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The Art of Weapons: Armed and Unarmed Self-Defense
New softcover edition available May 2015 , ISBN 978-1891640797
The 2003 hardcover first-edition is out-of-print. Signed hardcover first-editions still available direct from author, thru Amazon (see "MarcTedeschi" listing under third-party sellers).
----- One in a series of remarkable books that provide an in-depth look at the core concepts and techniques shared by a broad range of martial arts styles. -----This unique work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define armed and unarmed self-defense involving common weapons. More than 1,400 outstanding photographs introduce over 350 practical techniques spanning seven basic classes of weapons--knife, short-stick, staff, cane, rope, common objects, and defense against handguns-the mastery of which provides practitioners with a range of skills that will allow them to wield almost anything as a weapon. Each weapons chapter provides an authoritative overview of important technical principles, tactics, weapon types, grips, stances, and fundamental strikes and blocks, followed by numerous self-defense applications. Introductory chapters cover weapons philosophy, energetic concepts, 106 pressure points, and a visual comparison of different martial arts, making this an invaluable resource for all martial styles.
Expertly written and designed by the author of the 1,136-page Hapkido --widely acclaimed the most comprehensive book ever written on a single martial art--this exceptional work is designed to stand alone, or function as a companion text with the author's other works on martial techniques and anatomy. Regardless of the style you practice, these books will enrich your training, improve your technique, and deepen your understanding of the unique qualities embodied in your own martial art. View sample pages, read book reviews, or get more information at marctedeschi.com -----
The 2003 hardcover first-edition is out-of-print. Signed hardcover first-editions still available direct from author, thru Amazon (see "MarcTedeschi" listing under third-party sellers).
----- One in a series of remarkable books that provide an in-depth look at the core concepts and techniques shared by a broad range of martial arts styles. -----This unique work outlines the essential principles and techniques that define armed and unarmed self-defense involving common weapons. More than 1,400 outstanding photographs introduce over 350 practical techniques spanning seven basic classes of weapons--knife, short-stick, staff, cane, rope, common objects, and defense against handguns-the mastery of which provides practitioners with a range of skills that will allow them to wield almost anything as a weapon. Each weapons chapter provides an authoritative overview of important technical principles, tactics, weapon types, grips, stances, and fundamental strikes and blocks, followed by numerous self-defense applications. Introductory chapters cover weapons philosophy, energetic concepts, 106 pressure points, and a visual comparison of different martial arts, making this an invaluable resource for all martial styles.
Expertly written and designed by the author of the 1,136-page Hapkido --widely acclaimed the most comprehensive book ever written on a single martial art--this exceptional work is designed to stand alone, or function as a companion text with the author's other works on martial techniques and anatomy. Regardless of the style you practice, these books will enrich your training, improve your technique, and deepen your understanding of the unique qualities embodied in your own martial art. View sample pages, read book reviews, or get more information at marctedeschi.com -----
- GenresMartial Arts
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2003
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Marc Tedeschi
58 books10 followersMarc Tedeschi (born 1956) is an American martial arts master, designer, photographer, educator, and writer. He is the author and designer of more than twenty books on the martial arts and Eastern medicine, many of which have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. His works include the acclaimed 1136-page "Hapkido", the 896-page "Taekwondo", "Essential Anatomy for Healing and Martial Arts", and a unique series of general martial arts books that provide an in-depth look at the core concepts and techniques shared by a broad range of martial arts.
Mr. Tedeschi was a 7th degree black belt in Hapkido before founding his own style of Hapkido in 2007. He has studied Eastern philosophy, healing arts, and combatives for more than 50 years, training extensively in Hapkido, Taekwondo, Jujutsu, Judo, and Karate. He holds arts degrees from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Kansas City Art Institute, formerly taught design at the Academy of Art University and the University of San Francisco, and has been a strategic design consultant to major corporations and institutions worldwide. He currently devotes most of his time to writing, teaching, and training, and is working on a broad range of projects related to Asian culture. He also serves as president of Hapkido West, a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the martial ways.
Mr. Tedeschi was a 7th degree black belt in Hapkido before founding his own style of Hapkido in 2007. He has studied Eastern philosophy, healing arts, and combatives for more than 50 years, training extensively in Hapkido, Taekwondo, Jujutsu, Judo, and Karate. He holds arts degrees from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Kansas City Art Institute, formerly taught design at the Academy of Art University and the University of San Francisco, and has been a strategic design consultant to major corporations and institutions worldwide. He currently devotes most of his time to writing, teaching, and training, and is working on a broad range of projects related to Asian culture. He also serves as president of Hapkido West, a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the martial ways.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 26, 2017
Tedeschi's massive magnum opus "Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique was a magnificent overview of the art and systems related to it. Sadly, this book doesn't live up to that standard, and falls short of many other works.
