5 comments about Cold Steel: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre (Dover Books on History, Political and Social Science).

1. I am new to the fencing scene, and I just wanted to explore the subject before diving in. This book although dated in language (you get used to it), is easy to read and understand for the most part. There are various sections and exercises for training your skills in the use of the saber. Alfred Hutton mixes the best of the "schools" of his day to produce a practical and easy to learn sword manual. The 'plate' pictures used to show some of the techniques are harder to decipher and understand then the newer looking drawings of Hutton with the sabre, but you get the point with the text. Don't expect support for your pursuit of mastering swordsmanship from people these days, but if your interested in late 1800 sabre training then Hutton's book is a good deal.



2. And a lot of other great stuff.
   
   Much as Domenico Angelo's classic,The School of Fencing: With a General Explanation of the Principal Attitudes and Positions Peculiar to the Art did for the small sword, Hutton provides the one essential work on combative use of the sabre. He lays out a comprehensive yet straight forward series of lesson plans with detailed guidance on how to gain copetence with the sabre. I particularly liked his comments on the importance of the return or reposte. "[The riposte] is the most brilliant stroke a swordsman can make, since in making it he demonstrates his command of nerve...his activity... and his judgment". Too true, and relevant even to sport fencers. Also excellent are the dills, including blindfolded drills for developing 'sentiment du fer' or the feel of the sword.
   
   Along with lessons for the sabre, Hutton includes instruction on the two-handed sword that is hidden within his section on the Great Stick (5' stick). Most of the movements are straight out of the height of two-handed sword fighting a couple of centuries earlier, and equally applicable to European two-handed swords and the katana, the Japanese two-handed sword (or Jedi sword play even...)
   
   He also discusses knife fighting and the use of the 'truncheon', the baton or blackjack, in clear and accessible, though somewhat antiquated terms.
   
   In short, brilliant. Hutton's work is a timeless addition to any fencer's or martial artists library and a 'must read' for classical Western fencers and students of the two-handed sword (of any lineage). For sport fencers, the drills may seem of questionable relevance at first, but mastery of these classical drills will only improve your competitive skills, especially with the new rulings about touches on the underside of the arm not having priority.
   
   Great stuff, I can't recommend it highly enough.
   
   E. M. Van Court



3. This book is a straight forward manual on training to use a saber. That means there is little to no historical stories and no nice chit chat on the personal belief of the author. From the first chapter we are thrown straight into grip of the saber to the guards and to the basic cuts.
   
   A saber fencer should have no problem understanding and picking up many techniques and exercises that is given. A Foil or Epee fencer should be able to quickly pick up much of what is written and learn much of saber techniques. A non-fencer might have trouble remembering all the numbers attached to the cuts and parries, but the book has good illustrations and the writing explains things well enough for even a beginner to pick up quite a bit from this book. (although it'll be hard to tell whether you are applying the techniques correctly without a properly trained fencer to fence against you)



4. Well, as the title suggests, i was most impressed with this little gem. Mr. Hutton clearly knew his stuff, not only as a fencer but as a teacher as well. the book is divided into clear sections arranged in a logical sequence. first the basics (in which one is shown the correct manner of holding the sword, the basic stances, strikes and parries), then paired drills, then the fancy techniques (including a rather amusing description of how to properly smack someone with the pommel).
   The written descriptions of the moves and techniques are generally quite clear and comprehensible, and usually accompanied by illustrated plates (though having to flip for five pages between description and plate can get a little annoying).
   a word of warning for the enthusiastic, though: Mr. Hutton assumes the reader to have a basic knowledge of fencing forms and terminology before going into the exercises in his book. nothing particularly hard to find online, but it is worth mentioning.
   so, to sum up, this is an excellent book for anyone with an interest in real, battle-tested, non-sport fencing, and i highly reccomend it.



