M Khorasani "Persian Archery and Swordsmanship"
Another potentially interesting book has just been published: M Khorasani "Persian Archery and Swordsmanship".
Judging from the pictures, it is quite comprehensive, while Persian archery is only a part of it.
It would be quite interesting to know if the book is worth its hefty price of over 120 Euros. Should anybody buy it, it would be great if he would share his impressions!
Cheers,
Arry
http://www.moshtaghkhorasani.com/biogra ... smanship/
http://www.moshtaghkhorasani.com/publis ... smanship/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. CODE OF CHIVALRY AND WARRIOR CODEX
1.1 Warrior behavior, ceremony and respect
1.2 The principles of javānmardi and ayyārān
1.3 Preparation and training of warriors
1.4 Physical exercises and training tools in the zurxāne
1.5 Conclusion
2. THE SACRED WEAPON: ARCHERY IN IRAN
2.1 Archery in Iranian history
2.2 Composite bow
2.3 Bow and its typologies
2.4 Arrow
2.5 Thumb protector
2.6 Bowstring
2.7 The quiver and the bow case
2.8 Arrow guide
2.9 Principles of archery
2.10 Target areas for archery
2.11 Persian manuscripts on archery
2.12 Conclusion

3. MOUNTED COMBAT AND HORSE CLASSIFICATION IN PERSIAN MANUSCRIPTS
3.1 Fighting with the lance on horseback
3.2 Fighting with the mace and axe on horseback
3.3 Sword drawing and swordfighting on horseback
3.4 Grabbing, grappling and wrestling techniques on horseback
3.5 Techniques and weapons for attacking a horse or an elephant
3.6 A manuscript on lance combat by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad
Mehdi Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid.
3.7 Using lasso on horseback
3.8 Horse classification in Persian manuscripts
4. COMBAT WITH SPEARS AND LANCES IN IRANIAN HISTORY
4.1 Spears and lances in Iranian history
4.2 Spear/lance and its typologies
4.3 Attack techniques with a lance/spear
4.4 Feinting techniques with a lance/spear
4.5 Defense techniques with a spear/lance
4.6 Combinations of lance/spear techniques
4.7 A manuscript on spear combat by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad
Mehdi Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid
4.8 Spear in combination with the shield
4.9 Conclusion
5. SWORDSMANSHIP
5.1 Carrying, sheathing, and unsheathing the sword
5.2 Carrying the shield
5.3 Attacking techniques
5.4 Feinting Techniques
5.5 Combinations
5.6 Defensive techniques
5.7 Possible combinations of the attack and defense techniques with a ?am?ir
(sword) and a separ (shield) in Persian swordsmanship
5.8 A manuscript on swords by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad Mehdi
Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid (1502-1524 C.E.)
5.9 Conclusion
6. MACES AND AXES IN IRANIAN MARTIAL TRADITION
6.1 Maces in Iranian history
6.2 Mace and its typologies
6.3 Weight and impact force of the mace
6.4 Carrying the mace
6.5 Techniques of mace attacks
6.6 Defensive techniques with a mace
6.7 Combinations of fighting techniques with the mace
6.8 General aspects about the axe
6.9 Techniques of attack with an axe
6.10 Combinations with an axe
6.11 Conclusion
7. COMBAT WITH SHORT EDGED WEAPONS IN IRAN
7.1 Definition of kārd (knife)
7.2 Kārd in Persian manuscripts
7.3 Carrying and unsheathing a knife
7.4 Techniques of attack using a knife
7.5 Combination of techniques in fighting with a knife
7.6 Definition of xanjar
7.7 Xanjar in Persian manuscripts
7.8 Carrying and unsheathing the dagger
7.9 Techniques of attack with a dagger
7.10 Combinations of fighting techniques with the dagger
7.11 Definition of pi?qabz
7.12 Conclusion
8. THE COMBAT WITH SHORT SWORDS: QAME AND QADDĀRE
8.1 Attack techniques with a qaddāre
8.2 Possible combinations with a qaddāre
8.3 Attack techniques with a qame
9. WRESTLING: AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMBAT IN IRAN
9.1 Wrestling in Iranian history
9.2 Techniques of wrestling on the battlefield
9.3 Wrestling manuscript by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad Mehdi
Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid
9.4 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the Safavid period
wrestling manuscript
9.5 The manuscript of the Tumār-e Puryā-ye Vali (Scroll of Puryā-ye Vali)
9.6 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the manuscript
Tumār-e Puryā-ye Vali
9.7 The manuscript Masnavi-ye Golko?ti-ye Mirnejāt
9.8 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the Mirnejāt
manuscript
9.9 Conclusion
10. References
12. Catalog
Judging from the pictures, it is quite comprehensive, while Persian archery is only a part of it.
It would be quite interesting to know if the book is worth its hefty price of over 120 Euros. Should anybody buy it, it would be great if he would share his impressions!
