In this tour-de-force examination of Persian martial culture, Dr. Mostagh Khorasani, award-winning author of The first book of its kind, Persian Archery and Swordsmanship: Historical Martial Arts of Iran is an expansive reference manual on the history, culture and application of Persian martial. As one of the world's most ancient cultures, Persian history, language and culture has been constantly influenced by its martial heritage.

A unique martial culture has permeated the art, archaeology, literature, physical culture and national outlook of Iran from its bronze age roots to the turn of the last century, and survives today in the continuing popularity of hero-tales and wrestling, the Iranian national sport. However, research into the martial arts of the Persina world has, until now, demanded an intimate familiarity with a vast range of diverse materials that deal with the subject either directly or indirectly, including direct access to rare manuscripts, manuals, arms and armor that can only be found in Iranian museums itself. With this book, that situation has now changed.

Persian Archery and Swordsmanship: Historical Martial Artsof Iran presents in clearly tabulated descriptions, accompanied by photographic depictions as well as depictions in antique miniature illustrations of combat techniques on horseback and on foot, both armed with traditional Iranian weapons and unarmed. Beginning with an analysis of the Persian "code of chivalry and warrior codex", which extends back to the ancient world, Dr. Khorasani has made an extensive cross-analysis of Iranian epic literature, artwork, arms and armour, folk traditions and living martial arts and then compared them with the technical instructions provided by a series of surviving manuscripts on archery, wrestling, spear work, swordsmanship and mounted combat - many of which he as translated into English and included in this book.

Featuring over 2000 black and white photographs and 103 miniatures throughout the text, the author has included a  full-color appendix including a selection of miniatures depicting different war scenes from a number of Persian manuscripts, and an extensive catalog of nearly 200 photographs of Persian arms and armor, complete with detailed descriptions and measurements. 

Both a book designed to stand up to the highest standards of academic scrutiny, provide a thorough overview for the general reader, or a diverse introduction to further research for serious enthusiasts, Dr. Khorasani has produced a unique combination of archaeological, ethnographic and practical martial arts reconstruction, unlike anything that has come before, opening a window into the world of the Persian warrior to English-language audiences for the first time.

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 thezurxāne                      
            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 Šarif Mohammad the son of Ahmad
            Mehdi Hosseyni from the period of Šāh 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 Šarif Mohammad the son of Ahmad
            Mehdi Hosseyni from the period of Šāh 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 šamšir
            (sword) and a separ (shield) in Persian swordsmanship                      
            5.8 A manuscript on swords by Šarif Mohammad the son of Ahmad Mehdi
            Hosseyni from the period of Šāh 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 pišqabz
            7.12 Conclusion
 
8. 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 Šarif Mohammad the son of Ahmad Mehdi
             Hosseyni from the period of Šāh 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 Golkošti-ye Mirnejāt
            9.8 A comparative analysis of the techniques mentioned in the Mirnejāt
             manuscript
            9.9 Conclusion
10. References
11. Catalog