No comments about War Paint: Blackfoot and Sarcee Painted Buffalo Robes in the Royal Ontario Museum.

1 comments about The Mahabharatha: A Child's View: Volume 1.

1. I discovered this book at a hotel in Pondicherry, another great project by Tara Publishing in Chennai. Besides being published on great paper composed of I-do-not-know-what-material (delightful to touch, and view, this is a great story. My congratulations to this young writer. For my western mind, even though this was a child's view, it helped me understand the great epic. I highly recommend.

3 comments about Arnis: History and Development of the Filipino Martial Arts.

1. Be aware, the "editiorial comments" above do not accurately reflect the content of this book; I suspect they are based on another of Mark Wiley's books.

   There are no pictures in this book.

   This book is actually a collection of articles about various aspects of the history and development of FMA. Some of them are new and some have been taken from the pages of Rapid Journal (published in the Phillipines). Some of the articles are written by well known people on the FMA such as: Tony Somers, Krishna Godhania and Mark Wiley, other names are new to me.

   As the title suggests, the articles are about the history of the arts, not the technical side and as such this volume fills a gap in the reading of most practioners.

   On the down side, some of the articles are very thin; it hardly seems worth while to have bothered with the item on the history of FMA in Europe.(This is a real contrast to some of the others).

   I enjoyed the book, but was left wanting more.

   JB




2. Be advised there are no pictures in this book, it is an academic undertaking. If you are looking for something with visual historical material in it, try the two books authored by Mark Wiley: "Filipino Martial Culture" and "Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice".

   The placment of Mark Wiley's name on the front cover suggests he is the AUTHOR, where he is in fact, the EDITOR of this collection of articles (he is also a contributor). Not Wiley's fault--he credits the collective group in the introduction. Small point that only matters to us fans of footnotes, I know...now, on to assessing this collection of articles!

   In Part 1, writers offer perspectives on the origins of the Filipino arts, including five articles such as "A Question of origins", by Felipe Jocano, Jr., and "Questioning the Origins of Escrima", by Dr. Ned Nepangue, etc.. Part 2 focuses on Historical Perspectives with five offerings like "A History of Eskrima in Cebu and Negros", by Krishna Godhania. Part 3, Cultural Perspectives, includes eight articles by different contributors, including "Passion from the Crescent Moon" by Marilitz Dizon, and "The Making of the Batangas (Balisong) Knife" by Dr. Jopet Laraya. Part 4, Facing The Future, includes three articles including Combative vs. Competitive Escrima by Krishna Godhania, and "The Implimentation of Arnis in the Physical Education programs of Tertiary Schools in Cebu City" by Abner G. Pasa.

   Overall, this is a good collection of topics of a calibre more advanced than most newsstand martial arts magazines could tolerate. The tone is clearly academic in nature, although less than half of the article include notes of some sort at their conclusion. Wiley does include a well-rounded list of source materials for further reading. If you are tired of how-to manuals, here is a book which will present new information, even for those of us who have pretty well "been around the block" when it comes to learning about other cultures and practice. The variety of perspectives are insightful.




3. There is so much information that I read this book in a week. The other reviews of this book are correct. What I came away with this book is that Filipino martial arts(FMA)is hardly in danger of extinction although it is probably practiced by not a great number of people. It came as a surprise to me that some universities in the Philippines have FMA in their curriculum. There are gems in this book, for instance it identifies the earliest published book in the subject which is a tract entitled "Mga Karunungan sa Larung Arnis" roughly translated means "A Body of Knowledge in the Game of Arnis", it was written sometime in the 1950s. A book like this is appropriate for discussing FMA. A how-to book would not be instructive by the very fact that mere pictures cannot encapsulate the essence of the various movements. In early book on the subject Danny Inosanto wrote about it, in his book the most useful parts are the stories of the Grandmasters and history of FMA, and not the instruction with pictures. FMA can only be learned through corporal instruction, that is because FMA is a social martial art. That means that you are only as good as the people you are around you, that includes practitioners who you can steal knowledge from.

   I do have some misgivings about this book and that is when they discuss FMA in the United States, they only focus on California, particularly Stockton. They leave out the vibrant FMA community in Hawaii, which is very much a Mecca as Stockton is. They even cover the distant FMA communities in Europe and ignore Hawaii where many grandmasters reside.

No comments about Hospital Care And the British Standing Army, 1660–1714 (The History of Medicine in Context).

4 comments about Classic Arnis.

