Master Of The Blade: Secrets Of The Deadly Art Of Knife Fighting [Paperback]

Richard Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

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

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581600488
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600483
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Duel Fighting At Its Best?, August 10, 2005

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Saying it like it is (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Master Of The Blade: Secrets Of The Deadly Art Of Knife Fighting (Paperback)

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 "reality" of knife violence, most victims are not even aware that they are "being stabbed" until after the fact. As far as they are concerned, they are being punched or grabbed, and they are reacting accordingly.

Any system of knife defense that assumes the following is a system that is based on consenting violence, the duel. It does not adequately address reality based self defense, and focuses most of the science on the wrong thing, or at best "the least probable" scenario UNLESS your goal is to get into knife fights.

FIVE CRITICAL and UNREALISTIC ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN THE BOOK
1. You are aware that your opponent has a knife
2. Your knife will already be drawn and ready for action
3. If your knife is NOT drawn and ready for action, then you will have time (translation: LUXURY) to deploy your knife and therefore follow the techniques of the book.
4. Unarmed combatives don't need to be integrated in strategies regarding knife fighting / defense, and therefore are not needed as part of this manual.
5. Assuming "integrated" unarmed combatives are addressed (which they aren't in the book), getting your folder blade out under stress is not a difficult thing to do (it is a fine motor skill and as we know we lose those skills when our body experiences fear and the a-dump ... need to consider this as part of training)

59 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really needed work - wellcome!, April 1, 2000

By 

J.R.R.Abrahão (aka) "Mad Abe" "jrra" (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master Of The Blade: Secrets Of The Deadly Art Of Knife Fighting (Paperback)

This amazing book is a really needed work into the "sea" of knife fighting books. I'm a martial artist & knife fighter with 20+ years of experience into law enforcement/security field, and among hundreds of knife fighting books, you can not find all the practical information you get in just this single book. In this work, many things are cleared, and several important points of knife fighting/knife defense are easily teached to the novice and the expert alike. I find this book most usefull for anyone interested in reallistic knife fighting, and who do not want to spend several thousand bucks in titles on the subject. If you must choose one book on knife fighting, and one only, this is the book for you.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't add much but agree with all other reviews here, September 28, 2002

By 

Oavde "oavde" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master Of The Blade: Secrets Of The Deadly Art Of Knife Fighting (Paperback)

There is not much I can add, I agree with all the other reviews here. This book is very worthwhile, full of practical, useful information.

I kind of wish all the thugs out there and kids carrying knives would read it and realise how horrific it is to be in a knife fight, maybe then they'd change their ways.

Well, maybe not the thugs, but at least they'd be more likely to rob you with skill and not hurt you than rob you with no skill and probably kill you in a mad frenzy of stupidity and fear.

In brief, chapter by chapter it shows you:

the blades and advantages
how to cut
how to defend / counter
tactics
strategies (longer term tactics)
mistakes you could make that could be deadly
concealment (not just for you to conceal, helps you learn how others might conceal the weapon)

There are more chapters than this but those are the main topics.

The stance he suggests is very good, it might seem completely bananas for unarmed combat but makes great sense when wielding / facing a weapon.

I recommend this book and hope you never need the skills in it.

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