5. It's a shame that every rat in the publishing industry is taking PUBLIC DOMAIN books and publishing then as their own-Mr Hutton's estate will never see a penny from these "money mad thieves".Think about that when you buy your next fencing book (many of them are public domain-free for the stealing).

5 comments about The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship: A Manual of Eishin-Ryu Iaido.

1. While it should go without saying that no martial art can be learned solely from a book and that the intricacies need to be experienced with a real live teacher in real time, I think that this book can definitely benefit students of Eishin Ryu Iaido. Whether you are a beginner, trying to remember the waza (techniques), or an old hand, looking to brush up on the basics that can get lost over time, Suino's book is a good reference text.
   
   I have to say that I was surprised. So many martial arts texts either have amateurish pictures (such as Yang Jwing-Ming's texts, which are otherwise so useful) or pictures that simply don't include enough details. This book has basic but clear graphics that, along with real-life/real-time instruction, make a lot of sense. Even Suino's description of how to put on the gi and hakama are better than most I've seen. (If he included how to fold the hakama, it would be even better! Luckily, you can get that online ([...]).)
   
   Compared to a book like Flashing Steel, Suino helps the beginner in particular by focusing on the pragmatic topics: he lists and explains the introductory Batto Ho no Bu (Drawing Methods Set) techniques, the intermediatesd Tatehiza no Bu (Half-Seated Set), and the advanced Tachiwaza no Bu (Secret Forms, Standing Set). While the glossary could be longer, you can filter through the text to find other words/phrases that he uses and explains and pencil them into the glossary on your own.
   
   The other thing that really excites me about this book is that he always includes the kanji (Japanese characters) for the names of the techniques. As an intermediate speaker of Japanese, that helped me a lot when I was trying to figure out what the names really meant.



2. I can't say anymore this book is exclent. it has diagrams and is verry informative. just be sure to buy th required equitment.



3. This book makes no claims to be the be-all-end-all of iaido instruction - it flat-out states that you should go get a sensei. That said, Suino does a good job of providing a good reference for those who know what they're doing and a good starting point for those who don't.
   
   I like how each kata's rationale is explained and how each move is detailed. The opening sections, like how to bow and the parts of the sword, are good introductions for beginners. My main problem with the book was that some moves are still ambiguous, despite there being pictures and text explanations. Close-ups on what certain body parts or doing or a constant perspective (each diagram, with rare exception, is seen from the figure's right side, even if he turns, leaving the reader confused as to what direction they should be facing).
   
   That aside, the book is a good reference, and practitioners of iaido should seriously consider buying it.



4. Though I really enjoyed this book, without a basic knowledge of Iaido, one could easily find the drawings too complex to follow. The book is of value more to a student of Iaido who is taking lessons from a sword master. This text when used in combination with hands-on training would be the best combination. In conclusion, this is a book for anyone interested in basic Japanese Swordsmanship. Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Wakizashi-Jutsu Manual, Tanto-Jutsu Manual, Martial Art Myths, Monadnock Defensive Tactics System, Use of the Straight Baton, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques, Samurai Aerobics: The Samurai Sword workout, Never Trust a Politician).



5. As others have said, the diagrams are nearly impossible to follow. It was a good idea to include them, but it's impossible to tell which foot is where. I ended up going through each of the steps and wrote "R" or "L" on the diagrams to give me a better idea of what should be where. Another issue with the diagrams is that sometimes they don't match up with the corresponding paragraph describing what the diagram is showing. Quite simple, the text will be saying one thing, and the diagram will be showing something completely different. It is almost as if the diagrams were made first, then the descriptions, then the descriptions were edited to include or drop extra steps, which is fine, but the diagrams were never changed to reflect these changes. While it can be frustrating at times, on the flip side it does encourage you to pay closer attention. Just remember to go by the text and not the diagrams.
   
   Despite these problems, it's a good starting point. I have no teachers of this style anywhere near where I live currently, so I wanted to get at least the barest minimum instruction in advance of moving to a place where there is a reputable teacher.

