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Contents at
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Also by Dr. Haha Luag
The Ancient Art ofAssassination

4,
The Black Science: Ancient and Modem Techniques ofNinja Mind
42
Manipulation (with Christopher B. Prowant)
Knights of Darkness: Secrets of the World's Deadliest Night Fighters
#g
Shadowhand: The History and Secrets of Ninja Taisavaki
(with Christopher B. Prowant)
" - -
Introduction 1
CITADEL PRESS BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp. Part One

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New York, NY 10022
Chapter One: The Brotherhood of the Blood-Lickers 7
Copyright © 1997 Dr. Haha Lung Chapter Two: Grand Masters and Grand Schemes 23
Chapter Three: Ploys and Power Plays 33
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or
by any means without the prior written consent ofthe publisher, excepting Chapter Four: The Evolution of the Assassins: From 47
briefquotes used in reviews. Freebooters and Freemasons to Modern-Day Terrorists
Previously published by Paladin Press
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attn: Special Sales Department, phone 1-800-221-2647. Strategy 89
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Chapter Eleven: Janna Self-Defense Awareness 139
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Chapter Twelve: The Old Ways 171
Printed in the United States of America
Cataloging data may be obtained from the Library of Congress

Glossary 181
Bibliography
ISBN 0-8065-2620-3
DISCLAIMER
Opinions expressed in this book are those of the author. At no

time does this book advocate the use of violence against the peace
ful practitioners of any religion. This book is for use as a historical Timeline
reference and for understanding defensive techniques against attack
ers. The author, publisher, and distributors of this book are not
responsible for the use or misuse of any information or techniques
described in this book, and penalties for the illegal use or misuse of
any of the information or techniques discussed herein may be pun
ishable under the law. This book is for academic study only.
A NOTE ON SPELLING
This text contains many words translated from Arabic. To

insure that the reader is not burdened by different translations of
the same word (Mohammad and Mohamet, Koran and Quran, So that the reader is not overwhelmed with dates, places, and
Muslim and Moslem), a glossary appears at the end of the book. events, I have encapsulated the critical events in the history
The term "Assassin" in this book is uppercased because it is revolving around the Order of Assassins. Starting 3,000 years
used as a proper noun, i.e., "The Assassin [a member of the Order before Christ appeared and running all the way to 1492, I point
of Assassins] killed the emir with a poisoned dagger." Unless the out the events you should be familiar with, but I also overlap this
term is used to refer to a killer who was or is not linked to the timeline by 400 years with more detailed text so that you see in
Order of Assassins, it is uppercased. detail what happened between Hasan ibn Sabbah's appearance on
The term "Templars," i.e., Knights Templars, appears plural, the scene in the 11th century and the Muslim's ejection from the
but this is not the case. The term has an unusual spelling that Iberian Peninsula.
makes it appear plural. Even a single member of this organization
is correctly called a Templars. • ••••
3000 b.c.e.
Great Flood destroys Ka'Ba.
570 c.e.
Mohammed the prophet born in Mecca.
605 c.e.
Ka'Ba shrine rebuilt.
622 c.e.
Mohammed flees Mecca for Medina; Islamic era begins.
VI
Timeline
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins
1070 c.e.
632 c.e.
Mohammed dies; Abu Bakr appointed first Caliph. Hasan ibn Sabbah born in Persia.
1090 c.e.
634 c.e.
Abu Bakr dies; Omar appointed second Caliph. Hasan prepared for battle with Order of Assassins.
1092 c.e.
644 c.e.
Omar murdered by Persian slave; Othmann appointed third Grand Vizier Nizam al-Mulk assassinated with a poisoned
Caliph. Shiite sect recognized with Ali as leader; Shiites chal- knife blade by a "holy man" in Turkey.
lenge Othmann.
1095 c.e.
Crusades begin.
656 c.e.
Othmann murdered; Ali declared Caliph.
1123 c.e.
Grand Lodge destroyed by invading Turks.
657 c.e.
Shiites and Sunnis clash at Siffin.
1171 e.e.
Saladin conquers Fatimid Dynasty.
661 c.e.
Ali murdered in mosque at Karabala; Muawiya declared
Caliph; Umayyad Dynasty begins; Ali's first son (Hassan) dies, 1260 e.e.
believed poisoned by Muawiya supporters. Rukn ad-Din Baibars leads revolt of Mamelukes·,
Mameluke Dynasty begins.
680 c.e.
Hussain, Ali's second son, slain by governor of Kufa's forces; 1492 e.e.
Hussain's head sent to Yazid. Muslims ejected from Iberian Peninsula.
732 c.e.
Muslims defeated by French army under Karl Martel at
Battle of Tours.
750 c.e.
Abbasid Dynasty succeeds Umayyad Dynasty.
969 c.e.
Ismaili Shiites conquer Egypt and
establish Fatimid Dynasty.
1004 c.e.
Dar-ul-Hikmat ("Grand Lodge") established in Cairo.
VIII
- ---
-·
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-
~ ~~~
Acknowledgments
g2,
• __ : .r ~
,21mu
.. A
" • #
Thanks to Peter Gilbert, Lenox Cramer, Frank "Black Mantis"

Brown, and the Warriors of the Zendokan: James L. Shifferly,
Melvin Zickefoose Jr., and Marcus Woods.
Special thanks to Sufi Abdullah Hakiem Zarief (aka Roger
Coleman) and to "B.N.", the little Muslim afraid for his name to
appear here.
XI
DISCLAIMER
Opinions expressed in this book are those of the author. At no

time does this book advocate the use of violence against the peace
ful practitioners of any religion. This book is for use as a historical Timeline
reference and for understanding defensive techniques against attack
ers. The author, publisher, and distributors of this book are not
responsible for the use or misuse of any information or techniques
described in this book, and penalties for the illegal use or misuse of
any of the information or techniques discussed herein may be pun
ishable under the law. This book is for academic study only.
A NOTE ON SPELLING
This text contains many words translated from Arabic. To

insure that the reader is not burdened by different translations of
the same word (Mohammad and Mohamet, Koran and Quran, So that the reader is not overwhelmed with dates, places, and
Muslim and Moslem), a glossary appears at the end of the book. events, I have encapsulated the critical events in the history
The term "Assassin" in this book is uppercased because it is revolving around the Order of Assassins. Starting 3,000 years
used as a proper noun, i.e., "The Assassin [a member of the Order before Christ appeared and running all the way to 1492, I point
of Assassins] killed the emir with a poisoned dagger." Unless the out the events you should be familiar with, but I also overlap this
term is used to refer to a killer who was or is not linked to the timeline by 400 years with more detailed text so that you see in
Order of Assassins, it is uppercased. detail what happened between Hasan ibn Sabbah's appearance on
The term "Templars," i.e., Knights Templars, appears plural, the scene in the 11th century and the Muslim's ejection from the
but this is not the case. The term has an unusual spelling that Iberian Peninsula.
makes it appear plural. Even a single member of this organization
is correctly called a Templars. • ••••
3000 b.c.e.
Great Flood destroys Ka'Ba.
570 c.e.
Mohammed the prophet born in Mecca.
605 c.e.
Ka'Ba shrine rebuilt.
622 c.e.
Mohammed flees Mecca for Medina; Islamic era begins.
VI
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Celt of the Assassins Introduction
hire. Yet long before Dante took quill in hand, the existence of a meant immeditate transmission to Heaven? Or was wealth and
secretive brotherhood of ruthless killers-shape-shifting half-man, earthly power their only motivation? How was it that their influ
half-jinn demons that no latch could lock out, no bodyguard pro ence spread both East and West, spawning deadly secret societies
tect against-was whispered about at many an oasis, in mosques, in Europe, influencing Far Eastern killer-cadres such as the
and behind barred doors from Cairo to Istanbul. Yes, Middle dreaded Thuggee stranglers of India and the ninja killers of
Eastern kings and princes had long known what European princes Japan? Is it true these dark-cloaked medieval Assassins originat
and knights adventuring into the Holy Land would soon come to ed (or at least refined to high art) techniques of terror and slaugh
know and fear. Waking to find a dagger buried in their pillow, ter still practiced today by dozens of killer cults and cadres, many
Middle Eastern potentates, diplomats, and generals were quick to of whom take pride in tracing their lethal lineage back to these
recognize the unsoiled blade for the clear message it was: A friend medieval killers?
ly request from the "Old Man of the Mountain"-master Assassin We know without a doubt the myth of the Assassins spread to
Hasan ibn Sabbah-to curb an unpopular policy; an invitation to Europe and beyond. What about their murderous madness? It is
quietly resign from office; an order to break off a pogrom against said they are responsible for importing miraculous cures and the
a particular tribe or village favored by the Assassin grand master. deadliest of poisons into Europe. Is this truth or mere metaphor? Is
Soon enough, the armored invaders from Europe would learn. it true they worshipped the severed head of a long-forgotten pre
Fearless when facing sunlit scimitars on bright battlefields of Islamic god, and did they spread his killer cult to Europe? Is it true
glory, ready to lay down their lives at a moment's notice for lord they seduced whole orders of Christian knights into forbidden sex
and crown, even the bravest of European knights quickly learned ual practices, drugs, and even human sacrifice?
to quake at the thought of an Assassin's poisoned cup that no man They have been credited on the one hand as the founders of
could guard against; the silent strangler's cord dropped by an the mysterious but benevolent fellowships of Knights Templars,
Assassin from above, and the unseen Assassin's dirk striking from Freemasonry, and Rosecrucianism. On the other bloody hand, the
the shadows. Order of Assassins has been cursed as the inspiration for a pletho
You can't fight what you can't see. ra of deadly secret societies and fanatical religious and political
This was the lesson European crusaders learned the hard way, organizations both East and West since the Middle Ages. The cult
which is the same lesson those of us in the West today are having has been cited as creators of the magician's staples of the "levitat
to relearn in the face of Middle Eastern terrorism. ing body," Houdini's "metamorphosis," and sawing-the-woman-in
But today we have advantages those first crusaders didn't. two illusions that, in the hands of the assassins, were harnessed to
First, we know the beast's name: Assassin! We know how he goals far more sinister than mere entertainment. What masterful
prefers striking from the shadows, from behind, when and where combination of magical illusion, psychology, theatrics, and martial
least expected. Second, we can unearth his history, his past moti arts did the elusive grand masters of this cult of killers use to con
vations, methods, and murders in order to better predict his future trol disciples and terrorize enemies? Did their seemingly miracu
attacks. Finally, we can study and master his manipulative tricks lous mental powers and unstoppable fighting prowess really flow
and killing techniques to, when necessary, fight fire with fire by from their addiction to the capricious "perfume of Heaven,"
turning his techniques of terror against him. hashish? Or, as many still believe, did the Assassin grand master
By studying these first of the genuine Assassins-those credit- possess real magical powers? Is it true they could predict the
ed with inventing myriad techniques of terror still in use today moment of a man's death by reading his stars; that they possessed
we can more easily protect ourselves and our loved ones against the power to shape-shift into animal forms; that they had mastered
today's assassins. the secret of the flying carpet; and that, before the collapse of their
What moved and motivated this cadre of killers? Were they cult, they hid the cypher for this forbidden knowledge within the
truly religious fanatics fed on the promise that death in battle arcane symbolism of occult tarot cards?
2 3
2
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins
More important still, is the Order of Assassins dead, or do their