This book presents various martial arts weapons methods taken from Hapkido. He covers the knife, short stick, cane, staff, and rope...with a section on field expedient weapons. There is also a section dealing with defenses against the handgun.
The knife portion of the book deals briefly with employment of the knife, and then digresses into empty hand defenses against the blad. These as shown, like the gun defenses, are tremendously inefficient, needlessly complicated and highly improbable insofar as yielding a measure of success.
Tedeschi and his attacker execute an overhand stab--conveniently--with their arms perfectly outstretched and with a locked elbow (p. 37, 39, 43). Didn't Jim Carrey's "In Living Color" parody of this method of attacking suffice to cure us of this? Apparently not.
An inside crescent against the knife holding hand when receiving a stab to the stomach? (p. 50). Parrying the blade of a knife with a handheld calculator versus smacking the wrist--a six inch adjustment--and achieving the same deflection with a more painful result for the attacker?
One technique has the defender breaking or injuring the attacker's wrist with a ridge hand strike (p. 202). Good luck with that. Maybe somebody can buttress the claim with an anecdote of that guy that got his wrist toasted one day. That should lend validity to the claim...right?
The work espouses some interesting and sound principles, but is also riddled with "gym wisdom"-- martial urban myths that seem to have been passed on by Tedeschi without critical analysis or any hesitation. The most blatant of these is is his espousal of acupuncture point strikes. There is no scientific evidence--none--of the magical energy known as "Ki". In his book on Hapkido I tolerated it as a cultural reference. Here he touts it as something real.
Another example of an unproven claim: On page 52 he describes a common shoulder throw, writing "Both bodies are pressed tightly together, with your shoulder seated deeply in attacker's armpit. As you pull their arm down and raise your hips, their shoulder will LIKELY separate. [capitalization mine]" Really? You'd think that fundamental move would have been banned by sport judo by now. And Brazilian jujitsu. And Greco-Roman wrestling. And Sambo. And shoot wrestling.
A great many of the techniques in the book involve seizing the opponents wrist. If you can find an attacker like Tedeschi's...one willing to target an area two feet in front of your face...this might have greater success.
I could go on, but writing this is making me angry.
Not a good book, overall. A few gems therein, but not worth the price new. Or maybe even used. Borrow it.
This book presents various martial arts weapons methods taken from Hapkido. He covers the knife, short stick, cane, staff, and rope...with a section on field expedient weapons. There is also a section dealing with defenses against the handgun.
The knife portion of the book deals briefly with employment of the knife, and then digresses into empty hand defenses against the blad. These as shown, like the gun defenses, are tremendously inefficient, needlessly complicated and highly improbable insofar as yielding a measure of success.
Tedeschi and his attacker execute an overhand stab--conveniently--with their arms perfectly outstretched and with a locked elbow (p. 37, 39, 43). Didn't Jim Carrey's "In Living Color" parody of this method of attacking suffice to cure us of this? Apparently not.
An inside crescent against the knife holding hand when receiving a stab to the stomach? (p. 50). Parrying the blade of a knife with a handheld calculator versus smacking the wrist--a six inch adjustment--and achieving the same deflection with a more painful result for the attacker?
One technique has the defender breaking or injuring the attacker's wrist with a ridge hand strike (p. 202). Good luck with that. Maybe somebody can buttress the claim with an anecdote of that guy that got his wrist toasted one day. That should lend validity to the claim...right?
The work espouses some interesting and sound principles, but is also riddled with "gym wisdom"-- martial urban myths that seem to have been passed on by Tedeschi without critical analysis or any hesitation. The most blatant of these is is his espousal of acupuncture point strikes. There is no scientific evidence--none--of the magical energy known as "Ki". In his book on Hapkido I tolerated it as a cultural reference. Here he touts it as something real.
Another example of an unproven claim: On page 52 he describes a common shoulder throw, writing "Both bodies are pressed tightly together, with your shoulder seated deeply in attacker's armpit. As you pull their arm down and raise your hips, their shoulder will LIKELY separate. [capitalization mine]" Really? You'd think that fundamental move would have been banned by sport judo by now. And Brazilian jujitsu. And Greco-Roman wrestling. And Sambo. And shoot wrestling.
A great many of the techniques in the book involve seizing the opponents wrist. If you can find an attacker like Tedeschi's...one willing to target an area two feet in front of your face...this might have greater success.
I could go on, but writing this is making me angry.
Not a good book, overall. A few gems therein, but not worth the price new. Or maybe even used. Borrow it.
July 7, 2008
flippin sweet moves lol
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews