range from manuscript studies to philology, from Aristotelian physics to martial musicality, from medieval textuality to women and warfare. It will be of interest not only to professional historians, musicologists, literary scholars and art historians, but also to the vast army of impassioned and enthusiastic practitioners who endeavor, as a labour of love, to make the past come to life. Table of ContentsIntroduction Ken Mondschein Amazon, Allegory, Swordswoman, Saint? The Walpurgis Images in Royal Armouries MS I.33 Valerie Eads and Rebecca L. R. Garber Arts and Crafts of War: die Kunst des Schwertes in its Manuscript Context Keith Alderson The Medieval Experience of Time: Aristotle, Universals, and Technologies Ken Mondschein Patterns of Remedy in il Fior di Battaglia Robert Charrette Memory and Performance: Visual and Rhetorical Strategies of Medieval Martial Arts Texts Sean Hayes The Terminology of Medieval English Fight Texts: A Brief Overview James Hester Pure Air and Fire: Re-creating Medieval Horsemanship, or How to Ride like a Knight Michael A. Cramer Performance of the "Palästinalied" of Walther von der Vogelweide Mary Loomer Oliver
£22.50
FreeLance Academy Press 'Can These Bones Come to Life?', Vol 2: High in
Book SynopsisUnderstanding the past takes more forms than historiography. Since 2005, professional and amateur scholars have come together at the annual International Medieval Congress in Western Michigan University to discuss the role re-construction, re-enactment and re-creation can play in 'breathing life into these dry bones' to deepen our knowledge of the past. Under the sponsorship of the Higgins Armory Museum and the Oakeshott Institute, presenters have looked at subjects ranging from ore smelting to equitation to the use of recreation and reenactment in the classroom. This volume brings together seven papers examining the depth and breadth in which experimental archaeology and textual analysis can come together to reveal the past. From glass beads to iron smelting, the profession of arms to the chivalric virtues of franchise and 'doing what one said they would do', this collection provides a unique insight into both the daily and intellectual life of medieval man. It will be of interest not only to professional historians, musicologists, literary scholars and art historians, but also to the vast army of impassioned and enthusiastic practitioners who endeavor, as a labor of love, to make the past come to life. Trade Review Table of ContentsIntroduction Michael A. Cramer There is No One True Art of the Sword Russell Mitchell "Forward Into The Past": Re-enactors and the Quest for Authenticity Lisa Evans Glass on Fire: Temperatures in Reconstructed Viking-era Bead Furnaces Neil Peterson with Sarah Backa, Jean Ross, and Robert Schweitzer An Iron Smelt in Vinland: An Experimental Investigation Darrell Markewitz The Chivalric Warrior as Man of His Word Steven Muhlberger "Seeking That Which Cannot Be Found": The use of Lancelot through Precursor Texts as Contemporary Social Commentary in The Once and Future King Emerson Storm Fillman Richards Franchise and Chivalric Identity Michael A. Cramer
£22.50
FreeLance Academy Press Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions
Book SynopsisKoryu, literally 'old flow from the past,' refers to Japanese martial traditions that predate the sweeping cultural changes that followed the Meiji Restoration of 1868. They generally have a very different character and tone from modern martial arts, such as kendo, judo or aikido which followed. More than the study of antique weapons, self-defense or a form of athletics, these martial traditions are a cultural legacy and a window to another time and place. In the first edition of Old School, Ellis Amdur, a renowned martial arts researcher, and himself an instructor in two different surviving koryu, gave readers a rare glimpse into feudal Japanese warrior arts, both as they were in the past and as they live on today. Nearly a decade later, he returns to the subject in this new, greatly expanded edition, bringing readers inside the dojos of a number ancient schools, providing details analysis of the evolution and morphology of uniquely Japanese weaponry, addressing the myth and reality of Japan's naginata-wielding warrior women, and discussing the modern relevance of the blood oaths, magical ritual and mysticism that often permeate the koryu. Finally, he looks at the challenge of preservation and transmission, especially as more and more practitioners of the koryu exist outside of Japan itself. Writing with a combination of the initiate's passion for his subject, and the scientist's rigorous search for the truth, Amdur asks critically: do the ancient traditions still meet the objectives of their founders? Are they successfully passing their ancient legacy down to the next generation? Over a third larger than the first edition and filled with new artwork and photography, Old School: Japanese Martial Traditions Expanded Edition will be an invaluable addition to the library of old readers and new alike. 125 b&w illustrations, photographs and drawings. Trade Review Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Dedication Foreword to the First Edition Foreword to the Second Edition Author's Note Part One: Something Once New Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu Maniwa Nen-Ryu Higo Ko-ryu Part Two: Essays on Japanese Weaponry Ancient Weapons: A Prologue to the Development of Japanese Weapons of the Classical Era The Development and History of the Naginata Kusarigama: the Chain-and-Sickle Chigiriki: The Japanese Flail Part Three: History and Tradition The Origins of Araki-ryu Women Warriors in Japan Part Four: Nothing Stays the Same: Martial Traditions from the Edo Period Lineal Transmission into the 21st Century Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu Redux Bugei in the Edo Period: The Rise of Competitive Martial Sports Honma Nen-ryu Yoshin-ryu: A Maze of Willows Part Five: The Sinew of Classical Martial Traditions The Role of Esoteric Training in Modern Times Keppan: Blood Vows in Japanese Martial Traditions Glossary Bibliography
£35.62