shadow-sons still lurk in the comforting dark, their poison-dipped
daggers drawn and poised?
A word of warning is in order before we once more invade the
East with crusader zeal, before we ask questions perhaps better
left unasked. We must beware, thinking long and hard, before jerk
ing aside the seven veils that obscure the Assassin's murderous
world of smoke and mirrors-smoke no blade can cut, darkened
mirrors designed to reflect back our own fear! PART ONE
Before taking that first irreversible step, we must steel our will
and prepare our mind to accept uncomfortable answer, lest, like so
many unfortunates in the past, we awake one morning to a bed
drenched in cold sweat, a darkly jeweled dagger buried in the pil
low beside our head: a friendly reminder that we shouldn't ask
questions we aren't fully prepared to pay the price for.
That is, if we wake up at all.
4
The Brotherhood
of the Blood-Lickers
"Assassins. One never knew when they would strike, and

there was nothing that could be done to scare them off.
Indeed, when captured they went to their deaths eagerly,
joyfully. How can one deal with men who do not fear
death? What was the power the Old Man of the Mountain
had over his followers that they obeyed his every wish
without consideration of their own lives?"
-Barry Sadler,
Casca #13: The Assassin
STRATEGY AND STRONGHOLDS
The short version is this: In the late 11th century, Hasan ibn
Sabbah, forced from his studies in Cairo, returned to his home in
southern Persia, acquired a mountain fortress by hook or by crook,
and created a cult of killers who terrorized the Middle East for cen
turies to come.
Strategy
Though dominated by Sunnis over a period of three cen
turies, Ismailis in Persia succeeded in establishing small semi
autonomous enclaves in the Khuzistan region (north of the
Arabian Sea, northeast of the Persian Gulf). Disappointed by
the lack of enthusiasm shown for his ideas by the Ismaili lead-
7
The Brotherhood of the Blood-Lickers
•
ership, Hasan was nonetheless determined to go forward with most interesting version sounds more like the sort of skullduggery
Hasan was noted for: After Hasan saved the governor of the
his plans. Alamut region from an assassin {a killer Hasan himself had sent)
Lacking both the wealth and well-equipped army he needed to
wrest control of the Ismaili enclaves, Hasan set out to create a sect the governor insisted Hasan accept a reward. Hasan humbl
all his own, one consisting of a small, specially trained and trusted responded that all he wanted was that portion of the governor's
inner circle, insulated by a larger outer circle of general members lands that could be encircled by Hasan 's green cloak. The gover
nor quickly agreed.
whose job it was to give supply and succor to the inner circle elite.
Having established this support network, Hasan set about tak The next day the governor awoke to discover that Hasan had
ing over the existing Ismaili infrastructure. Over a period of years, unraveled his cloak and, tieing the threads together, had encircled
Hasan 's agents infiltrated not just the lsmaili leadership, but also the whole of Castle Alamut! Chagrined, but not wanting to look the
the retinues of enemy potentates and notables, gathering intelli fool, the governor kept his part of the bargain.
gence, sowing distrust, waiting for the signal from the grand mas Whichever story is true, by 1090 Hasan and his followers had
ter to strike. Secret converts were made, shallow graves were dug. taken control of Castle Alamut. After obtaining the castle, Hasan
One by one, one way or another, opponents disappeared. and his followers then set about subverting and converting the
While a complex thinker, Hasan' s overall strategy was simple: region's populace. Through a masterful blend of proselytising, sub
All problems can be solved either through education or assassina terfuge, and force, Hasan's dai (agents) soon gained control of the
tion. Opponents refusing to participate were treated to a fatal dose towns and other fortresses in the area.
Safe in his eagle's nest at Alamut, it is estimated that Hasan
of the latter.
Quietly, patiently, Hasan extended his reach, applying this had 70,000 of his followers strategically placed throughout the
Middle East by 1092. Most important of these were agents sent to
"education or assassination" for-mula.
establish a Syrian branch of the Assassins in Aleppo. More on this
Strongholds influential Aleppine Assassin branch later.
"Mystic masters who perform satanic feats often retreat to The Cult and the Craft
such places where devils most often reside." Like the Grand Lodge of Cairo, Hasan's organization had both
an overt cult message taught to the general membership, and a
-Ibn Taymeeyah covert craft of subterfuge, intrigue, and murder taught to the elite.
as translated by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
The Cult
Hasan needed a training camp where he could train and tem The main body of Hasan's overt teachings were derived from
per the faithful. He chose the near impregnable, centuries old the Nizari splinter of the Ismaili branch of the Shiite split of the
Islamic tree. The Nizari had their origin in yet another succession
Castle Alamut.
Set high on a 600-foot cliff in the remote Alamut River valley dispute within the Shiite community, which Hasan was able to
in the Elburz Mountains, Castle Alamut could be reached only by take advantage of. Hasan freely incorporated teachings and rituals
almost perpendicular steps crudely hacked out of rock. How Hasan from traditions and religions other than orthodox Islam not the
acquired this castle is subject to debate. The simplest version is tha least of which was the Ismailis' convoluted history: '
tHasan and his followers spent months secretly infiltrating the
imposing castle and slowly converting the castle guards. Other ver "At this time Ismailism had existed for over three cen
sions have Hasan bribing the lord of the castle with 3000 gold turies and represented a broad spectrum of the discon
dinars, threatening him, and making him a secret convert. The tented anti-Arab natives, oppressed peasants, dissatisfied
8 9
artisans, devout Muslims resenting the secularism and chance to be one of "the chosen few," a chance to punish their
corruption of the age, and the believers in the millenni PPF©ssors and dispense justice, the removal of individual respon
um. It was at one and the same time a Shiite sect com sibility, freedom to do taboo things, and told that "secret" know!
bining Islamic and pre-Islamic Greek, Persian, Syrian, edge and powers would be revealed to the faithful. Hasan was
and Babylonian concepts; an Alid [followers of All] secret aided in his recruitment by the still widespread pre-islamic beliefs
society dedicated to the overthrow of the Sunnite in magic and demons.
Abbasids; and a revolutionary social movement pledged
to improve the lot of the depressed. Nor did it limit itself MAGIC
to Muslims. Tending toward inter-confessionalism, it
appealed to Jews, Christians, and Zarathustrans. Within The Muslim belief in magic has wavered little since the time
the Abbasid Khalifate its missionary activities were per- of Muhammed. One modern authority on Islamic beliefs defines
magic
•
as:
force clandestine."
-Franzius ". . . any phenomenon that has invisible causes or that is
seen or imagined differently from its reality, due to dis
guise or trickery. Other scholars define magic more nar
As a result:
rowly as the art of producing in nature, with the help of
"[Hasan's cult] was a compound of Magianism, Judaism, demons, things beyond the power of men. In fact, there are
Christianity and Mohammedanism." many types of magic, some are all illusions and trickery,
others are real and occur with the help of the devil."
-Latham
-al-Jumah
Like his alma mater, the Grand Lodge at Cairo, Hasan's cult
offered nine levels (degrees) of knowledge, beginning with overt . So widespread was the practice of magic (the use of spells,
orthodox Islamic teachings and through deepening levels leading talismans, and charms, etc.) in the early days of Islam that
toward a transcendence of all religion and reason other than the Muslim leaders passed edicts and conducted wi tch hunts against
word of the grand master himself. At each level, the Assassin ini such practices:
tiate drifted further away from orthodox Ismaili doctrine and more
into cult worship of Imam Hasan. By the fifth degree, initiates had "Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the second Khalifah, ordered his
rejected any literal interpretation of the Quran and relied instead governors to kill any magician in the Muslim territory, as
on the grand master's esoteric interpretations. At this level, initi they were considered disbelievers and harmful . . . For
ates were also introduced to the pseudo-sciences of astrology, these reasons, sorcery was rarely practiced in the first
numerology, and various other occult practices. Level six initiates centuries of Islam, but as the Muslim (union] became
abandoned all overt Muslim observances (prayer, fasting, etc.) and weaker, and as deviations and sins became a common fea
entered the rankings of dai. Accepted agents then received special ture of the Muslim communities, the practice of magic
ized training as field agents (propagandists, spies, assassins). reappeared again."
Ninth degree initiates were inducted into the inner circle of the
cult which was also known as the Red Circle or the Red Mosque. -al-Jumah
Hasan and this Inner Circle used all the hooks that cultists
f
have always used to attract converts. Recruits were promised the In order to exploit this widespread belief in magic, Hasan
10 11
ASSASSINL: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins The Brotherhood of the Blood-Lickers
developed elaborate stage illusions (levitation, shape-shifting, devil's helper on whom is Allah's displeasure and who
escapology) designed to mimic "real" magic powers. Hasan also have gone astray."
went out of his way to encourage any belief that he had been given
magical powers from Jinn demons, or that he and his dai were -as translated by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
actually Jinn in human form.
Like all cult leaders, Hasan encouraged superstitions that fur
JINN ther added to his mystique and that of his agents. Often, the best
cloak in which to wrap yourself is your enemy's superstition, the
The word Jinn comes from the verb janna, which means "to best of masks to hide behind, your enemy's fear! Potential Assassin
hide." Jinn became "genie" in English. According to one authority converts were told that the green cloak Hasan always wore-the
on the subject: one he had unraveled to obtain Castle Alamut-was the same
green cloak the prophet himself had used to lift the sacred black
"The Jinn are beings created with free will, living on earth stone into place at the rebuilding of the Ka'ba; that Hasan' s fol
in a world parallel to that of men and are invisible to lowers were themselves descended from the blood-lickers who had
human eyes in their normal state." bound themselves to death during the rebuilding of the Ka'ba; and
that Hasan had been given secret knowledge and powers from the
-Ibn Taymeeyah Jinn. Or maybe Hasan and his killers were Jinn in humam form!
as translated by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips This would not be the first nor the last time a killer cadre
encouraged the superstitious awe of outsiders. Thuggee stranglers
A Jinn may possess a man if invited by sensuous desire. At of India encouraged the belief that they were Bengal tigers trans
other times: formed into men by the goddess Kali. The feared leopard cult of
Africa spread the rumor that they were men possessed by the
"Demonic possession occurs as a result of horseplay, jest or vengeful leopard spirit. And the dreaded ninja of Japan encouraged
plain evil on the part of the Jinn just as evil and mischief the belief that they were descended from tenyu, half-man, half
occurs among humans for similar reasons." crow forest demons.
-Ibn Taymeeyah CRAFT

