When it comes to martial traditions, Dr. Robert Dohrenwend exemplifies a rare breed of scholar-warrior. You will find four chapters in this book devoted to weapons that have had enormous impact on world civilizations: the sling, sai, walking stick, and spear. With the spear and sling, we traverse millennia of human involvement with weapon innovation for hunting and warfare. These represent our primal roots. They are still with us today.

The walking stick is normally seen as a practical device made to assist in walking and hiking. As a weapon, there’s much more to a cane than meets the eye. For civilian self-defense, it is convenient and effective. Many are familiar with the Okinawan sai, but may be unaware that the weapon exists in other geographic areas as well. We have some solid references for the sai, including written and oral records, plus material artifacts.

In each chapter Dr. Dohrenwend utilizes his academic research and practical experience to give the most complete overview of the weapons. This includes not only their history, but other aspects such as their purpose, design, effectiveness, cost of production, and uses in military and civilian settings. There is much to absorb: scientific data and analyses, fighting techniques, stories, and some humor.