1. I really didn't understand what I was buying when i ordered this book....but I'm so glad I did. This is the first written record of Arnis in the philippines, that can only be found in the Philippine national archives; originally in archaeic Tagalog that modern Filipinos can't understand. Rey Galang just brought all this wonderful mystery to the modern world. Believe there are no sticks here..this is all blade, all the time! Now I can really see what the old folks were talking about! The best part is the Classic Espada y Daga...not stick and knife. Sword and Dagger! Been looking arond for a real good book on Espada y daga this is it! Plus the extra Sinawali techniques...thank you Rey Galang I will be waiting for your next book...please don't stop writing.
   
   one word: QUALITY



2. This book is a surprise; it is all double blade work. Lots of information. On the down side, sorry but the Tagalog names are distracting. The pictures are too small; it's hard to pick up at times what each blade is doing. BUT......big but..... there is more good stuff packed in this book that in a good 90% of other books on the subject. Get it and get really good reading glasses : )



3. This is another excellent book by Rey Galang. I also received it in two business days. This is a must for any afficianado of the FMA (filipino martial arts). Just like his other books, Mr. Galang does a great job writing about and showing the techniques. This book is mainly about espada y daga, however, it also touches upon sinawali. I highly recommend this book (along with his others-Masters of the Blade, Warrior Arts of the Phillipines, and Complete Sinawali)to anyone wanting to learn more about eskrima, arnis, kali. One can use this book as a reference or actually use and practice the techniques shown.



4. Pathetic,pity I`m so far of in South Africa I wish I could send this book back for a full refund???

5 comments about The Secrets of Giron Arnis Escrima (Secrets of the Martial Arts).

1. This book is bad for beginner and practically useless for a master. There is no comprehensive description of training complexes, footwork drills and other important details, which were completely omitted. It gives just an overview of the system in general, so the reader can have some vague feeling of what Giron escrima is.



2. I`ve bougth this book in order to support my own escrima training. As a rookie in escrima, it gives you the basic understandings in the escrima-fighting art of Grand Master Leo Giron. I think it`s not written with the intention to replace training under a qualified teacher. In my view it supports your training as a beginner in the art. What's more, it gives you a good overview including the origins. Escrima has to be practised to be learned.



3. I really liked this book. I know it was not as deep in technique and theory as many would have liked, but for the price it is a great introduction. I would like to see a more in-depth version, akin to Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do the text book, or something as nice as either of the new Gracie Books. I am still waiting for the Filipino book that gives real grasp to the newbie, but still has a lot for the experienced player. In short I am looking for some thing with the thought and grace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Theory and PRactice, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense, or maybe a book as comprehensive in its coverage as is Simco's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Master Text.
   Never the less it is still good to see old Giron, moving around and swinging a stick.
   Nice job.



4. This book told a lot about the background and philosophy, but didn't offer a lot of instruction. It was also hard to read and understand.



5. Grandmaster Leo Giron is one of a handful of key figures in the history of Filipino Martial Arts in America and this book preserves a snapshot of his teaching style and philosophy along with a visual record of how Giron himself performed fundamental techniques in his system. You will not learn Giron Arnis Escrima from this book alone, but I've found dozens of little bits of information in here that supplement the training I receive in my FMA class.
   
   This book is most valuable to the student or interested observer who wants to find out more about how a Master's philosophy of life colors his martial arts practice. This is bare-bones information -- less about 'secrets' as things that the master tries to hide from the public and more about 'secrets' that are subtle elements of the art that one only gets from observing someone who has achieved Giron's level of quiet competence in any situation. It's also one of the only records we have of this grandmaster's method and emphasis in his practice studio that was done while Leo Giron was still alive and teaching. It captures something that would otherwise be lost as his teaching is passed on and evolves from teacher to student.
   
   Somera is a competent and functional writer and the book is laid out in a logical manner. The photos don't show all that is going on in the techniques, but they do capture the most critical elements and are enough for a student to piece the techniques together with just a bit of qualified training and a patient and willing training partner.
   
   If you are interested in an engagingly written history of FMA in general then you would probably do better with one of Mark Wiley's books like Filipino Martial Culture (Martial Culture Series). If you are more interested in Leo Giron's life and how his combat experience in the Philipines during WWII helped to shape his art or details about the birth of American FMA in Stockton, CA during the '60s then you would be more interested in Somera's other book Giron Escrima: Memories of a Bladed Warrior, which covers Giron's life story in more depth and also talks about the cultural environment that led people like Giron and Cabales and LaCoste to open their schools. But none of these books offer a no-nonsense record of Giron's legacy of instruction the way that this book does.