as translated by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
" . . know ye that for him who follows the Way of the
Jinns were thought to dwell in shadowed valleys, a point 1O! Hashishi death is but the opening portal into paradise, a
lost on Hasan as he sat in his castle in the valley of Alamut. Jinn foretaste of what will be yours on the other side of the
were shape-shifters, able to take the form of animals, especially tomb. And that ye may know the saying is true, put on now
venomous ones such as snakes and scorpions. Jinn were tricksters the robes of resurrection before you enter this tomb; drink
who sometimes aided humans but most often tempted them. now the elixir that promises Paradise before you enter the
According to Islamic scholar Ibn Taymeeyah: darkness. Come now, Hashishi!"
"The evil Jinns reveal to their human allies hidden knowl -Barry Sadler,
edge which the ignorant masses assume to be among the Casca #13: The Assassin
miracles given only to pious God-fearing saints, when in
fact they are only Satanic deceptions manifest in the Often, much is said, when so little is certain. So much about
12 13
ASSASSIN!: The Doodly Art of the Cult of the Assassins The Brotherhood of the Blood-tickers
Hasan's secret society remains shrouded in mystery. Even the ori ASSASSIN RANKINGS
gin of its name is disputed. Crusaders took the word assassin back
to Europe with them. Assassin is a corruption of hashishin, and
refers to the widespread belief that Hasan doped his recruits up on
hashish before sending them out on suicide missions. For those
unfamiliar with hashish and its effects:
"Hashish is the resin of the cannabis plant, which is Malik

removed by crushing and boiling the leaves and stems in (Chief of Chiefs)
water. The resulting residue when dried is a semisolid and
can be smoked, chewed or mixed with food, as can any
other form of marijuana. Hashish oil is obtained by Imam Imam
extracting it from the plants with organic solvents. It has (Lodge Master} fr_
(Lodge Master)
a very high THC content, up to 30 percent. It too can be
1
eaten in food or sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana leaves

and smoked."
-Duke & Gross
The effects of hashish range from a feeling of lackadaisical Murid Emir

euphoria to one of fear-hardly the drug of choice for a killer. (Disciple) (Commander}
Hasan is also said to have used hashish to place recruits in a stu
por before showing them his ersatz Garden of Paradise.
Marco Polo was the first to tell the tale of the Assassins' plea
sure garden. The story goes that the recruits were first doped up Fakir Khwaja
with hashish-the "perfume of Heaven" -before being escorted to (Devotee: Lay (Master}
an idyllic hidden garden in the valley of Alamut where they were Brother,
provided with all manner of forbidden pleasures such as food, Novice,
wine, and sex. After hours or days spent in this garden, sobering Arif
Fidais, Dais]
recruits would awaken back at Castle Alamut, where then told that (Enlightened}
what they had experienced was but a foretaste of the paradise that
awaited them, should they die in Hasan's service. Whether or not
the Assassin cult actually used hashish to seduce recruits is a mat-
ter of debate. Salik (Seeker]
The true origin of the word assassin was a misinterpretation of Laziks (Uninitiated)
either Hashimite (persons having common ancestry with the Rafig ("Friends")
prophet Muhammed; from Hashim, Muhammed's great-grandfa Fidavis
ther), or Hasanites, followers of Hasan. Given the suicidal dedica Dayes
tion of the Hasanites, it is easy to understand how Europeans
grasped at the idea that the only possible explanation for the feroc-
14 15
More important still, is the Order of Assassins dead, or do their

shadow-sons still lurk in the comforting dark, their poison-dipped
daggers drawn and poised?
A word of warning is in order before we once more invade the
East with crusader zeal, before we ask questions perhaps better
left unasked. We must beware, thinking long and hard, before jerk
ing aside the seven veils that obscure the Assassin's murderous
world of smoke and mirrors-smoke no blade can cut, darkened
mirrors designed to reflect back our own fear! PART ONE
Before taking that first irreversible step, we must steel our will
and prepare our mind to accept uncomfortable answer, lest, like so
many unfortunates in the past, we awake one morning to a bed
drenched in cold sweat, a darkly jeweled dagger buried in the pil
low beside our head: a friendly reminder that we shouldn't ask
questions we aren't fully prepared to pay the price for.
That is, if we wake up at all.
4
The Brotherhood
of the Blood-Lickers
"Assassins. One never knew when they would strike, and

