Patriotism is a powerful force that compels men and women to give full support to their government in time of war. But patriotism and loyalty are largely based on the belief that one has a personal stake in the outcome. This brief study, which examines men and women who made war their prime call of duty for real or perceived patriotic reasons, contains the introduction and first chapter of the full analysis of war volunteering titled, For God, Gold, and Glory: A History of Military Service and Man's Search for Power, Wealth and Adventure (also by Martina Sprague), which sheds light on those...

The Knife Training Methods and Techniques for Martial Artists series gives the martial arts interested person a solid background on the importance of the knife as a combat weapon, inspires the reader about the benefits of knife training, and provides detailed instruction in how to manipulate and defend against a knife with speed, proficiency, and confidence. Almost any martial art, traditional or modern, can be adapted to knife offense and defense without changing the basic principles of the art. Since the knife is a relatively small and lightweight weapon, many of the moves and movement...

This book examines the history of edged weapons in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East and surrounding areas before gunpowder increased the distance between combatants. It takes a critical look at the relationship between the soldier, his weapon, and the social and political mores of the times; examines the historical background and metallurgic science of the knife, sword, or bayonet respectively; and explores the handling characteristics and combat applications of each weapon. The book is written for those with an interest in exploring the historical beginnings of edged...

Democratic socialism is a branch of politics that is built on certain core values, the first of which is the development of a society that openly embraces equality and social justice through powerful action. But the pendulum's swing between Utopia and the apocalypse has always been short, and every belief in a predestined future is dangerous. To retain vitality, a democratic nation must constantly press the frontier forward, and the first responsibility of a political leader is a desire to listen to the voices of the masses. In light of the fiery political debates since President Barack Obama...

If you are looking for an instructional manual full of step-by-step illustrations for learning Japanese and European swordsmanship, do not buy this book This book does not tell you everything you need to know about specific techniques and does not contain hundreds of pictures detailing each step involved in attacking and defending with the sword. Nor is it a suitable reference manual for arms collectors. Like my previous books on edged weaponry, the focus is critical thinking through historical analysis. Our purpose is to pit a samurai against a medieval knight to determine who proved to be...

Now that you are ready to embark on the kickboxer's long and arduous journey, it should come as no surprise that the first thing you must learn is how to survive by combining offense and defense with balance and the right mental attitude. A good fighting stance allows your feet, torso, arms, and head to work in unison, so that you can throw your techniques with minimum effort and without fear of losing balance. To appreciate a good stance, we must understand the inherently weak areas of the human body. Movement is always used to avoid an attack or position for a counterattack. The fighter who...