3 comments about Duellists Companion: A training manual for 17th century Italian rapier.

1. This is a great book for learning period sword fighting. Guy Windsor logically breaks the book down into usable and easy to understand drills lessons and exercises.



2. As someone who enjoys historical weaponry, I found Windsor's book to be of particular use, and his update and translation into a modern day training guide of Ferro's work is wonderful. The descriptions of techniques are easy to follow, and the illustrations are both plentiful and helpful. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to any enthusiast out there.



3. This book is an invaluable resource for the beginning fencer or the intermediate looking to improve their game. It focuses heavily on building basic muscles, techniques, and mindsets, with useful pictures both of period plates and modern photographs.
   
   I fence with rapier in the Italian style in my local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and have found this book an excellent supplement to our weekly fencing lesson. If you learn better by reading than by doing, I recommend this book highly. Windsor does seem to assume that his reader has 12 hours a day to do exercises and a full-size, fully-equipped fencing salle to practice in, but taken with a grain of salt, his fanaticism is helpful, rather than hurtful. ;)

5 comments about Essence of Ninjutsu.

1. As a relative newcomer tot Ninjutsu I wanted te read more about the history of Ninjutsu and its roots in Japanese feudal society.
   I found this quitte suffeciently in Essence of Ninjutsu. It has a lot of illustrative stories and historical context. A must read for the avid nunjutsu practicioner !



2. As someone interested in japanese history and culture, rather than in learning martial arts. From previous comments and the authors pedigree, I figured that this book provide me more illumination on the historical ninja. Unfortunately, by the end of the book I still didn't feel that I had a very good grasp of who the ninja were and where they fit into japanese society. One problem with the book is that Masaaki Hasumi's writing tends to jump around quite a bit (perhaps better translationa and editing would have helped).
   On the bright side, there are quite a few hidden pearls of wisdom hidden within the text, that I found interesting and useful.



3. This is probably the first book to faithfully reveal Hatsumi-sensei's approach to writing. In some of Soke's other works, the translation and editing have in many ways dampened the total effect of Soke's words. Not so in this book. The translator has done a superb job in capturing Soke's feeling in the written form. And he has done so by simply removing himself from the equation and instead has allowed Soke's words to do all the work.
   
   Throughout this book, the reader ought to be able to sense the depth of the art that Hatsumi-sensei is master of. The richness of the traditions and the scope of the moral and ethical development possible through an honest approach to martial arts is clearly in evidence. This has nothing to do with 'Oriental mysticism' nor has it anything to do with techniques in the technical sense. Yet, if one has the eyes to see, the mystical is simply honesty and the secrets to the techniques stem from this. In this book, both are more than visible.
   
   Through stories of his own teacher (beautifully presented as fables and legends) as well his own experiences, one gets the sense that Hatsumi-sensei has just surpassed a personal barrier of sorts. There is a sense of confidence that emerges from the words and one can only feel inspired to emulate the development displayed.
   
   This book is not, as should be expected from Hatsumi-sensei, a chronologically organised tome. Stepping away from the 1-2-3 approach to learning, Soke's words are imbued with character and observation and in that sense, one ought to hesitate to use the word 'topic' when describing each chapter. Perhaps 'situations' may be a better term.
   
   From history to warnings, from martial movement to moral awareness, this book, quite literally, has it all. Hidden in plain sight as it is, the information in this book serves as an excellent screener (as well as screening device) for those wishing to understand more of the art of Hatsumi-sensei. As an honest approach to the world of ninjutsu and the martial arts, this book is an absolute must.



4. This book is a very interesting dive into the realm of Ninjutsu, though, if not a member of the Bujinkan yourself, although the techniques seem straight forward at first, I urge you not to try them. I practiced a martial art outside of Ninjutsu when I read this book, and although the concepts of the moves seemed easy enough, they are dangerous to practice without the control and taijutsu that you learn from the Bujinkan. That said, if you are in the Bujinkan, you must own this.



