Customer Reviews

The Sicilian Blade

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book really teaches exactly what is taught to young men of Sicilian heritage. I was taught the art of the Sicilian blade by my Maternal Grandfather and his son's (my uncles). I can attest to the fact that everything taught in this volume on Sicilian Knife fighting is exactly what I learned as a youngster from the Sicilian side of my family. Anyone who disputes this fact simply does not know or has not experienced the teachings of Sicilian knife fighting. The art is taught from father to son and is usually kept within the family and is primarily a dueling art, not a "Take Em out" fighting style like many of the American knife fighting schools teach. Each school has it's strenghts and weaknesses. The Sicilian school is a school of Honore above all else and strives to teach the "quattrocchi" or eye to eye contact that is so essential to Sicilian masculinity. The "Sicilian blade" teaches just that,this book is a true volume on Sicilian Stiletto fignting. It is from my own personal experience that I can say Mr. Quattrocchi has first hand knowledge of this art.

When the modern martial artist and edged weapons exponent thinks of knife fighting arts, his thoughts typically turn toward the many Eastern disciplines that exist in this context. And though most of us westerners were raised on the movies of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Tyrone Power, and Errol Flynn, we don't tend to associate their edged weapons skills with a western martial arts tradition.

The fact of the matter is that such blade traditions still exist, although they are either disregarded or taken for granted by the many cultures where they evolved. Recently, however, a number of individuals skilled in such arts have temporarily replaced their blades with pens in order to document the rudimnts of their particular western knife fighting methods. The bulk of these works focus on knife systems from the Mediterranean, since that is where such arts evolved and flourished. One such work is THE SICILIAN BLADE: The Art of Sicilian Stiletto Fighting, by Don Vito Quattrocchi.

The Sicilian Blade is a succinct manual that explains how this weapon was historically used in combat, honorable or otherwise, by the culture that made the word "stiletto" known and respected on both sides of the Atlantic -- the Sicilians. Apart from the sociological information it presents, The Sicilian Blade is a technical instructional handbook that describes the various strategies and tactics for using this weapon. An especially interesting chapter is one titled Indraga mano, which covers the use of the stiletto when it is held "hidden" in the reverse grip.

The Sicilian Blade is not a comprehensive tome; it is a concise and no-nonsense treatment of a similarly concise and no-nonsense art. If you don't have a Mediterranean knife arts section in your combat library, this is a good place to start.

The content of the book tells the reader a lot about a real knife-fight. The combat style described here is the most effective for a knife-against-knife encounter at the wide range. "Wide range" means that it is only possible to deliver an attack by stepping forward. You don't learn any "martial arts"-tricks which would leave you cut to pieces in a real encounter. Very recommendable ! Don't try to be more intelligent than people from Sicily who are experienced in knife duells since hundreds of years !

If you are the type of person who actually relies on a knife for self protection You will see that the author has been it the thick of it himself. It's a great book with alot of history and practical knowledge.

A very short, right to the point, and a good teaching book on knife fighting. Not much on frills. After reading it, I felt more capable of using a knife to defend my wife. I am 60 and not too healthy. Which is why I need something other than my fists.

Just finished re-reading The Sicillian Blade by Don Quattrocchi. I disagree with him on several points, but overall, this is better than the average knifefighting text.

The advice he gives on how to quickly open an old style lockblade is something I'd never seen before. The section on sparring with nail files is something I recall from another book, but never realized this was traditional amongst Sicilian youth. A lot of good advice on pressing the attack. Quattrocchi, unlike nearly every other instructor, says to keep the non-knife hand behind you so it won't get cut, as anyone with any skill will slice up someone attempting to block or disarm them . . . he makes a valid point.

I disagreed with the premise that one should use the saber grip on a small knife. Sure, it makes one's moves more precise, and adds over an inch of range, but upon impact with a solid target one could either drop the knife or find their fingers sliding over the blade. The instructions on sharpening the blade were unclear, and continually sharpening a blade will eventually ruin the edge. And the suggestion that one attempt to execute a "back spinning kick to the face" of an armed opponent? That was the only part of the book I found laughable. True, the armor thing was amusing, but Quattrocchi made it very clear that such armoring was only if one knew in advance that he was going to be engaging in a duel, so it's valid.

I do not know how historically accurate this book is, or how much was gleaned from other texts, as Quattrocchi himself states that you can't trust anything a Sicillian tells you, but there is some good information here, and this little book should not be overlooked.

This book provided an excellent history and practical application of this hidden fighting art. Before reading The Sicilian Blade I had no Idea that this european art was as intricate and as deep as any Asian martial art .The history and practical application itself was worth the price of admission. Kudos to Vito Quattrocchi for this informative work on this deadly art.

Poorly designed, and poor in ideas. This book describes techiniques that are, at least, childish (what about to go out your home with a pair of phonebooks wrapped on your belly to protect yourself from a stiletto's blade?). In other cases are totally useless. It's a pity, 'cause sicilian (and most south-Italy) culture has a real heritage of stiletto's fighting techniques very effective. The author should try again to expose his knowledge in abetter way.

Great history on the island and it's knife fighting techniques. It's obvious that Vito Quattrocchi has real knowledge of this art. I collect many books on knife fighting and I give this one my highest rating.

not exactly what i was expecting, but had some interesting stuff. some of it about the culture, which is fascinating! after reading it i seriously went out and ordered book II by the same author - have yet to receive it. Some of the things i read - disturbingly - i had heard of inamtes doing. Very 'street' oriented, with the gun craze of the current culture here in the usa i am not sure how practical but a great read nontheless, I WILL NOT being 'loaning' or selling this book - ever.