Sevillian Steel is a fake.

[Hermes]

I just returned from Seville where my parents live. While there I thought I would visit the knife store/school described in the book "Sevillian Steel." I wrote to the author, James Loriega, asking him for the address but never got a reply. I then contacted some of this acquaintances who told me he made the whole thing up.

While in Seville I visited the Plaza de Espana described in the book where the school is supposed to be. This is a park. There is no shopping area anywhere near. The Rinconsillo bar he describes them going to after class is on the other side of town. Knowing Spaniards, I can't imagine them braving traffic to go that far for a drink. Both locations are easily found in any tourist guide.

I speak passable spanish and it's my wife's first language. I checked some spanish fencing forums. People who had heard of this book and lived their whole lives in Seville had never heard of this sevillian knife fighting. Their conclusion was that the American made it up to have a world that he was the sole expert of. James Loriega should save his vivid imagination for playing dungeons and dragons.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Yeah, if'n ya want good knife instruction go with Michael Janich, his cred's are sound, he's an excellent teacher and a great American. martialbladeconcepts.com :spyder:

[224477]

Hermes:
I heard simillar stories about Mr. Loriega, from people whom I trust. They asked him to join a knife fighting seminar, but he never replied back, after he found out who is he speaking to. "Those" people were doing the "spanish/basque" way of knife fighting, one of them learned in there.
On the other hand, I have never seen the book, only the cover, but I am not able to buy it. These books are not very common here, anything about knife fighting.

[Lur Kingman]

:spyder: Yeah, if'n ya want good knife instruction go with Michael Janich, his cred's are sound, he's an excellent teacher and a great American. martialbladeconcepts.com :spyder:


Big +1 there!

Great material from a great instructor.

[Hermes]

I like Mike Janich's stuff too. But even he was suckered into giving this Loriega guy the Paladin "Author of the Month" award last year.

Another inconsistency I just noticed, the woman pictured on page 95 (if you have the book) is not dressed anything like a Spaniard. More like a waitress at a local Mexican restaurant.

[Michael Janich]

Dear Hermes:

For the record, Paladin's "Author of the Month" is a feature article, not an award. Nobody "votes" for the featured author; it's a decision made by the Editorial Director of the company. Finally, although I am still a consultant for Paladin, I have not been an employee of the company since June 2004.

I cannot vouch for the authenticity of James Loriega's claims and have only met him a couple of times. However, among the knife trainers I know, he is held in high regard, so there must be some explanation.

Thanks to Michael and Lur for the kind words and the consistent support.

Stay safe,

[argyll]

Can't comment on the authenticity of Sevillian Steel, though if you are interested in historical texts you may be interested in Mr. Loreiga's annotated translation of the Manual of the Baratero (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581604718/103-4812670-9909424?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance) which is available from Paladin.

That said, having had the opportunity to train with James Loreiga, Mike J., and many others, I can vouch for Loreiga's skills as an instructor. I would not hesitate to recommend his classes, and hope to train with him again one day.

Hermes, I've also noted you've posted these same accusations against Mr. Loriega on other forums, and wonder why your first posting in years here at Spyderco would be on this (unrelated) subject?

Best regards,

Argyll