5. Like the title states,"Essence of ninjutsu" not 101 ways to inflict ninjaesque damage.It's a thinking person's reader about ninjutsu and about where the author feels and believes it all comes from.The stories about his sensei's life and teaching style are very cool in my opinion.One must really take the time to READ the book though,Hatsumi sensei stress's over and over that a person must be able to read between the lines of this book and on life.He's right we should.

5 comments about The Fencing Master.

1. This was the first Arturo Perez-Reverte I ever read -- and I firmly hold it to account for my ongoing interest and respect for this fabulous author. In this earlier work of his, we see all the trademarks of the APR style: an unabashed fascination for the foil and dust world of 19th Century Spain, it's heroics and its royal uncertainties. APR has an extraordinary capacity to recreate the past -- perhaps not a 'past' that the academic historian would like to see -- but a past that appeals to the lingering romantic in some of us.
   
   APR loves chess, fencing, Latin, esoteric Catholicism, good cigars, fourth vow Jesuits, and outmoded virtues . . . this list should give you a sense of where his sympathies lie. If you share them, then you'll love his work.
   
   _The Fencing Master_ is, above all, a character study, however. In describing Don Jaime, the archetypal man at odds with the changing values of his time, APR summons up a bold portrait of chivalry in decline. But his style goes much deeper than mere whimsy. APR, undoubtedly, possesses the sort of keen insight and probing powers of observation that all great mystery writers possess. Using these talents, he pulls together a most engrossing world in which foils clash, pride gets rattled, and the coffee always comes with witty conversation.
   
   This book, certainly, will not rank among his best in terms of plot. Both _The Club Dumas_ and _The Flanders Panel_ contain far more ingenious plots, evidentiary structures, and incredible narrative devices. _The Fencing Master_ does not have much in the way of stylistic tricks. But, in Don Jaime, APR presents an intense vision of modesty and nobility that beat beneath a dented plastron. In terms of dialogue and psychology, the book rewards immensely (thanks to a great translation) with some rich turns of phrase and potent reflection on a dying art. As such, the book above all presents a lament for a decline in concentration and dedication in favor of shallow trends.
   
   "God is inconsistent and irresponsible. I have no use for Him. He is not a gentlemen."
   
   The highest praise I can give could only be that, over an iced coffee, I polished this book off at a local Greek-run cafe in the span of a perfectly summer afternoon. Whenever the local constable sparked his cigar, I had to have one as well. Whenever Don Jaime kept to his anachronistic principles, I felt like one day I needed to recover my own. In short, the book led me into a different world for a few hours. Now that's some spectacular adventure writing.
   
   As I said, not his best -- but hands down beats all the crap out there like Stephenie Meyer (sp), Da Vinci Code, etc, etc. What a cruel world we live in when such authors sell millions. Don Jaime, however, would hardly be surprised.



2. This was the first Perez-Reverte book I have read, and I was very disappointed. I have heard him referred to as the modern day Dumas by multiple reviewers. He comes nowhere near earning that title, at least with this book. Perhaps his other books are better, as previous reviewers have suggested, but this book was downright mediocre at best, and boring and poorly executed at worst.
   
   Perez-Reverte's major blunder is his obsession with character sympathy and believability. Don't get me wrong, I am all about things being believable if possible, but being believable should never be one's focus. He spends such a ridiculous amount of space giving us psychological insight into Don Jaime that it is blatantly obvious that he is trying to explain why he does all the things he does. This would already have been bad, but the fact that Don Jaime is a very annoying character to read about makes it unbearable. As a previous review has said, Don Jaime is a "bumbling, clueless idiot." A simple page describing his psychological motivations would have been entirely sufficient, but instead we get something in the vicinity of 25 pages (not all in one place, of course). As another previous reviewer noted, the book is "populated with believable characters." The problem is that their believability is forced; it is something that was obviously purposefully done, and because of that it feels even more unbelievable than the "unmodern" characters of classical fiction. There is one exception to this: the antagonist. For all the effort put into the other characters, the antagonist is the most cardboard-cutoutish character I have come across in some time.
   
