Title: Shimmering Sword: Samurai, Western, & Star Wars Sword Fighting
Author: Nick Jamilla
Publisher: NBK Publishing
Copyright: 2002
Review:
Nick Jamilla could be viewed as a modern Jedi Knight. As a martial artist and fencer, he offers his own unique perspective on the sword fighting styles as portrayed by the Jedi in film. It should be noted that he wrote this book before the release of Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Therefore, he focuses his observations of the Jedi as seen in the original trilogy and Episode I. Jamilla, however, does offer some speculation as to what one might see in the films to be released.
I was not pleased by this book. As one who has helped to proof and edit other works, the number of grammar mistakes proved to be a distraction. However, to his credit Jamilla did state that his work was not meant to be academic. This was made more evident in his dismissal of the “Modern Myth” approach as championed by Joseph Campbell, primarily because “myths seem to paint the world in black and white” when the world of the Lucas’ Jedi is “a vibrant palette.” I agree with Jamilla’s assessment that there is much color. However, myths recognize this complexity; things are not black and white.
Jamilla then spends much time on the history of warfare and weapon usage. He gives accounts of the life of the samurai in Japan, the medieval knights of Europe, the Crusades, etc. I can appreciate the detail he gives for the use of weapons and armor by each of these cultures and how the sword is a reflection of its intended purpose and function. While this was to give a comparative view of sword fighting, only passing references are made to the Jedi and their lightsabers. Rather it was as though the reader was to make their own connections. Moreover, the reader would also have to be well versed in the movies to understand his references. Granted, not all films had been released and therefore not much material could be studied. Perhaps it would have been beneficial for Jamilla to postpone his effort until all films were available.
What Jamilla does well is his examination of the relationship between teacher and student and the general atmosphere of education. Through discipline can one rise above one’s own ego and desires and truly “master” a subject. While many western minds focus on individuality and creativity, Jamilla refers to a statement made by Georgia O’Keefe. She had been asked if discipline hindered her creativity to which she responded that if it couldn’t survive, then it wasn’t creativity in the first place. Too often, people wish to jump to the end result not knowing that there are smaller steps to take to achieve that final destination. When creativity (or passion) and discipline (or dedication) work in concert with one another there is a transformation within and the student as finally embodied the art.
This book is helpful should one want to learn more about “sword culture”. It gives a decent overview of various martial artists and their use of weapons, eastern and western. He rightly states that the moment one can toss his/her lightsaber away, that is when one becomes a Jedi. Jamilla is showing there is a specific “mentality” separate from dress and weapons. Rather, those items are simply extensions of a larger culture. I just wish that Jamilla could have made that the overarching theme as it would have brought more cohesion to his work.
