The Chinese Straight Sword, or Jian, is perhaps the weapon that represents Chinese swordsmanship the most. Rarely seen nowadays in Chinese martial arts is the p

This unique history of Japanese armed martial arts--the only comprehensive treatment of the subject in English--focuses on traditions of swordsmanship and arche

The history of China is a history of warfare. Rarely in its 3,000-year existence has the country not been beset by war, rebellion, or raids. Warfare was a prima

In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practised for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they w