there was nothing that could be done to scare them off.
Indeed, when captured they went to their deaths eagerly,
joyfully. How can one deal with men who do not fear
death? What was the power the Old Man of the Mountain
had over his followers that they obeyed his every wish
without consideration of their own lives?"
-Barry Sadler,
Casca #13: The Assassin
STRATEGY AND STRONGHOLDS
The short version is this: In the late 11th century, Hasan ibn
Sabbah, forced from his studies in Cairo, returned to his home in
southern Persia, acquired a mountain fortress by hook or by crook,
and created a cult of killers who terrorized the Middle East for cen
turies to come.
Strategy
Though dominated by Sunnis over a period of three cen
turies, Ismailis in Persia succeeded in establishing small semi
autonomous enclaves in the Khuzistan region (north of the
Arabian Sea, northeast of the Persian Gulf). Disappointed by
the lack of enthusiasm shown for his ideas by the Ismaili lead-
7
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins The Brotherhood of the Blood-Lickers
By 1105 Sultan Muhammed Tapar had wrested control of the In November of 1109, Ahmed, grand vizier of the Sultan and
Seljuk realm and once again Seljuks undertook major expeditions son of Nizam al-Mulk, was crossing the Tigris at Baghdad when his
to drive the Assassins from their strongholds. Tapar used the real boat was boarded by an Assassin who plunged a knife into his
and imagined threat posed by the Assassins as a rallying cry, unit neck, paralyzing him.
ing the Seljuks. Tapar besieged Castle Alamut, devastated the coun Finally, in April of 1118, Sultan Tapar himself drops dead.
tryside, and slaughtered Ismaili converts in dr®Yes. Secure inside Assassins had made several unsuccessful attempts to kill Tapar, but
Alamut Hasan and his Inner Circle held out with a small cadre of history records Tapar died of natural causes. However, Middle Eastern
only 72 men-the number is probably symbolic-v!tl reinforced and later European governments often listed successful murders com
by a few hundred Ismailis from the area. Finally,er&ht ass9""} mitted by t!e Assassins as "natural causes," lest confidence in the gov
the Sultan's camp by Assassin sappers broke Tapar s siege. Various ernment's ability to combat Hasan's terrorists be undermined.
Seljuk commanders made several other attempts take Alamut, but Sultan Tapar was succeeded by Sanjar, son of Malik Shah.
Sanjar loudly declared his deter-mination to carry on the Seljuk
all failed. war against the Assassins, that is, until he awoke one morning in
Other Assassin strongholds were not as fortunate, however. A
force of 80 Assassins occupying the largely demolished fortress of his campaign tent to find a dagger on his pillow along with a note
Shadiz held out for weeks against a vastly superior Seljuk force. In from the Old Man of the Mountain requesting that Sanjar send
a scene later pirated by the film Beau Geste, to give impression they envoys to Castle Alamut for negotiations.
were more numerous, the Assassin defenders placed weapons in First the envoys were feasted, then, in a demonstration of his
the hands of propped-up dead comrades. Unable to get reinforce power, the grand master had one Fidai cut his own throat and a
ments, most of the Shadiz Assassins died fighting or leaped to their second hurl himself to death off Alamut's high walls. Hasan casu
deaths from the high castle walls rather than be captured. Those ally informed the shocked envoys that he had 60 000 such
Assassins prepared to likewise sacrifice themselves in the Assassin
few captured were flayed alive. . . .
The Seljuk-Assassin War continued. A classic study in guer" cause, i.e., killing Seljuks. When terror-stricken envoys relayed this
la warfare Hasan's fists thrust out from Alamut and other Assassin to their Sultan, Sanjar agreed to withdraw troops from Assassin ter
ntory and agreed to pay tribute to the Assassin chief. In return,
t
strongholds, striking down Seljuk targets and quickly withdrawing

I
'
before caught by numerically superior forces. Hasan agreed not to proselytize in Sultan's domain. The Seljuk
In September 1106, the grand vizier of Khurasan was stabbed to Assassin War was over.
death by an Assassin disguised as a beggar. Captured and tortured, Hasan lived 34 years after taking Alamut. He had sacrificed
the Assassin revealed 12 co-conspirators, all Seljuk loyalists. The much to establish his dream, and had suffered persecution and
Seljuk traitors were executed side-by-side with the captured imprisonment. On several occasions he had barely escaped the exe
cuti'
. ioner s axe. He had survived numerous attempts on his own
Assassin. Only later were all the courtiers discovered to be innocent.
It is a moot point whether the captured Assassin knew he was :e, several from fellow Ismailis, and had spent years of hardship
giving false names or, spotting an inherent character flaw in their c9e 9"e ne choverfem me f-zen.Then cae years ta
,
agent, expecting that he would break under torture, Assassin con ding, shaping and sharpening the weapons of his will. To sa£e-
trollers gave the Assassin a list of false contacts. The fact remains. ~d his dream, Hasan even had his own two sons killed for vio-
l ting the rules of the Order-one for drunkenness, the other for
cI"28 955 en vvavt7reed assassination. Yes, the o1a Man of
a
" . . with a single dagger thrust the fidai had sent thirteen
men to the grave." "*°ntain had sacrificed much for his dream. Now, as he lay
{"Ehi5 plans for the confluence of the order firmly i pace,
„c
-Franzius 1ft: Old Man of the Mountain smiled, knowing that his dream
ould one day become the world's nightmare.
20 21
g
t
CHAPTER TWO
Grand Masters and

Grand Schemes
"Although the Crusades were a military failure, western

Europe was profoundly affected by the prolonged contact
with the East, and both culture and trade were stimulated."
-The New American Desk

Encyclopedia
THE CRUSADERS
Any reader who thinks the Middle Ages in general, and the
Crusades in particular, are dry history needs to realize that the
Crusades are the bloody medieval background against which polit
ical ploys and power plays were made and shady deals and unholy
alliances
•
forged (that we are still feeling the effects of and still pay-
mg the price for). The Crusades were not just Christians vs.
Muslims, but Christian vs. Christian, Muslim vs. Muslim, and
Mongols vs. everybody. Within each crusading army, contentious
• Warlords vied for the upper hand. Within every sect and religious
order, internecine warfare and treachery was the order of the day
as rival fanatics slew heretical brethren.
. The Middle East during the Middle Ages was ripe for the tak
lllg by any ambitious warlord with a rusty sword and every manip
ulating cult leader with a good line of bull.
n,s in any important historical period, during the Crusades we
d players both pivotal and peripheral, each maneuvering for a
23
artisans, devout Muslims resenting the secularism and chance to be one of "the chosen few," a chance to punish their
corruption of the age, and the believers in the millenni PPF©ssors and dispense justice, the removal of individual respon
um. It was at one and the same time a Shiite sect com sibility, freedom to do taboo things, and told that "secret" know!
bining Islamic and pre-Islamic Greek, Persian, Syrian, edge and powers would be revealed to the faithful. Hasan was
and Babylonian concepts; an Alid [followers of All] secret aided in his recruitment by the still widespread pre-islamic beliefs
society dedicated to the overthrow of the Sunnite in magic and demons.
Abbasids; and a revolutionary social movement pledged
to improve the lot of the depressed. Nor did it limit itself MAGIC
to Muslims. Tending toward inter-confessionalism, it
appealed to Jews, Christians, and Zarathustrans. Within The Muslim belief in magic has wavered little since the time
the Abbasid Khalifate its missionary activities were per- of Muhammed. One modern authority on Islamic beliefs defines
magic
•
as:
force clandestine."
-Franzius ". . . any phenomenon that has invisible causes or that is
seen or imagined differently from its reality, due to dis
guise or trickery. Other scholars define magic more nar
As a result:
rowly as the art of producing in nature, with the help of
"[Hasan's cult] was a compound of Magianism, Judaism, demons, things beyond the power of men. In fact, there are
Christianity and Mohammedanism." many types of magic, some are all illusions and trickery,
others are real and occur with the help of the devil."
-Latham
-al-Jumah
Like his alma mater, the Grand Lodge at Cairo, Hasan's cult
offered nine levels (degrees) of knowledge, beginning with overt . So widespread was the practice of magic (the use of spells,
orthodox Islamic teachings and through deepening levels leading talismans, and charms, etc.) in the early days of Islam that
toward a transcendence of all religion and reason other than the Muslim leaders passed edicts and conducted wi tch hunts against
word of the grand master himself. At each level, the Assassin ini such practices:
tiate drifted further away from orthodox Ismaili doctrine and more
into cult worship of Imam Hasan. By the fifth degree, initiates had "Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the second Khalifah, ordered his
rejected any literal interpretation of the Quran and relied instead governors to kill any magician in the Muslim territory, as
on the grand master's esoteric interpretations. At this level, initi they were considered disbelievers and harmful . . . For
ates were also introduced to the pseudo-sciences of astrology, these reasons, sorcery was rarely practiced in the first
numerology, and various other occult practices. Level six initiates centuries of Islam, but as the Muslim (union] became
abandoned all overt Muslim observances (prayer, fasting, etc.) and weaker, and as deviations and sins became a common fea
entered the rankings of dai. Accepted agents then received special ture of the Muslim communities, the practice of magic
ized training as field agents (propagandists, spies, assassins). reappeared again."
Ninth degree initiates were inducted into the inner circle of the
cult which was also known as the Red Circle or the Red Mosque. -al-Jumah
Hasan and this Inner Circle used all the hooks that cultists
f
have always used to attract converts. Recruits were promised the In order to exploit this widespread belief in magic, Hasan
10 11
Grand Masters and Grand Schemes
and would-be warriors, high on the ideal of achieving glory

in 1270 but, mercifully, spared everybody involved further embar
in chivalrous battle, began champing at the bit. As a result
rassment by dropping dead at Tunis of plague or poison. Finally, in
"Eager for glory, adventure, wealth, and a chance to serve
1291, 200 years after Pope Urban's original call, Muslims recap
God, lords and knights began to organize armies."
tured Acre, the last Christian outpost in the Near East. Although
Marvin Perry,
sporadic free enterprise forays into the Middle East were made by
Unfinished Journey: A World History
groups of European mercenaries in the years following, there were
no further large-scale European crusades. Each European kingdom had long maintained a cadre of
knights, but the time of the Crusades saw something new: the rise
Results of the Crusades
of universal knights orders, sanctioned by and answerable only to
In the end, the Crusades did succeed in strengthening papal
the Vatican. Many European rulers feared the idea of these "inter
power and helped unify kingdoms (if only by killing off superflu
national" knights orders, since young men, many of them nobles,
ous princes and an excess of ambitious nobles). For better or worse,
who joined these orders came from all over Europe and had to put
the Crusades also helped undermine Europe's basic social struc-
aside petty nationalist loyalties and intrigues in favor of serving the
ture: feudalism. Vatican and/or the aims of the international orders.
Many a nobleman lost his fortune during the Crusades. Some
crusading princes had borrowed heavily in order to foot their
Knights Templars
armies. When the dreamed-of riches failed to materialize, many of
One of these "universal" orders of knights was the militia tem
these nobles found themselves in debt to European money lenders.
pli: the "Soldiers of Solomon's Temple." Better known as the
Conversely, the Crusades increased Europe's overall trade with the
Knights Templars, this order of warrior-monks was founded in
Middle East. Increased trade also hastened the decline of feudal
1118 by nine knights under Grand Master Hugh dePayens. Initially
ism by encouraging the rise of bigger cities. These led to a rise of
a poor order, they chose as their emblem two knights riding a sin
a middle class composed of merchants and guildsmen.
gle horse. Their vows held them to poverty and valor, and their
comm1ss10n was to protect pilgrims traveling in the Holy Land.
Christian Crusaders Templars recruiters traveled across France and England sign
Pope Urban's call for liberating the Holy Land had been met
mg up young warriors. Richard the Lionhearted, impressed by the
with enthusiasm, not just from nobles, but from commoners
Templars vow to stand their ground against 3-to-1 odds, supported
who saw crusading as their only chance to break the bonds of
them. When the Count of Anjou gave up his noble robes for the
feudal servitude. spartan white tunic of the Templars, his example was soon fol
In the heady days of the First Crusade, groups of peasants and
lowed by other Western princes.
commoners, fired up by popular preachers, formed ill-equipped
In 1127 the Knights Templars were recognized as an official
and poorly organized armies that marched off to the Holy Land.
order by the Pope. King Baldwin II of Edessa offered their order
Y"
Looting their way across eastern Europe, one such band massacred
part of his palace for their headquarters so, in 1129, the Templars
•
thousands of Jews in eastern Europe before being wiped out.

Another of these commoner armies reached Asia Minor before tern and 300 Knights Templars recruited from the noblest
ouses in Europe led a huge train of pilgrims to the Holy Land
being slaughtered by the Turks.
p„" 1133, King Alfonso of Aragon and Navarre (southern
=~
European merchants and money lenders likewise spon ~ce, northern Spain) willed his entire country to the Templars
sored groups of mercenary knights for "free enterprise" pil er. The catch was that the area was still in Moor-controlled ter
laging forays to the east and into the Holy Land. When
chary. Gradually, Kmghts Templars were either willed or pur
sed or captured forts and lands in the Holy Land. As was the
Pope Urban's call for crusaders went out, young knights
26 27
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Grand Masters and Grand Schemes
custom of the day, Templars provided "protection" to the people in at odds for a long time, and the patriarch of Jerusalem openly
territories under their order's control in return for those people accused the Hospitaliers of paying for Raymond's murder. Shortly
paying a regular tribute tax. thereafter, as if in confirmation, the patriarch himself was mur
As a result of town and territory seizures, gifts, and tribute, dered by Assassins.
within a short time the Order of Knights Templars grew wealthy In response, Bohemond and the Templars besieged the
and powerful and were soon influencing European politics. In 1154 Assassin stronghold of Khawal until the Sunnite Emir of Aleppo,
two rival popes were elected: Alexander III, backed by a powerful under threat by the Assassins, persuaded Bohemond and the
faction of Sicilians, and Victor III, backed by an imperial party Templars to withdraw.
composed of the Holy Roman Emperor and other kings. At first the
Templars acknowledged Victor III, but in 1161 they switched to Muslim Crusaders
Alexander III, insuring his acceptance as the legitimate pope. In At the time of the First Crusade, Islam was divided into the
exchange for their support, in 1162 Alexander III issued a declara Seljuk-Sunnite Caliph based in Baghdad and the Fatimid-Shiite
tion making Templars answerable only to the Holy See. In addi Caliph based in Egypt. According to John J. Robinson in his
tion, Templars were declared exempt from paying tithes but could Dungeon, Fire & Sword, it was warring between these Shiites and
still receive tribute from lands under their control. In effect, this Sunnis that made the European victories of the First Crusade pos
papal bull made the Templars equivalent to an autonomous state. sible. European diplomacy and double-dealing would continue to
It also made the Templars many envious enemies. play one against the other until the coming of Saladin.
Islamic infighting also allowed Muslim "crusaders" and warlords
Knights Hospitaliers to assert themselves; some for Islam, some for personal empire.
Bitter rivals of the Templars, the Order of the Hospital of St. Taking advantage of Seljuk disunity, the Egyptian warlord Nur
John of Jerusalem-Knights Hospitaliers-had received a papal ed-Din and his Mamelukes pushed north from Egypt, expanding
charter in 1113 for the purpose of tending sick pilgrims in the his domains, taking Damascus in 1154 and Mosul in 1170. Nur ed
Holy Land. By 1161, however, the Knights Hospitaliers had grown Din was aided in his conquests by two able generals: Prince Mleh
into a private army, having carved themselves a respectable piece • of Armenia and Saladin. Prince Mleh was a renegade Templars.
of the Middle Eastern pie by seizing several strongholds and After being passed over for the throne of Armenia by his brother,
exhorting tribute from the people in areas controlled by them. Prince Mleh converted to Catholicism in order to join the
They were knee deep in Middle Eastern slaughter and skulldug Templars. Discovered to be behind a plot to assassinate his broth
gery. Given the lucrative operation Knights Hospitaliers had er, Prince Mleh fled to the court of Nur ed-Din, converted to Islam,
going, it is understandable that they should view as a threat the and was given command of Nur ed-Din's Turkish cavalry. Proving
rise of the Knights Templars. the worth of Templars training, Prince Mleh took the Armenian
and
There is ample evidence that Knights Hospitaliers were either Principality of Cilicia and captured the towns of Tarsus Adana
in secret alliance with the Order of Assassins or, at the very least, Mamistra for Nur ed-Din before sweeping south toward
contracted the Assassins on several occasions to assassinate i Antioch to lay siege to his former Templars comrades' castle at
Hospitalier enemies. When Adam of Baghras, Regent of Antioch, i *8bras. Mleh was finally forced to retreat in the face of Templars
was killed, Knights Hospitaliers were accused of having contracted S"°reements. 1174 Nur ed-Di died of disease or poison, and
the Assassins to do the deed, but the pope refused to investigate B 8 led to the nse of Salab-ad-Din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub, known to
I
reports of a Hospitaliers-Assassin alliance. In 1213, Raymond, "peans as Saladin (1138-1193). Arguably the greatest military
eldest son of King Bohemond of Antioch, was visiting the Knights ""d Islam ever produced, it was Saladin who crushed, once and
Templars at Tortosa when he was attacked and stabbed by several or all, any dream of a Christian crusader empire in Palestine.
Assassins. King Bohemond and the Knights Hospitaliers had been With the death of Nur ed-Din, several groups and principalities
28 29
Grand Masters and Grand Schemes

formally under his control revolted; !ºYY5 Nur ed-Din's forces
backed Saladin when he seized power in Cairo. Despite a formida
ble array of Syro-Mesopotamian Sunnites, Shiites, Latin crusaders, In August of 1192, Saladin and Richard the Lionhearted signed
their infamous treaty ending the Third Crusade, leaving Christians
and Assassins all united against him, by April 1175 Saladin was in
control of most of northern Syria. Unable to counter Saladin in the coastal cities as far south as Jaffa. On March 3, 1193, Saladin
fell ill-from poison?-and died. His mighty empire fell apart with
open combat, the Regent of Aleppo hired Sinan, grand master of in weeks of his death.
the Syrian Assassins, to kill Saladin. Shortly thereafter, a group of
Assassin fidais slipped into Saladin's camp and killed a visiting While just as many Muslims as Christians rejoiced at the death
of Saladin, their celebration was short-lived. A new, more ominous
emissary whom Saladin had graciously insisted spend the night in
threat loomed on the horizon. Both Christian and Muslim cru
his tent in his bed. Saladin escaped harm. In May 1176, while
saders were about to encounter a horde of "crusaders" more force
•eek8el7-1kaa9#E,RE ful and more fanatical than themselves; fighters with no concept of
attacked by three Assassins, all trusted members of his bodyguard.
Christian chivalry and no patience with Islam. More importantly,
An officer coming to Saladin's aid was wounded and the three
the Order of Assassins was about to be run up against a group of
Assassins killed, but Saladin again escaped harm. In August 1176,
killers even more ruthless, more blood-thirsty than themselves!
Saladin advanced on Masyaf (southwest of Kadmus). As he passed
t
cI
}
beneath a large tree, an Assassin leaped from overhanging branch

MONGOLS
•
es, but was killed by Saladin's bodyguard. Again, Saladin escaped

without a scratch.
In April 1183, Saladin sacked Aleppo and, to everyone's sur In 1194 a young Warrior named Temujin, having succeeded
where none before him had in uniting the warring Mongol clans of
prise, instead of punishing the Assassin sect for their numerous
central Asia, took the title Genghis Khan ("Lord of Lords"}. By
attempts on his life, Saladin made a deal whereby he agreed to
1215, Genghis Khan's huge, well-disciplined, and swift-moving
leave Assassin lands and property intact. In return, Sinan agreed to
horde had conquered northern China, was pushing through south
stop assassination attempts against Saladin and even agreed to pro
ern Russia into the Middle East, and was licking its lips every time
I
a
vide Saladin's army with Assassin troops.

It looked west toward Europe proper. Mongol conquests continued
Each assassination attempt Saladin survived increased the
even after Genghis Khan's death in 1227. In 1251 Genghis' son
widespread belief that he was choser PY Allah. In order to foster
Hulagu took Persia and gave his brother Jagatai control over
this belief, it is widely believed that Saladin made a secret pact with
Turkestan and Persia, including the Assassins' territory around
Sinan wherein the Assassin chief would deliberately send compro
.Al~ut. When Jagatai failed to show any interest in being "educat
mised agents against Saladin; attackers Saladin could easily defend ed"in the Assassin way of thinking, Assassins killed him.
against. Whatever the truth of the matter, from 1183 on, Assassin
"special forces" troops fought in Saladin's army as sappers and as a
•
Enraged at his bother's murder, Hulagu ordered the Assassin
sect Wiped out. Hulagu himself led the punitive force of Mongols
I
'
specific counterthreat to Knights Hospitaliers and Templars.
:iat swept across Assassin-held territory, crushing Assassin
5
0
By all accounts, Saladin hated Templars, whom he accused of
ÍJ rtresses, killing every human being in every Assassin town and
being truce-breakers. When Saladin captured grand master Gerard
of Ridefort and several 'Templars at the siege of Hittin in 1187, he '2°.F4 •7al"u keyed ii8'[van vaiiä ga
ordered them all beheaded. Ironically, one of Saladin's best com· +"""in sect, Hulagu sent word that a census was being held.
b hen rural families and Assassin supporters assembled, all were
rnanders Robert St. Albans, was a renegade English Templars who
GUtchered. With Alamut in danger of falling, reigning Assassin
had left uhe Order, become a Muslim, and led forces for _Saladr;
rand kMaster
•rash" il Khurshah quickly apologized for his predecessor's
against the French in Jerusalem. In 1187, when Saladin too
'ing of Jagatai. Playing for time, Khurshah asked for and
lir.
Jerusalem, he was aided by Assassin sapper-infiltrators.

..:•ved permission from Hulagu to travel to the Mongol capital
rec„:.
30 er a flag of truce for the purpose of petitioning Hulagu's

.,.
31
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins i
CHAPTER THREE
brother Mongu, the ruling Khan, to pardon the Assassin sect.
~
te
e9
Hulagu agreed. . .
rPI
~ ·,
Mes" nd
-
History records that the Assassin grand master and his entire
.~
-- • • . .. : ...
•.•
Ploys and Powerl'lays

•. .
party were subsequently ambushed and killed by "e Po

*A
Plo
•• ,1 - .,,..,,_.._ ~
The only Assassins to escape immediate aeath were theee reaives

of Grand Master Khurshah turned over to Jagatai's widow for her
za
personal torture. But was the Assassin sect so easily destroyed.7
We'll examine this more in a moment.
s50
',.
z
In May 1121, Master Hasan ibn-Sabbah, in failing health,

appointed his loyal emir, commander Buzurg-Umid, to succeed
him as head of the Order of Assassins. In 1101, Umid had proved
his military savvy by capturing the Castle of Lamasar, thus secur
ing the approach to the Alamut valley. Umid then proved his ded
ication to the Old Man of the Mountain by systematically slaugh
I
'
tering all in the Alamut area who dared reject Hasanism. An able
'
¡
I
leader and strategist, Umid ruled the Assassin order from 1124-
1138, carrying out his dead master's will, figuratively and literally.
Umid's ruthlessness rivaled that of Hasan. For example, when two
Assassin supporters were murdered by a mob in Isfahan, Umid
butchered 400 citizens in retaliation. Thinking the Assassin order
weakened by the death of the feared Old Man of the Mountain, in
1126 Seljuk Turk leader Sanjar launched a new offensive against
..
the Alamut region. However, under Umid's leadership, the
I Assassins not only once more beat back the Turks, but succeeded
I
•
Ill bringing new territory under Assassin control. Realizing his
resolve as grand master was being tested, Umid went on the offen-
sive, sending all Assassin enemies a clear message.
•
In March of 1127, Sanjar's Grand Vizier was killed by two

Assassin sleeper agents posing as grooms. In November of 1130, 10
assassins ambushed and fatally wounded the Khalif of Cairo while
he was on his way to visit a concubine. In 1135, taking advantage
of the fact that one of their enemies had captured another of their
enemies, Umid sent 10 Assassin sappers to infiltrate a heavily
32 33
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Ploys and Power Plays
guarded camp where the Abbasid Khalif, Mustarshid, was being ASSASSIN GRAND MASTERS
held for ransom by the Seljuks. After killing his guards, the
Assassins stabbed Mustarshid 25 times, slit open his abdomen, cut
Hasan ibn-Sabbah (1050-1124: Founder)
off his nose, and decapitated him. As a final insult, departing
assassins make a symbolic show of trampling on Mustarshid's I
Kia Buzurg-Umid 1124-1138)
corpse on their way out the door. All 10 Assassins are eventually
cut down by Seljuk troops. Three years later, in Isfahan, I
Kia Muhammod (1138-1 163: son of Umid)
Mustarshid's son Rashid was killed by Assassin sleeper agents
•
I
•
who had infiltrated his court. It didn't take long for the enemies I
Under Hasan the Hated, the Ortler of Assassins split into Alomut-
of the Assassin sect to realize that Hasan ibn-Sabbah might be
'
;
i
Persian and Aleppo-Syrian branches. Hasan II ruled in Persian until he
dead, but it was business as usual so far as Umid, the new Old
E
was assassinated and the Persian hranch of the Order suppressed.