   Perez-Reverte is missing a vital component to joining the ranks of the great swashbucklers like Dumas: naturalness. Dumas' novels and characters flow naturally. Perez-Reverte is obviously obsessed with creating believable characters and a main character people will remember and respect. Yes, we understand that Don Jaime is a relic of a past age. We don't need to hear it repeated on every other page. He has lost sight of the story in his obsession with the individual character, and it makes both story and characters boring.
   
   This makes me think that it is far more comparable to a character study in the manner of Jane Austin than a Dumas novel, but the cover explicitly advertises it as an action/suspense book. The "suspense" doesn't come in until toward the very end, and the "action" consists of two short sword-fights (unless one counts practicing fencing as "action"). It was compared by a previous reviewer to Don Quixote. However, it fails to suceed in any of the three categories I mentioned: it has too little action or adventure for a Dumas comparison, it is not nearly witty or profound enough to be compared to Austin, and there is no humour. It fails as historical fiction because the only history contained in it is found in randomly inserted conversations about the politics of the Spanish revolution (and he gives no background, so the reader can't really follow it very well).
   
   Let me summarize what the book actually consists of. There are four parts. First, there are lengthy descriptions of the psychological motivations of Don Jaime and a few other characters. Second, there are numerous political conversations largely unrelated to the plot. Third, there are lengthy descriptions of Don Jaime's daily life, which are about as exciting as describing any normal persons daily life (because the author was trying to surround him with "believability"). Finally, there is a brief "suspense" section at the very end, with a "surprise" plot twist that the reader guesses about 30 pages into the book (if not sooner). The fact that the author presents it as a huge surprise is simply insulting.
   
   One final note. Was it really necessary for Perez-Reverte to include a romantic sub-plot between Don Jaime (who is in his late 50's) and a woman in her young 20's? Really?
   
   Overall grade: D



3. Review of "The Fencing Master" -- Arturo Perez-Reverte
   
   Background abstract from the text: "In Madrid in 1868, fencing master and man of honor Don Jaime is approached by a mysterious woman who seeks to learn the secret of the unstoppable thrust, an arcane technique known only to him. All too soon he finds himself in the vortex of a plot that includes seduction, secret political documents, and more than one murder. Rich with the historical detail of a decaying world that agonizes--as does the world of fencing itself--over the ideals of honor and chivalry, The Fencing Master is superb literature and a true page-turner."
   
   This is the second Perez-Reverte book I've read and I have to admit I really like his intelligent style of writing. I found the first half of the book to open very slowly building the back-story for the protagonist (Don Jaime Astarloa) and potential love interest with Adele De Otero who insistently pleads with him to teach her the fencing secret he perfected; "the unstoppable thrust."
   
   *Spoiler here* The second half of the book quickly builds suspense and intrigue ending with a shocking conclusion. The final part of the story ends with Don Jaime discovering that Adele was acting as the agent of espionage for powerful economic interests. She attempts to kill her Maestro with the same fencing thrust maneuver she learned from him but with which he executes with the skill of "The Fencing Master" leading to her demise (with the thrust through her eye socket).
   
   Well done and rife with a vivid historical backdrop and references. Five stars.
   
   JP



4. This is my first time reading this author. I really enjoyed the book. I was most impressed with how the author was able to create a certain depth of character so that it became more than just an action novel. The insights given on the main character made the ending so much more poignant. His meetings with his friends could be somewhat compared to a kind of Greek chorus commenting on the state of Spain at the time.I feel that the author is writing for the mass market so what might be somewhat more detailed in a weighter novel is not found here. It also is possible that is why some readers' comments on other of his novels show some disappointment.



