This self-published volume represents the essence of 30 years of hands-on training, covering technique, strategy, and tactics in detail, as well as more aspects of equipment maintenance than I've ever seen compiled in one place.

The compound illustrations are well suited to demonstrate complex movements in all their phases. And his brief and concise summaries of "What can go wrong" that follows each section are as useful to the beginner as they are to instructors. (I recognized the one or other personal bad habit myself...) Volkmann's medical background comes in handy explaining the physiological and biomechanical intricacies of fencing without ever falling into jargon.

The Magnum Libre is a product of private initiative and dedication to the sport. To achieve this high level of quality on an amateur level (in the best and original sense of the word) makes me very optimistic about the future of amateur fencing in the United States.

It mops the floor with Beck's recent titles and beats most other technical fencing manuals hands down. Just for posterity's sake, I hope a future edition of the book will come out in a more permanent format than the current GBC binding.