Product Description

Written by one of the world's foremost authorities on martial arts and weaponcraft, Master of the Blade is an instructional manual on the realistic use of the knife in self-defense. Based on the Tactical Edged Weapons System of Richard Ryan's Dynamic Combat Method, it offers priceless insights into a world shrouded in mystery, hype and mystique, and dispels common myths about knife fighting. Ryan covers the various types of blades and how to choose one that's right for you; knife fighting stances, grips, targets, striking patterns and types of cuts; the basics of defense and counterattack; blade tactics and strategies against different types of weapons and attackers; deadly mistakes such as overcommitment and hesitation; dealing with fear and the importance of mind-set; carry methods and tactical concealment; and realistic training methods. Master of the Blade explores the deadly art of knife fighting in a refreshing and often humorous manner, presenting the stark realities of knife fighting in a way we can all understand and digest. The old adage "don't bring a knife to a gunfight" won't have the same meaning for you once you've read this book. For academic study only.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #407037 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

quite a good read; informative too
This book was a pleasure to read, as well as containing quite a bit of good info. Is it the end-all and be-all of knife fighting? Of course not; no book or video is. They all have their good and silly points, but overall this one made pretty good sense. Another reviewer said they didn't like how this book "seriously dissed" James Keating. First of all, the name was never mentioned. Second of all, the big critique was against the practice of carrying big, fixed bladed knives and, come on, unless you want to break the law, or have a concealed carry permit for a large knife, are you really going to have one on you when you need it? And seriously, if you're going to break the law, why not carry a gun? And third, how many martial arts books has this reviewer read? They ALL pretty much say theat their system is the best; it's clled MARKETING, people. But, in the end, this book was fun to read, had many good points(pun intended), and is the equal of any of the other books on knife combat I have read. Enjoy.

This is the Knife fighting Bible
Richard Ryan is an excellent martial artist. This book goes over everything that is needed to know in order to come out of a violent encounter. Ryan's writing skills are excellent and he clearly explains the intricate details that make up his impressive combat system. A must have for any serious martial artist

Interesting, but not very useful
This book is interesting, but in general, very poorly written. The author comes across as an overblown windbag (not an uncommon occurrence for this type of book). The techniques described are reasonable, if not earth-shattering. Anyone interested in more than an academic understanding of knife-fighting would be well served to put the book down and start training.
The most annoying thing about this book was the very poor quality of the writing and the editing. There are literally hundreds of instances of factually incorrect statements, grammatical errors, and misspellings. It was very difficult to take the author seriously when so many blatant errors made it into the book.
Not a book I'd recommend.