5. Although the ending to this novel seems rushed,in my opinion, the build up to the final confrontation was cleverly done and left the reader with no clue until near the end who the prime subjects really were,though the final fencing pair were obvious. The author clearly understood the art of fencing. The cafe scenes could have been more political and the hero surprisingly naive for his advanced years. All told,a good read and hard to put down.

5 comments about Fighting with the German Longsword.

1. Very clear and complete explaination of the use of the longsword in medieval germany, for beginner and intermediate swordman.
   
   I'm waiting for his new book... I hope...



2. This book is an actual instruction manual, with training routines, stances, forms, etc. This is an excellent introduction to swordplay, with historical comments as well. I would recommend this to anyone interested in learning the art of sword fighting.



3. This is a very good book to begin your studies of the western martial arts. Tobler is very clear in his descriptions of the techniques and postures. He provides example drills and plenty of pictures. Overall a great delivery vehicle for some otherwise esoteric information. I would recommend reading this and then Joachim Meyer's manuscript.



4. Fighting with the German Longsword is one of the best martial arts books I have ever seen. I have quite a collection of them, and most have extreme difficulty conveying the actual practices. This book not only explains the moves very well, but the set up of the book is ideal for learning. I have practiced Japanese swordsmanship for many years and wanted to expand my knowledge to include European methods. This book was perfect for that.



5. I purchased this book after watching the documentary, Reclaiming the Blade, and Fighting with the German Longsword by Christian Henry Tobler has far exceeded my expectations. Not only is this a wonderful training guide for Western martial arts, this book is also filled with loads of history. As for the martial arts aspect, all of Mr. Tobler's exercises are thoroughly explained and each one has 3 to 4 black and white pictures that cover a step by step of the movements for that particular exercise. Even my younger brother had no problem working through several of the exercises. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in western martial arts.

5 comments about Kendo: The Definitive Guide.

1. When it comes to martial arts, kendo is my second choice after karate. If you plan to enter a kendo dojo, read this book first. It introduces you to the world of this great art and makes you want to practice it even more. I recommend you the both: to read the book and to perform the art.



2. Having lived in Japan for 13 years and studying at a Dojo in Okinawa, I can honestly say that this book is the real deal. Ozawa-san presents the information in a no-nonsense, easy to understand format. Beginners in this time honored sport will find all they need to know to get started. Advanced Kendoists will even find this book useful, especially if they are thinking about teaching their skills to others. From simple stretching techniques to Kata, practice sessions to match refereeing, proper Gi (uniform) storage to honorably overcoming your opponent...this book has it all. If you are going to practice Kendo, you need to have this book!



3. This book presents all kendo basics and some interesting techniques. Further, it shows each kata with details. I gave it 4 stars cause I would like to see more wazas.



4. Great book. Hard to do on your own. You relly need a class and a great teacher it is all just self-taught, poor technique that will get you disqualified.



5. Excelent book. It contains all the basics of etiquette as well the Kendo techniques and katas.
   
   The book is plenty of good drawings and explanations, and it covers the way to put the bogu (armor) on,
   how to tie it, how to behave in a Dojo, the current rules, a japanese glossary, and so on.
   
   A perfect reference book for a kenshi and for a sensei.
   A great work of Mr. Hiroshi Ozawa. I consult it every time.

5 comments about The Beginner's Guide to the Long Sword: European Martial Arts Weaponry Techniques.

1. I have known the author Steaphen Fick for nearly two decades as our common passion for historical reenactment caused our paths to cross back in 1991. In that time I have witnessed this sword masters journey through the many realms of European martial combat styles from the dainty small sword to full armored combat. I have been in a privileged position to watch his mastery of the many weapons and styles of the sword masters of old grow steadily over the years. Today his expertise in the use of weapons in both combat and tournament ranges many centuries from the early middle ages to the late renaissance and beyond. I have studied under several teachers and experienced armed combat in many reenactment and tournament circles over the years; I can say without a doubt that the teachings I received from Master Fick have served me better than all others combined.
   
   John Arnold
   Sword Scholar, historical enactor, and author



2. I've known Steaphen for 20 years now, he was the first person I ever fought live steel with. He's learned a lot since those days of armoured combat, and I am quite proud of what he has done with himself - a master swordsman and a teacher. . . I've had the pleasure of watching him teach, and he really has a way of making his students feel comfortable. . .
   This book is a great example of his teaching style. . . not so complex as to be hard to understand, while still giving the reader a solid basic instruction. If you've ever watched a Swords-and-Sorcery type movie and wondered "How'd they do that," Steaphen's book is a good place to start.
   
   My name is James Shaffer, and I approved this message.



3. The book is appropriately titled and therefore, for those indivduals who have no experience in the world of historical fencing and historical martial arts, and who do not wish to delve into the extreme subtleties of any form of historical fighting arts - a "reader's digest" of the art of longsword fencing, this book is for you. For novice practitioners, the book is useful as a review of the fundamentals, important if one intends to "test" at their particular training school or academy. For instructors of historical fencing, this book may offer some new ideas in the approach to instructing their students and therefore, a useful resource in that regard.
   
   The book does not focus on any one particular style of longsword fencing, but does cover the basics, with an excellent presentation on the longsword, its parts and its characteristics. Important information that all novices must internalize, regardless of fighting style studied. Steaphen then moves into combative foundations of posture and lines of attack. He also delves briefly into concepts of movement, measure, distance and tempo - concepts that both novice and experienced practitioners must know well. Steaphen also makes a point of ensuring the reader understands the importance of footwork, the very foundation of all fighting systems. This concept is explained with a series of intuitive images and illustrations aptly describing the basic of the foundations of footwork.
   
   After detailing the basics, he begins the various guard positions, interestingly sourcing the names and the positions from the Italian style documented by the Italian swordsmaster Fiore dei Liberi in 1410. The treatise used as the source was entitled "Fiore di Battaglia". These guards or "poste" are described with plenty of text accompanied with black & white photos which clearly depict the guards described. This section of the book continues with a presentation on a number of simple drills, each drill focused on some specific attribute, such as a drill designed to highlight distance or tempo or parrying.
   
   The book concludes with a good description of appropriate equipment to acquire should one decide to pursue longsword fencing, regardless of the style considered. Suggestions for hand protection include leather gauntlets or hockey gloves or lacrosse gloves, although, it is the opinion of the reviewer that hockey or lacrosses gloves are too bulky to train with, and may introduce training artifacts. The book closes with a basic glossary of terms, useful for the individual who may be considering beginning their journey into the study and training of historical fencing.



4. Poorly written, filed with photos of three guys who look like they just climbed out of bed. If your interested in the subject buy Christian Henry Toblers book "Fighting with the German Longsword".



5. The coverage of this book reminds me of my first four class introduction to (German) longsword combat at the Higgins Armory, condensed to book form for the Italian Style. I assume that is what Stephen Fick has done here, and based on his class work. I picked this book up for a less expensive look at some of the basics of the Italian style to complement the studies into the German style that I have participated in at Sword in the Scroll in Connecticut. I got a look at the Italian guards, cutting style, some drills and Italian theory.
   
   There is a good amount of discussion about the theory and underlying basics of longsword, such has time and foot work. This is a good and often forgotten part if introducing the sword. I don't agree with all of his assertions, for example where to look, but nothing came out as horribly bad.
   
   The book is not with out problems. The photos have been mentioned by another reviewer. They seem to be two students or assistant instructors grabbed before or after class for quick shots before a wall (NBA sweats, really?). The wall contrast is good, but the models do not look professional. More importantly, in my 2009 printing the photos of two different guards (posta di donna & posta falcone) are duplicated. Also the posta di donna sinestra photograph is described in the text as incorrect. A reshot even if slightly inconsistent photograph would be preferable. Finally, there is an entire chapter concerning gripping the blade. However the pictures of the demonstrators do not show the same hand grips as the close ups.
   
