Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: An excellent book. The style of writing ensures that you won't put the book down till you have read it in its entirety and when you have done so you will be coming back to look at specific techniques in greater depth. Most of the techniques covered in the book are already lost to us in the present time. We can only marvel at the fact that there were giants in a bygone era. If you serious about the martial arts then you must read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: It's a hoot! Delightful, unabashed horse manure.
Review: Don't get hung up on fact vs. fiction. If you want to know the backstory on this book, read "Martial Musings"(come to think of it, read it even if you don't). I pull this book out whenever I want to relax. I know I sound too much like a beer commercial when I say it's light, fun, and goes down smooth. Smith's writing style ( I've not revealed any secrets here, have I?) is somewhat reminiscent of Mark Twain. He weaves a tale well, peppering his prose with apt quotes and deadly accurate observations. Don't buy this book to learn how to wipe out your neighborhood, buy this book to sit back and smile.
Rating:
Summary: A fun book, a joy to read
Review: Don't get hung up on fact vs. fiction. If you want to know the backstory on this book, read "Martial Musings"(come to think of it, read it even if you don't). I pull this book out whenever I want to relax. I know I sound too much like a beer commercial when I say it's light, fun, and goes down smooth. Smith's writing style ( I've not revealed any secrets here, have I?) is somewhat reminiscent of Mark Twain. He weaves a tale well, peppering his prose with apt quotes and deadly accurate observations. Don't buy this book to learn how to wipe out your neighborhood, buy this book to sit back and smile.
Rating:
Summary: MOSTLY FACTS......SOME FICTION
Review: I originally read this book some 10 years ago. I found it interesting because an art that I began practicing in Korea in 1983 was "Profiled" in the book. I was never really sure of the precise heritage of my art, but Mr.Gilbey`s seems correct. But, with years, I found some of his information to be fictitious.A story that comes to mind is in the final section where he claims a man left a fist impression in a steel stancion! Please....! My original copy of this book was from the 1960`s -the author probably never assumed the world would grow so knoledgeable! Overall a good book.
Rating: 
Summary: A few comments
Review: I wrote a previous review of this book before I had ascertained John F. Gilbey's likely identity. This book (and Gilbey's other two books) purport to be written by a wealthy textile scion who holds an 8th degree black belt in judo and a 5th dan in karate.It seems likely that John Gilbey is really Robert W. Smith, a well-known authority in several arts who most readers here will no doubt recognize. I hadn't made the connection until recently, but I'm pretty sure about it, for two reasons. In "Secret Fighting Arts of the World," Gilbey has a habit of peppering the text with various literary quotes. In Smith's recent book, "Martial Musings," he does the same thing. Moreover, the overall somewhat choppy writing styles are very much the same. He does this to a lesser degree in "Chinese Boxing, Masters and Methods." Not sure why I didn't put this together earlier, but I'm sure other people have already figured this out. Anyway, whether this is the case or not, I've enjoyed these books very much and hope there will be more. One final comment for the unaware. Be sure to take many of the more fantastic claims in this book with a grain of salt. To mention just one of these (which actually occurs in the next book, "The Way of a Warrier," but anyway, it's the best example) Gilbey meets a young exponent of an Icelandic art who claims to use the energy of black holes to put a significant dent in a metal beam in a train station in Rejkyavik. Well, there are no train stations in Iceland and never were. They don't even have any trains to speak of, except for a small-gauge railway that I understand no longer operates. So remember, you've been forewarned!
Rating: 
Summary: Worst book I have ever read
Review: This book is a total waste of paper. I feel sorry for anyone who reads it, and am shocked that people actually found this book useful. It is the worst piece of literature I have ever read in my life. The styles and techniques profiled border on the absurd. I am indeed dumber for having read this piece of garbage. I would reccomend that anyone who thinks about buying this book should just watch Samuri Jack on cartoon network as his style is probably more believable than the laughable techniques "revealed" in this waste of ink.
Rating:
Summary: Worst book I have ever read
Review: This book is a total waste of paper. I feel sorry for anyone who reads it, and am shocked that people actually found this book useful. It is the worst piece of literature I have ever read in my life. The styles and techniques profiled border on the absurd. I am indeed dumber for having read this piece of garbage. I would reccomend that anyone who thinks about buying this book should just watch Samuri Jack on cartoon network as his style is probably more believable than the laughable techniques "revealed" in this waste of ink.
Rating:
Summary: Bizarre, hilarious, and very well written
Review: This book is an entertaining, funny read, not to be taken seriously as some of the reviewers have. Really guys, did you think that the "Ganges groin Thrust" or the "Macedonian Buttock" were for real?
Rating:
Summary: waste of paper
Review: this book was simply a waste of paper.the only good thing about this book is that it addressed some obscure fighting arts.I think that this book was actually written by D.Draeger.I can understand why he decided to go with a different name........
Rating:
Summary: The secret is out, this is a cool book!
Review: This is a really entertaining and easily read book. Regardless of if this is all fact or fiction I have personally bought this book and even own it in hardcover. Funny in it's telling and light hearted in it's text. Recognise familiar fighting tactics that you or a friend may have used or seen, and then relate them to their country of origin. So if you have ever heard of,used or wish to partake of the Liverpool Nutter,the Ganges Groin Gouge, the Canton Corkscrew or one of many more fighting tactics then buy this book. If not for the knowledge then for the entertainment.
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