15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No hype, no myths, real, logical info about swords., August 11, 2009
This review is from: The Book of Swords (Paperback)
This fantastic book reads like a conversation with the author. Reinhardt was known for his hospitality and eagerness to teach. His book reads very much like he is across the room with you in a comfortable chair telling you about his life's research.
The book's conclusions are backed up with the author's real world experiments with what works in sparring, armor tests, and cutting. He is humorous at times but always factual, and he tells you when he is stating a theory. He is critical of misinformation and dispells myths when they pollute the modern knowledge of swords and swordmanship. The book covers the chronology, geography, metallurgy, and use of swords going all the way back to the dawn of the bronze age.
Hank Reinhardt spent decades testing weapons and reverse engineering fighting styles based on historical evidence. He destroyed equipment most people are not willing to part with. He travelled the world and handled many historical examples. This book will save you years of theorizing and move your study of the sword forward significantly. As one of his former students, this is a chance to meet Hank Reinhardt and get a no-nonsense history of swords.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Humility, Honor and Humor all rolled into One, October 4, 2009
This review is from: The Book of Swords (Paperback)
In a society fraught with habitual hype and melodrama, especially in the arena of martial arts, which includes Western martial practices of the sword, Hank Reinhardt has always been a beacon of empirical pragmatism, never taking himself too seriously, yet always applying his research methods utilizing good science.
This book reflects this realism, not merely as an ideal with which to aspire, but through solid documentation. Unfortunately, Hank died an untimely death before this book could actually be completed, but fortunately, Hank also had completed a rough draft, from which the editors of his estate were able to compile this work.
Divided in fourteen chapters, the book is organized into something of a historical chronology of the sword's evolution through mankind's progression, ending with chapters addressing the basic techniques and mindset attributed to the sword's potential applications in battle, single duels and in friendly competitions.
In the early chapters of this manuscript, Hank delves into the science of the sword's fundamental make up from bronze to iron to steel, giving the reader the facts of a sword's basic structure, which, in effect limits the sword's elemental function. In his usual matter-of-fact, yet humble way, the myths established about the sword are squished in a hurry.
Various sword types are elaborated on in subsequent chapters, discussing the Eastern sword types, including the Japanese swords, as well as Near/Mid-Eastern swords, as well the those swords commonly found originating from Western Europe, from the time of pre-Bronze age through to the late Iron Age.
Not only does Hank discuss the sword through good research from reliable and credible sources and his own empirical experiments, he addresses the issue of armor, which was often in race with the offensive arms creators to negate the effectiveness of the sword's capacity to kill.
Hank constantly stresses to the reader the importance of understanding the context in which the sword was used and how it evolved--this means understanding the social context, the political context, the economical context and cultural aspects under which people lived and died. He warned directly and indirectly about evaluating the sword, and all weapons of this time frame, under the context of our current contemporary cultural and societal influences. To do would be great folly in seeing the sword clearly.
The one weakness of the book, and this is no reflection on Hank Reinhardt, but is merely inherent in the nature of the book and how it had to be completed and that is a feeling of incompleteness with some of the chapters. Hank did die before he could complete this book. Hanks style of writing is as though each reader is talking privately with Hank and he is conveying his personal story to each individual reader. The excellent aspect of this is the reader makes a connection and assimilates the wisdom in a seamless fashion. However, the downside is that, even though the information is seamless, it ends and sometimes with an abruption of, "there's more to be said...and it stops..."
All good writers write multiple drafts until the final one materializes. I know there is more Hank wanted to elaborate on about the focus of his in-depth descriptions. Some, however, feel as though they just stop, and no one can ask Hank, "Okay, what comes next, Sir?" Know, however, this doesn't subtract from the validity and reliability of the information already included. It only leaves the reader wanting more, which may be just the kind of inspiration the reader needs to go out and find answers for the self--which Hank always encouraged, any way.
Hank Reinhardt was one of the true contemporary grand master's of the sword. Never, ever while he was alive, would Hank accept such a title, regardless who might attempt to bestow it upon him. Nor would Hank even dream of self-professing such a grandiose title.
Today, the contemporary commercial martial arts arena is bloated with self-professed masters and grand masters of the area of Western martial arts just as pervasive as, and on par with, what exists, presently, in the Eastern martial arts arena. From this abundance of insecure yet commercially successful martial artists, great disinformation and personal opinion conveyed as fact, about the potential use and application of the sword has begun to proliferate. Something Hank Reinhardt worked so diligently to off-set.
Hank Reinhardt was never about this hype and worked very, very hard to discredit and dispel this type of nonsense with legitimate fact tempered with his brand of humor and always humility. He was always that rare reliable, credible and valid source of information about the sword and everything in history that attaches itself to the sword through history. For this reason alone, this book is its own masterpiece of truth in world overrun with exaggerated claims.
I never did have the opportunity or pleasure of meeting with Hank in person--face to face--but we did manage to correspond, periodically, for a period of several years between 1996 and 1998 via telephone and snail mail.
Honest, straightforward and humble, our communiqués were enlightening--at least for me, and Hank's knowledge of the sword from both a scholarly and pragmatic point of view had no equal as far as I am concerned. Many seem to have tried--most fell way short.
This book is of great historical and scholarly significance, and if anyone has a passion for the sword or even a passing fancy, this text will assist the reader in creating the correct perspective and context through which to properly evaluate the sword in its construction and use.
Rev. A. Bodhi Chenevey, RM, DD
Hikaze Learning Corner
Two Pines Training Facility
Wooster, Ohio
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