No comments about De-Fanging The Snake - A Guide To Modern Arnis Disarms Dan Anderson.

2 comments about 5 Keys to Reaching Your Family for Christ.

1. This is a very powerful book! I loved how it was written like I was sitting across the table from the author. If you have family members that aren't in church, or don't know Christ, you MUST get this book. It will give you the steps and the encouragement to see them saved through Jesus Christ! (Great for parents and grandparents who are praying for their kids!)



2. This beautifully written little book contains five practical biblical keys that will give you an effective approach to reaching your family and friends for Christ. Written for anyone who wants to see their family members experience life in Christ.5 Keys to Reaching Your Family for Christ

No comments about The Encyclopedia of Marble's Knives & Sporting Collectibles.

5 comments about Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting.

1. This is a good introduction to the system. It is unfortunate that master martial artists have not worked with professional writers to produce detailed volumes chronicling their systems. This, like most works of its kind- leaves the advanced student wishing MORE had been written.
   
   The book will be informative to the beginner of Modern Arnis and a source of fond nostalgia for advanced students who know that this great man taught us all so much MORE than the pages of this book contain.
   Filipino Combat Systems: An Introduction to An Ancient Art For Modern Times



2. Contains all the basics you need to start learning the art.
   
   Classic book!



3. Having trained in Filipino Kali many years ago I was looking for a book that could re-introduce me to this martial art. Although this book covers more then just stick fighting, I found this book to be a fine introduction to stick fighting essentials. The book does not get too intricate or technical, which I think is a good thing in any martial art book since the effectiveness of the more complex movements is founded upon the mastery of the simple basics. Also, in a real world situation it is always best to stick with the fundamentals. So one must master the basics first and Presas shows his mastery of this superb Filipino martial art (Arnis) with his ability to bring it up to date in a system he founded called Modern Arnis (which as I understand it is pretty much a combination of Shotokan karate, Filipino stick fighting (Kali) and judo). The book gives excellent basic instruction and begins with preparatory warm up and stretching exercises, then goes into the proper way to hold the baton. It further goes into basic stances, striking zones, sticking defenses, basic hand to hand combat, flow patterns and weaving using either sticks or empty hands, stick disarming techniques, and then ends with sword disarming techniques using sticks. As I said I liked the book because it stuck with the no nonsense basics and in my opinion that's the first thing that must be mastered in any martial art.



4. "Modern Arnis", by Remy Presas, presents compact flowing Arnis in a compact flowing book. It has very clear photos and prose -- precisely ordered on macro and micro scales -- from over-all patterns to small details -- from chapter to chapter. The angles of the moves, for each move-set, are some of the best I have seen of any defense/combative art.
   
   If, the essence of defense is to turn opposition [of opponents] away, down and out -- removing foes'-balance while keeping self-balance -- until "check-mate". Then, "Modern Arnis" shows how to do this -- in a streamlined way. Many move-sets end with the foe in check -- yet the final position [and the foe] could be easily extended in various directions. So, Remy Presas shuts-down foes' options while keeping his options open.
   
   I first learned a little Modern Arnis as part of an [informal] Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu off-shoot of Kosho-Ryu Kempo. My own small and casual Kenpo off-shoot of that lineage, like many others out of Hawaii, adds bits of other Arts with Kenpo. Core Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu inspired by -- a little Tibetan White Crane, Isshinryu Karate and Jiu Jitsu Complete and some Medieval Fencing, Savate and Boxing into "anti-grappling". We seem to search for ways to combine these aspects in a smooth, compact, and effective way.
   
   When going over all of my experience and tendency recently, I realized that Modern Arnis had worked-on and solved this kind of streamlined-combination spot-on. In "Modern Arnis" [this book], as well as in other Modern Arnis works, Remy Presas shows how to combine various Arnis Arts with some Judo, Karate, Jiujitsu, and Kenpo, into Modern Arnis -- Keeping In The Flow +++



5. I have been fortunate to have attended several Modern Arnis seminars with the late Remy Presas. He was a man of extraordinary skill. I had taken some Filipino stick and knife fighting lessons in the past from some other Filipino experts, and Mr. Presas's book helped to clarify the skills I learned with a hands-on instructor. This volume explains the basic principles and techniques of using the Arnis Stick in a wide variety of ways. In conclusion, this book used in combination with hands-on training with an Arnis instructor is the key to mastering this art, Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Hanbo-Jutsu Official Course Manual Bushi Satori Ryu, Yawara Stick Techniques, Univ. of IL Press, PR-24 Police Baton Techniques: Basic and Advanced Techniques, Univ. of IL Press, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques).