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.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Master Of The Blade: Secrets Of The Deadly Art Of Knife Fighting:
Richard Ryan's Master Of The Blade pulls no punches on the reality of bladed combat. It paints a very accurate picture of the often underestimated use of bladed weapons. I would strongly recommend it to anyone, weather they carried a blade or realized that any of us could face one in a life and death struggle. I hope Mr. Ryan will have more material on the market in the future.
Police Officer / Martial Artist
Officer R.B. Pickens
Play Nice:
To be honest, this book wasn't all that great. The author spent more time explaining how his "dynamic" method was better than everyone else's instead of actually teaching the art of blade wielding & fighting. There was even space for a comic strip of some fat, cross eyed martial arts master rejecting a sparring session with the author out of fear. Now Mr. Ryan, play nice or I'll put you in the garage-sale bin.
Duel Fighting At Its Best?:
This book is about fighting a "duel" with the knife. Duel fighting is more of a phenomenon of two individuals "willing to fight" ... vs. a true self defense situation. Ryan claims that the worst case scenario for a a person with a knife to face is to square off with another person also skilled with the blade. This is true for "duel fighting". The worst case scenario in the streets is when you are attacked by an assailant, and you are unaware that he is attacking you with a knife. IF you research the... more info
What Drivel!:
After reading four books on knife fighting, I'm beginning to realize there's not much more to be said, especially when Richard Ryan is saying it. "Pathetic" he calls man. A "walking sack of meat." No built-in mechanisms for defense, obviously not a predator by nature. Man had to "claw his way up" the foodchain. Is this guy for real? If you begin with a false premise, you can only get better and there are some relevant material in the book--if you can get past Ryan's flaming ego, which doesn't take... more info