Man of the Mountain, was concerned.
As adept at skullduggery as he was at slaughter, one of Umid's
most ambitious schemes involved a secret deal he made with King
Baldwin II of Jerusalem in 1128. Their plan called for the Grand Hasan Il (1163-1167: son of Sinan the Physiian (1 193)
Vizier of Baghdad, an Assassin supporter, to open the gates of the
I
city to Baldwin's Christian crusaders. In exchange, Baldwin agreed
Muhammod I)
to give the Assassins control of the fortified city of Tyre. The plot
was discovered, however, and the grand vizier and 10,000 suspect
I
Muhammed l1 (1167-1191)
ed Assassin supporters in Baghdad were massacred.
Under Umid's leadership, the Order of the Assassins flour- I
Prince Jalaludin (1191-1203)
ished. After Umid, the Order went straight to Hell. I
Akkdin (1203: only 9 years old)
GRAND (AND NOT SO GRAND) MASTERS I
luknekiim (1 256: killed by Mongols?)
Umid was succeeded by his son Muhammad I, who ruled as I
Assassin grand master from 1138-1162. Muhammad's elevation to Balbars (1260: de facto Assassin grand master)
Grand master led to open rebellion within Assassin ranks. Many
accused Umid of trying to establish a bloodline dynasty and open
ly challenged Muhammad's right to succeed his father. Graciously,
Muhammad agreed to meet and discuss grievances with all those
within the sect who opposed his leadership. When 500 challengers
to his rule assembled for the meeting, Muhammad had his loyal
troops kill the first 250 and then tie their corpses to the backs of
the second 250, whom he then drove from Alamut.
Muhammad I ruled as grand master for 24 years without any
further internal challenge to his leadership. He was succeeded by
his son, Hasan II, who ruled for four very long years, 1162-1166.
•
Also known as "Hasan the Mad," Hasan II removed Islamic ritual

obligations from the Assassin sect, even to the point of permitting
34 35
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Ploys and Power Plays
the consumption of alcohol (forbidden to Muslims, a taboo Hasan r, 1113, Ridwan, patron and ally of the Assassins, was murdered. The
son of Ridwan, believing the Assassin sect responsible, moved
I
ibn-Sabbah, you will recall, had killed one of his own sons for
'
breaking). Hasan the Mad also made public secret doctrines for against them, executing Tahir and other leaders and exiling thou
mally restricted to the elite Red Circle and declared himself the sands of Assassin supporters from Aleppo.
long-awaited Mahdhi, the Shiite messiah. Hasan's bizarre behavior, The new leader of the Syrian Assassins, Bahram, made allies
open debauchery, and orgies led to dissension within the Order of with Tughtengin, Regent of Damascus. Assassins sealed the pact in
Assassins resulting in a split between Persian-Alamutine Assassins I September 1113 by assassinating Tughtengin's foe, the Seljuk Emir
and the Aleppine branch of the sect centered in Aleppo, Syria. of Mosul. In 1125, Assassins came to the aid of Tughtengin when
Damascus was threatened by Crusaders. In appreciation, Tughtengin
Sinan and the Aleppine Assassins installed Assassin ambassadors and advisors in Damascus.
In 1106, Hasan ibn-Sabbah dispatched trusted Emir Tahir In 1129, Tughtengin's son and successor, Buri, discovering
("The Goldsmith'} to Syria to establish a "branch office" for '° Grand Master Umid's plan to betray Damascus to the Christians,
order. Tahir was a typically efficient assassin commander and did turned on the Assassins, slaying the pro-Assassin grand vizier and
much to establish a permanent assassin presence in Syria. One of initiating the slaughter of upwards of 10,000 Assassin supporters in
Tahir' s many successful operations involved the seizure of the Damascus. Fearing reprisals after the Damascus massacre, Buri
I
walled city of Apamea for the order. The first part of Tahir's plan never left his palace except under heavy guard.
called for six Assassin operatives to gain entrance to the city by Finally, in May 1131, Assassins who had infiltrated his bodyguard
ingratiating themselves with the town's ruler. To accomplish this, attacked and mortally wounded Buri as he was leaving his bath.
the operatives brought the ruler of Apamea the horse and weapons By 1140 the Syrian branch of the Assassins were operating
of a Christian crusader they claimed to have killed. Impressed, the from a near autonomous territory with its center in the wild
•
ruler took the operatives into his service and gave them quarters in Ansarias Range, bordered by the Orontes River west to the
his citadel, conveniently next to the wall of the city. Later that Mediterranean coast, Antioch to the north, and Beirut to the south.
night, the six infiltrators burrowed through the town's wall from Between 1132 and 1140 the Assassins gained control of several cas
the inside, admitting more Assassin sappers. The Assassins. then tles and strategic towns in this area. Some they purchased, such as
slipped into the citadel's sleeping quarters and systematic!"Y Kadmus and Kahf; others, Khariba and Masyaf, they conquered
slaughtered the ruler, his family, and his bodyguards. By morning, from crusaders or from brother Muslims, respectively.
the Assassins had secured the city in the name of their comman- In 1162, shortly after the ascension of Hasan the Mad as
Alamut's grand master, Sheikh Rashid ed-Din Sinan, chief Imam at
der, Tahir.
Although the Syrian branch of the Assassins made separe' the castle of Kah£ in Syria, became the leader of the Aleppine
alliances and engaged secret allies over the years, the Aleppine Assassins. As chief Assassin at Kah£, Sinan, also known as "The
Assassins continued to take their marching orders from Alamut, at Physician" for his mastery of poisons, had already proven his lead
least up until the time of Hasan the Mad. During the period of the ership ability. Realizing that superior intelligence-both the innate
First Crusade, Assassins in Syria allied themselves with Ridwan, and the gathered varieties-equals success Sinan directed his
the Seljuk ruler of Aleppo, against Ridwan's rival, Atabeg Janah al attention to creating a vast network of agents throughout the whole
Dawlah. Ridwan offered the Aleppine Assassins autonomy in of Asia, which he then tied together using an efficient carrier
Pigeon message system that winged vital information to the
exchange for the death of Janah. Assassin• master much quicker
• and more efficiently than the other
r
In May of 1103, Atabeg Janah and several of his command *!9"
were attacked and killed while observing mandatory Friday methods of the day. Through information provided him by his vast
prayers in a mosque near Tripoli. (To gain entrance, the assassins n~ork and his expeditious messenger system, Sinan fostered
disguised themselves as Sufi holy men.) Then, in December of • e belief that he possessed an all-seeing eye. (Some even whis-
3% 37
pered that Sinan was the reincarnation of Hasan ibn-Sabbah.) the unique needs and situation of the Syrian branch became more
Sinan encouraged both these superstitions. As we will see in a later apparent, Sinan began ignoring babblings from Alamut. Between 1162
section on psychological warfare, Sinan was a master manipulator and 1193, Sinan the Physician autonomously operated his own Aleppo
who perfected illusions and mind manipulation techniques created based Assassin sect from Alamut. Both Hasan and his successor,
by Hasan ibn-Sabbah and, in many cases, invented new techniques i
•
Muhammad II, sent Assassins to Aleppo to kill Sinan. Some of these
and illusions designed to convince the gullible that he possessed t Assassins died attempting to kill Sinan, but others defected to him.
true magical powers. (The talking head ploy, so vital in the indict Unable to count on Alamut for support, Sinan needed allies to first
ment and fall of the Knights Templars, was credited to Sinan.) counter the threat posed by Egyptian warlord Nur ed-Din and, second,
Initially, Sinan remained loyal to Hasan the Mad, but as Hasan's the Knights Templars, who were bleeding tribute from Assassin sup
changes in the order became increasingly bizarre and his sympathy for porters. In 1174, King Amalric I of Jerusalem, Baldwin's brother and
heir to the throne, received an unexpected visit from the leader of the
Syrian Assassins, who made Amalric an offer he couldn't refuse.
Sinan proposed an alliance between Amalric and the Assassins
against Nur ed-Din. The Assassins would provide intelligence on
Nur ed-Din's forces, as well as Assassin sappers should Amalric
-- G
need them. In addition, Sinan would train a select cadre of
Amalric's own troops in the tactics and techniques of the
Assassins. To sweeten the pot, Sinan hinted that his branch of the
Assassin sect might convert to Christianity en masse. Knowing the
Assassins were fierce and fearless fighters and had the best intelli
gence network in Syria, Amalric agreed to the alliance. For his part,
Amalric was obligated to come to the sect's aid should any of their
strongholds come under siege by Nur ed-Din. Amalric also ordered
the Templars grand master to cease bleeding annual tribute tax
from Assassin families living in Templars-controlled territory.
This didn't sit too well with the Templars. In response,
Templars Grand Master de St. Amand ordered the Assassins' emis-
saries ambushed and slain. Angered by the Templars defiance,
•
Amalric demanded the Templars turn over the Templars responsi

;'
•
/
•
ble. When the Templars refused, Amalric forced his way into
'Templars residences and seized the offending knights. In addition
t~ his dealings with the Christians, it was widely believed that
Sinan made a secret deal with Nur ed-Din's general, Saladin.
•- When Nur ed-Din dropped dead of disease in 1174, whispers
$Uggested that Saladin, a Kurd, had paid "the Physician" to poison
th~ Egyptian Nur ed-Din. Sinan's alliances, overt and covert, first
'with Christians and then with Saladin, helped insure the survival
. ~~sperity of the Aleppine Assassins until his death of natural
•"s in 1193. After the death of Sinan, the Aleppine Assassins
"eun came under direct control of Alamut.
The "talking head" illusion. ,._ ...
54
38 39
Ploys and Power Plays
ASSASSINE: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins
f amorality when it came to choosing strange bedfellows, the

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS t•
I Assassin sect was no more whorish than all the other opportunists
and special interest groups making and breaking alliances and
•
(
"There is no good in much of their secret conferences. • "

i
5
treaties on a daily basis, as fit their self-interest or the needs of sur

-The Quran vival. During the Middle Ages, it was not surprising to find
Christians allied with Muslims against fellow Christians and broth
er Muslim betraying brother Muslim. A few examples:
The only thing worse than having no suspect in a murder is
•
having too many. Whenever an assassination took place in the [
i
a
1129: Assassins conspired with Baldwin to betray Damascus.