   The Appendixes, are also problematic. Appendix A Head & Face Protection. "You must wear full head and face protection during any sword drill involving another person." Really? Why do none of the pictures in the entire book have a demonstrator wearing face protection? Nor wearing gorgets nor gloves. Some sort of explanation would have been nice. Appendix B discusses types of practice weapons. It gives the majority of space to steel swords, but I think short shrifts wooden practice swords with only one paragraph. This is the least expensive option and the way most beginners start. A high quality pair starts at $120+ while quality steel swords are several hundred each.
   
   For the established practitioner the book is of interest for how another views the art. I would have liked to see more references to differentiate what comes from Fick's experence and what come form the manuals. However I understand that this is an basic beginners book and is beyond its scope.
   
   If you are a beginner, you best option, which the author also states, is to join an established group. If you cannot find one in your area, then at a $17 MSRP this is not a bad book to get a taste of longsword. You'll need at least one friend, and one of you should read through the entire book before you start. (At 144 pages with pictures it goes fast) While there is a logic to the layout, some important information about cutting does not come until late in the book. If you enjoy these basics then you can explore further some of the more in depth books that are available.

5 comments about Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship.

1. Rather pointless book. The images provided are utterly useless, being a few cm in size, badly drawn and providing no information whatsoever. I utterly regret buying this book. For kendo kata in particular I would recommend 'Looking at a Far Mountain: A Study of Kendo Kata'.



2. I have found this book to be a very useful tool in developing training drills and improving our basic techniques. The diagrams are easy to follow and textual information clear. Well worth having in the library.



3. I received the book in a timely manner and in new condition. I didn't expect that it would be printed with stick people. I find it difficult to follow but I'll figure it out.



4. This book had basic moves which is good, but never went into further detail. The illustrations were stick figures from a side view; there was no way to infer anything from them. I would not have gotten this book for my son if I had known the "true" lack of knowledge it contained.



5. Really good book. Helpful since i learn Kendo in Chinese and don't get much explanation for the moves. To be honest though, you really can't practice at home. You really have to go to class.

5 comments about Fencing: Steps to Success (Steps to Success Activity Series).

1. After returning from Nationals, our Coach recommended this book to the fencers at our club looking to improve our overall performance next year. Although coming back with a 2nd in Sabre isn't too shabby! I bought 2 copies, one for my son who is going into his 3rd year of fencing and 1 for myself, a beginning fencer. We are both finding it very useful. My son likes the review of the basics and we both like the drills in each section.
   I would suggest this book to any fencer looking to perfect form and skill. I think experienced fencers even need a look back to the basics sometimes. The only reason I gave it 4 stars out of 5 was because I had a hard time giving 5 stars to a book that makes me break out a sweat!
   
   L



2. I came across this book as part of the USFCA (United States Fencing Coaches Association) reading list in preparation for taking my Moniteur certification. After reading it, I've made a number of changes in my Introductory classes and list this book as the recommended text. Like any such text, there are points I disagree with, but they are few in number.
   
   Without hesitation, I would recommend this book for any first year fencer.
   
   J Farmer
   Coach, Oak Ridge Fencers Club



3. I purchased this book as a gift for my son. He was very pleased. He said that it contained all the information that he had hoped for, but didn't receive, when he purchased a different book.



4. If you are looking for a super basic book on fencing with 75% of the content being exercises and little workout routines, this is the book for you. If you are looking for something with ANY depth on the subject look anywhere but here. I returned this book on principle I was so dissapointed with it.



5. breaks down each move and explains exactly what each part of the body should (and should not) be doing, how your weight should be distributed, etc. also lists common mistakes made and how to avoid or fix them. best of all, it's filled with tons of drills for practice, both solo and with a partner. working my way through the book has gotten me through my first semester of fencing with excellent results. so much more helpful than any other book out there, by far.