Fiore Dagger and Wrestling

[Joel Norman]

I recently discovered a book on the above subject at artsofmarsbooks.com by a Colin Richards. Does anyone know whether Mr. Richards is a reliable source regarding this material? I'm trying to do more with unarmed/dagger techniques, and I already have Jay's excellent - and much less expensive - book on the dagger. I've just never heard of Colin Richards before and want to make sure he's not another Hugh Knight . (Ha ha.)

[Gene Tausk]

I recently discovered a book on the above subject at artsofmarsbooks.com by a Colin Richards. Does anyone know whether Mr. Richards is a reliable source regarding this material? I'm trying to do more with unarmed/dagger techniques, and I already have Jay's excellent - and much less expensive - book on the dagger. I've just never heard of Colin Richards before and want to make sure he's not another Hugh Knight . (Ha ha.)

I have no idea who is Colin Richards. However, Jay's book is not a Steven King novel that you read once and put back on the shelf. It can (and should!) be referenced time and again and the excercises constantly practiced.

Therefore, if you already have a primary source (like I consider Jay's book), why do you need anything else?

[G.MatthewWebb]

I recently discovered a book on the above subject at artsofmarsbooks.com by a Colin Richards. Does anyone know whether Mr. Richards is a reliable source regarding this material? I'm trying to do more with unarmed/dagger techniques, and I already have Jay's excellent - and much less expensive - book on the dagger. I've just never heard of Colin Richards before and want to make sure he's not another Hugh Knight . (Ha ha.)

I have no idea who is Colin Richards. However, Jay's book is not a Steven King novel that you read once and put back on the shelf. It can (and should!) be referenced time and again and the excercises constantly practiced.

Therefore, if you already have a primary source (like I consider Jay's book), why do you need anything else?

Well, I can think of an obvious reason: perhaps this book by Richards goes into more detail about Fiore. Vail's book, which I highly recommend, covers a broad range of sources but does not give page citations or folio citations in the source material. I would not consider it a primary source but an excellent first text for study! I am not sure if Richards footnotes his interpretations.

G. Matthew Webb

[Jay Vail]

I recently discovered a book on the above subject at artsofmarsbooks.com by a Colin Richards. Does anyone know whether Mr. Richards is a reliable source regarding this material? I'm trying to do more with unarmed/dagger techniques, and I already have Jay's excellent - and much less expensive - book on the dagger. I've just never heard of Colin Richards before and want to make sure he's not another Hugh Knight . (Ha ha.)

I have no idea who is Colin Richards. However, Jay's book is not a Steven King novel that you read once and put back on the shelf. It can (and should!) be referenced time and again and the excercises constantly practiced.

Therefore, if you already have a primary source (like I consider Jay's book), why do you need anything else?

Well, I can think of an obvious reason: perhaps this book by Richards goes into more detail about Fiore. Vail's book, which I highly recommend, covers a broad range of sources but does not give page citations or folio citations in the source material. I would not consider it a primary source but an excellent first text for study! I am not sure if Richards footnotes his interpretations.

G. Matthew Webb

Matt: If you're interested in the exact source of any of the material in the book, PEM me and I'll give it to you. Every technique is solidly grounded in one of the major manuals publicly available. You can also find manual illustrations to almost all the core techniques in the Youtube instructional videos I've posted.

I don't have Colin's book, I regret to say. It's one I've meant to buy but haven't gotten around to it -- so many books, so little time and money. But Joel, if this is a subject you're interested in, buy it. The more info you have, the better off you are.