The Fighting Tomahawk: An Illustrated Guide to Using the Tomahawk and Long Knife as Weapons by Dwight C. McLemore
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Book Reviews of The Fighting Tomahawk: An Illustrated Guide to Using the Tomahawk and Long Knife as Weapons
Book Review: An Excellently Researched Work
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book. The techniques within are understandable to someone completely inexperienced with the weapon, yet still challenging and resourceful to someone who has worked with it a great deal. Mr. McLemore's research is admirable. I have studied various styles of historic combat as my cognate studies for my PhD, and can attest to the lack of written information with regard to these weapons.
I have done a great deal of study in military sabre, which is referred to numerous times in this book. Mr. McLemore's references to it are spot on, and to adapt the tomahawk moulinets and angles of attack to those used in sabre seems to me to be the most plausible way to approach this weapon.
Mr. McLemore brings forth many historical points in this book. Having done a great deal of research in these areas myself, I do not find any inconsistencies or blatant errors in his facts. He also is very clear that some points he brings up are educated guesses, as there exists no actual documentation. This is good scholarship. In historic combat, there will always be instances where there is no documentation for our theories. This is where we apply our study of combat theory, and the weapon itself to fill in the holes. So long as we acknowledge to our readers that we are hypothesizing, there is nothing wrong with this type of research. This is what Mr. McLemore does in these instances, and I could not possibly argue with his findings.
This book is extremely valuable for the reader interested in becoming proficient in this weapon. I would encourage all students of martial arts to read it, especially those students of Filipino Martial Arts. Similarities to Kali do exist, however, the axe head alone gives a dynamic that is missing from Kali, and it is always interesting to see how two styles of fighting, such as Tomahawk and Kali, or even Katana and Longsword, can be so similar in their concepts even though there is no evidence of one influencing the other during the period of their inception.
Book Review: Historically Accurate, Tactically Sound
Summary: 5 Stars
The Fighting Tomahawk should be required reading for every Western martial arts exponent. Whether your field of interest lies in traditional European combat disciplines or the indigenous methods that evolved on the American frontier, Dwight McLemore's latest work will serve as a standard reference for the mechanics and dynamics of using axes, maces, hatchets, and, of course, tomahawks.
The first section of Fighting Tomahawk defines and describes the basic techniques for using the tomahawk, then proceeds to illustrate the application of these techniques offensively and defensively.
The book's next section, a bonus actually, provides the reader with comprehensive instruction in the use of the long knife (precursor of the Bowie knife.) The history and fundamentals of this second weapon are also described in exhaustive detail.
The book's final section then blends the use of both weapons in a series of cohesive drills and exercises that teach the reader to effectively wield the tomahawk and long knife in a synergistic manner.
This reviewer had a unique opportunity to examine the book while it was still in manuscript form. At the time, I couldn't wait to see the finished publication. Months later, when the actual book was finally released, it far exceeded what I'd originally been shown. My point here is that Dwight McLemore is a diligent, painstaking historian who not only researches his material thoroughly, but also field tests his discoveries before making them available to western arts exponents. In essence, the book is historically accurate as well as tactically sound.
Will you actually learn from this book? The short answer is that EVERY European and American martial arts instructor who attended the 2004 International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Conference (ISMAC)in Lansing, Michigan lined up to receive training in Mr. McLemore tomahawk and long knife system. Certainly they found unquestionable merit in the author's book and the art it represents.
Book Review: The Most In-Depth Book of its Kind
Summary: 5 Stars
With the numerous books on the market concerned with tomahawk work, Mr. McLemore goes the extra step in producing a work that not only is a fun read, but extremely informative, avoiding technical jargon and getting right to the grit. The book is written in such a way that you can get through it in a matter of hours, but can also use each individual chapter as a separate area of study. Each chapter, from the most basic work concerning grips, stances and guards, through to circular catches, interceptions and two hand work contains detailed drawings, footwork charts and daily drills to help perfect each technique.
For those who may argue upon the grounds of historical texts, or the lack thereof, the book plainly states that the author has gone back to original sources, first-hand accounts of personal combat and builds upon the techniques of western Europe and their influence and integration into the fighting arts of early Americans and Native Americans as well. When he has deviated from the historical into supposition and / or extrapolation, Mr. McLemore is quite able to back up his theories.
I was fortunate enough to have been able to train briefly with Mr. McLemore at the Internation Swordsmanship and Martial Arts Convention in Lansing, Michigan this year, and the application of his text to full combat is very easy. The basics can be laid down in under 90 minutes and easily honed with the help of the training sections.
Both the modern fighter and the Historical Reenactor will find great value in this book
Gareth Thomas
Director
Historical Maritime Combat Assoc.
Book Review: An amazing book, well researched and well done!!
Summary: 5 Stars
In this book, just as in his earlier title, "Bowie and Big knife fighting", author Dwight McLemore once again presents a well researched work examining the fighting arts of early America. It is clear that Mr. McLemore has done his homework on this one - presenting a realistic, effective, and no-nonsense approach to how the tomahawk was most likely used in early America.
I have seen and heard comments about the techniques in the book being based on Fillipino martial arts, but here is where the true history come through - the techniques are actually based on the older, western fighitng arts. The angles of attack, flourishing patterns, etc. are all clearly taken from teh early western fighitng arts, which definately pre-date similar techniques from Filipino martial arts (and in fact, evidence suggest that many of the Filipino arts were developed from Spanish sword arts).
Mr. McLemore even examines techniques for carrying and drawing the tomahawk, adding to the realistic approach he takes with the weapon.
Add to this the beautful illustrations, again clearly reminiscent of those early, classical western fighting manuals, and you have an amazingly thorough and well thought out book.
Having degrees in early American history as well as several years of studying martial arts, both Western and Eastern, I can say that this is a book that is long overdue, and highly recommend it to reenactors, martial artists, and historians alike.
Steven Huff,
Director - Historical Martial Study Society
Book Review: The Fighting Tomahawk is a must have reference for anyone who carries a tomahawk!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have played around with tomahawks and fighting axes since I was a kid, but was never able to find a good reference for use of the tomahawk in combat until now. Dwight McLemore's "The Fighting Tomahawk" stands out as an essential reference for all students of Western martial arts and American blade arts.
The Fighting Tomahawk teaches the basics of the tomahawk as well as both the offensive and the defensive use of this unique weapon. In addition Dwight McLemore offers the reader an excellent introduction to using the long-knife in the reverse grip and in conjunction with the tomahawk.
Finally we are given a look a throwing the tomahawk. The tomahawk makes an effective throwing weapon, even if it doesn't stick. As Mr. McLemore points out "in tactical throwing the focus is on hitting the target and basically knocking the hell out of the opponent."
The tomahawk is a weapon that has been carried by soldiers since the Revolutionary War, is carried by woodsmen and others even today. "The Fighting Tomahawk" will teach those who carry this weapon how to effectively use it. Detailed text and numerous illustrations throughout make this book a foundation course in tomahawk fighting.
The Fighting Tomahawk is a must have reference for anyone who carries a tomahawk and for everyone who might like to add this unique weapon to his personal arsenal and martial skills set.