This book reprints the knife fighting lessons presented by John Styers in his book Cold Steel with original commentary on the material from four current day knife instructors.

The martial arts have long been shrouded in mystery, with fanciful stories of their pasts. They have been the subject of much dissent among those who examine their effectiveness in our modern era. The truth is that regardless of their histories or places of origin, every martial art is nothing more than a model for how to prepare for and engage in a fight, whether that fight takes place on the battlefield, the ring, or the inner-city streets. Solving the Enigma will guide you through this cloud of mystery to discover the reality behind the martial arts. You will learn a process for evaluating each and every martial art to determine its purpose of origin, the motivation behind it, and the mechanics that drive it. You will discover the strengths and weaknesses of your own art and how to integrate essential elements from other arts to fill the voids.