Books of interest to the student of defense:

“Forza: The Samurai Sword Workout” by Ilaria Montagnani, published by Ulysses Press (2005)

I picked this book up while poking around in one of the local big box books stores. Tho I haven’t really worked with the exercises the author suggests I can see it being used by both the Oriental martial artist and the user of the longsword or staff.

“The Classical Pugilism and Bare-Knuckle Boxing Companion, Vol. 1” edited by Jake Shannon, published by Lulu Press (2005)

While doing research on early American pugilism I came across a reference to a manual published in the 1840's by Owen Swift titled “Boxing without a Master”. I then set out to find a reproduction of this work. The book listed above was the only source I found for this work. The book is a compilation of three works on pugilism and boxing.

I am not an expert on the history of pugilism but would suggest anyone who is interested in early boxing history take a look at Shannon’s book if interested in getting more information.

“The Bowie Knife: Unsheathing an American Legend” by Norm Flayderman, published by Andrew Mowbray, Inc (2004)

For any collector or student of the Bowie knife this is a must have book! Lavishly illustrated with photos of many Bowie knives Flayderman has set out to really give us the history of the Bowie knife. Flayderman has found the earliest published references to the Bowie knife and dispels many of the myths about the knife and James Bowie, the man for which it was named.