Cheers,
Arry
http://www.moshtaghkhorasani.com/biogra ... smanship/
http://www.moshtaghkhorasani.com/publis ... smanship/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. CODE OF CHIVALRY AND WARRIOR CODEX
1.1 Warrior behavior, ceremony and respect
1.2 The principles of javānmardi and ayyārān
1.3 Preparation and training of warriors
1.4 Physical exercises and training tools in the zurxāne
1.5 Conclusion
2. THE SACRED WEAPON: ARCHERY IN IRAN
2.1 Archery in Iranian history
2.2 Composite bow
2.3 Bow and its typologies
2.4 Arrow
2.5 Thumb protector
2.6 Bowstring
2.7 The quiver and the bow case
2.8 Arrow guide
2.9 Principles of archery
2.10 Target areas for archery
2.11 Persian manuscripts on archery
2.12 Conclusion

3. MOUNTED COMBAT AND HORSE CLASSIFICATION IN PERSIAN MANUSCRIPTS
3.1 Fighting with the lance on horseback
3.2 Fighting with the mace and axe on horseback
3.3 Sword drawing and swordfighting on horseback
3.4 Grabbing, grappling and wrestling techniques on horseback
3.5 Techniques and weapons for attacking a horse or an elephant
3.6 A manuscript on lance combat by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad
Mehdi Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid.
3.7 Using lasso on horseback
3.8 Horse classification in Persian manuscripts
4. COMBAT WITH SPEARS AND LANCES IN IRANIAN HISTORY
4.1 Spears and lances in Iranian history
4.2 Spear/lance and its typologies
4.3 Attack techniques with a lance/spear
4.4 Feinting techniques with a lance/spear
4.5 Defense techniques with a spear/lance
4.6 Combinations of lance/spear techniques
4.7 A manuscript on spear combat by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad
Mehdi Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid
4.8 Spear in combination with the shield
4.9 Conclusion
5. SWORDSMANSHIP
5.1 Carrying, sheathing, and unsheathing the sword
5.2 Carrying the shield
5.3 Attacking techniques
5.4 Feinting Techniques
5.5 Combinations
5.6 Defensive techniques
5.7 Possible combinations of the attack and defense techniques with a ?am?ir
(sword) and a separ (shield) in Persian swordsmanship
5.8 A manuscript on swords by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad Mehdi
Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid (1502-1524 C.E.)
5.9 Conclusion
6. MACES AND AXES IN IRANIAN MARTIAL TRADITION
6.1 Maces in Iranian history
6.2 Mace and its typologies
6.3 Weight and impact force of the mace
6.4 Carrying the mace
6.5 Techniques of mace attacks
6.6 Defensive techniques with a mace
6.7 Combinations of fighting techniques with the mace
6.8 General aspects about the axe
6.9 Techniques of attack with an axe
6.10 Combinations with an axe
6.11 Conclusion
7. COMBAT WITH SHORT EDGED WEAPONS IN IRAN
7.1 Definition of kārd (knife)
7.2 Kārd in Persian manuscripts
7.3 Carrying and unsheathing a knife
7.4 Techniques of attack using a knife
7.5 Combination of techniques in fighting with a knife
7.6 Definition of xanjar
7.7 Xanjar in Persian manuscripts
7.8 Carrying and unsheathing the dagger
7.9 Techniques of attack with a dagger
7.10 Combinations of fighting techniques with the dagger
7.11 Definition of pi?qabz
7.12 Conclusion
8. THE COMBAT WITH SHORT SWORDS: QAME AND QADDĀRE
8.1 Attack techniques with a qaddāre
8.2 Possible combinations with a qaddāre
8.3 Attack techniques with a qame
9. WRESTLING: AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMBAT IN IRAN
9.1 Wrestling in Iranian history
9.2 Techniques of wrestling on the battlefield
9.3 Wrestling manuscript by ?arif Mohammad the son of Ahmad Mehdi
Hosseyni from the period of ?āh Esmā'il Safavid
9.4 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the Safavid period
wrestling manuscript
9.5 The manuscript of the Tumār-e Puryā-ye Vali (Scroll of Puryā-ye Vali)
9.6 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the manuscript
Tumār-e Puryā-ye Vali
9.7 The manuscript Masnavi-ye Golko?ti-ye Mirnejāt
9.8 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the Mirnejāt
manuscript
9.9 Conclusion
10. References
12. Catalog
Having worked with Dr Khorasani on the project, particularly the archery section, I am looking forward to my copy. However, I may be a biased reviewer since I know how much work when into interpreting some of the old manuscripts we worked on.
You introduce some previously untranslated persian manuscripts on archery. Highly recommended.
The book is quite fascinating and it has so many illustrations that you can wear out your eyes. I recommend a chapter at a time because there is so much information you can easily lose track of what you have learned.
The translation of the archery manuscripts is fairly literal, but is full of useful techniques.
The translation of the archery manuscripts is fairly literal, but is full of useful techniques.