•
Middle East during the Middle Ages, there was always an over
1149: Assassins allied with Prince Raymond of Antioch against
abundance of suspects. Take, for example, the assassination of
Nur ed-Din.
Count Raymond II of Tripoli in 1152. Raymond holds the distinc
• 1152: Baldwin II of Antioch conspired with Assassins to mur
tion of being the first recorded Latin to fall victim to the Order of
der Raymond of Antioch(?).
Assassins. As they rode into Tripoli, Raymond and two companions
• 1174: Aleppine Assassins and King of Jerusalem signed treaty
were attacked by a squad of Assassins who pulled the three men
against Nur ed-Din (and Templars).
from their horses and stabbed them to death. Most believed Nur
• 1174: Assassins hired by Saladin to poison Nur ed-Din(?).
ed-Din had paid his one enemy, the Assassins, to kill his other
• 1183: Aleppine Assassins openly allied with Saladin.
enemy, Raymond, since Nur ed-Din quickly took advantage of
• 1192: Richard the Lionhearted signed separate peace treaty
Raymond's death by beginning raids around Tripoli. However,
i with Saladin.
there were also rumors that Raymond's uncle, Baldwin Ill of
• 1194: King Henry of Jerusalem allied with Assassin sect.
Antioch, had ordered the assassination in order to settle a family
• 1213: Pope refused to investigate allegations the Knights
succession dispute. In April 1192, Conrad of Montferrat, Lord of
Hospitaliers have allied with Assassins.
Tyre, King-elect of Jerusalem, was slain by two Assassins who had
• 1221: Assassin leader Grand Master Muhammad II converted
feigned conversion to Christianity in order to get close to him. One
traditionally Shiite Assassin sect to the Sunnite branch of
Assassin stabbed Montferrat and was captured. The second
Islam. Muhammad died shortly thereafter, believed murdered
escaped the scene, only to attack Montferrat a second time in the
by Assassin Shiite purists.
church where Montferrat had been taken for treatment of his
• 1227: Assassins signed peace treaty with Shah of Khourazmn
wounds. The first theory was that an angered Assassin grand mas
against encroaching Mongols.
ter had ordered Montferrat killed in retaliation for Conrad having
• 1228: Assassins "allied" with Mongols after treaty with Shah of
pirated a ship carrying Assassin property. However, under torture,
Khourazmn collapsed.
the captured Assassin claimed Richard the Lionhearted ed had
•1228: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, king of Sicily and
paid for Conrad's murder. As a matter of fact, a week after
leader of the Sixth Crusade, sends tribute to the grand master
Conrad's assassination, Count Henry of Champagne, Richard's
at Alamut. Planning to assert his claim to Jerusalem, Frederick
nephew, did became King of Jerusalem. can not afford to have the Assassins at his back.
••••• : 1231: Assassins implicated in murder of Shah of Khourazmn.
1238: Assassin envoys visited courts of England and France to
propose alliance against Mongols.
Over the years, the Order of Assassins had, at one time or
: 1251: Assassins killed Mongol leader Jagatai.
another, made pacts and treaties with (or at least had been accused
1261: Following the ill-fated Seventh Crusade, in an extraordi
of making pacts with) rival Muslims, opportunistic crusaders, and
nary summit, Louis IX of France, grand masters of both the
godless Mongols. But despite a reputation for treachery and
40
41
t
CHAPTER TWO
Grand Masters and

Grand Schemes
"Although the Crusades were a military failure, western

Europe was profoundly affected by the prolonged contact
with the East, and both culture and trade were stimulated."
-The New American Desk

Encyclopedia
THE CRUSADERS
Any reader who thinks the Middle Ages in general, and the
Crusades in particular, are dry history needs to realize that the
Crusades are the bloody medieval background against which polit
ical ploys and power plays were made and shady deals and unholy
alliances
•
forged (that we are still feeling the effects of and still pay-
mg the price for). The Crusades were not just Christians vs.
Muslims, but Christian vs. Christian, Muslim vs. Muslim, and
Mongols vs. everybody. Within each crusading army, contentious
• Warlords vied for the upper hand. Within every sect and religious
order, internecine warfare and treachery was the order of the day
as rival fanatics slew heretical brethren.
. The Middle East during the Middle Ages was ripe for the tak
lllg by any ambitious warlord with a rusty sword and every manip
ulating cult leader with a good line of bull.
n,s in any important historical period, during the Crusades we
d players both pivotal and peripheral, each maneuvering for a
23
Syria. By the close of 1258, Hulagu took Baghdad and Aleppo, to settling a dispute. Like any able commander, Baibars preferred
where he massacred all Muslims but spared the Christians. In the economy of deciding a dispute with the death of a single enemy
March of 1260, Hulagu's general, Kitboga, a Nestorian Christian, it rather than the deaths of thousands on both sides in a protracted
war. For example, on August 17, 1270, an Aleppine Assassin
.
took Damascus. Having conquered Persia and Syria, Hulagu
5
turned his attention south toward Egypt. He sent envoys to the unleashed by Baibars targeted French crusade leader Philip of
Mameluke sultan in Cairo, demanding submission to the Mongol Montfort, Lord of Tyre. Trained to pass himself off as a Christian,
empire. The Mamelukes gave the Mongols a taste of their own the Assassin struck while Montfort and his son were kneeling in
medicine by killing the envoys. (Ten years earlier, the Egyptian's their cathedral. In June 1272, Prince Edward (soon King Edward I
Mameluke warrior-slaves had staged a coup overthrowing their of England) was stabbed five times in Acre by an Assassin dis
Egyptian masters. The Mamelukes had no intention of submitting guised as a Levantine Latin pretending to be a Christian. Stabbed
themselves to another master.) with a poisoned blade, Edward was stricken for weeks but sur
Preferring to fight Mongols in Palestine rather than Egypt, vived. The Assassin had gotten close to Edward by bringing gifts to
Mameluke forces invaded north into Palestine. In a decisive battle the prince's wife. Although Baibars had signed a peace treaty with
in 1260, Mameluke and Mongol armies clashed at the Battle of Edward, many thought Baibars and the Mameluke governor of
Goliath's Springs near Nazareth. When the dust settled, the invin- Ramleh were behind the plot.
cible Mongols were in retreat. Better the plume than poniard (a poniard is a dagger), i.e., bet-
After defeating the Mongols at Goliath's Springs, the victorious ter ink than blood. Though born and bred a warrior, Baibars had
Egyptian sultan had his eye on returning to Cairo, but his most buried enough friends and comrades to prefer making alliances
trusted and able general, the Mameluke Rukn ad-Din Baibars, and treaties rather than having to watch men die on the battlefield.
architect of the Mongol defeat, had his eye on the empire. In When the Knights Hospitaliers, who resented Baibars seizing the
October 1260, Rukn ("stone") Baibars stabbed the sultan in the tribute they had previously squeezed from Assassin supporters,
back (literally) and seized the Egyptian throne. openly defied Baibars, he decided to teach them a lesson, but did
Still flushed from victory over the Mongols, his fellow n't want to have to fight the Knights Templars as well. As a result,
Mamelukes rallied behind Baibars' banner. By 1268 they had con in 1271 Baibars made a secret deal with the Knights Templars via
quered Syria, taking first Damascus, then Antioch, and finally Assassin contacts whereby the Templars would voluntarily aban
Aleppo, center of the Syrian Assassins. Most Assassin leaders had don their Castle Blanc at Safita, thus opening the way for Baibars'
actively fought against the Mongols, but a few Assassin castle mas unrestricted assault on nearby Krak des Chevaliers, the Knights
ters had surrendered their strongholds to the advancing horde. Hospitaliers' castle-£ortress.
As Baibars consolidated his power in Syria, Assassin lands and In addition to preventing the needless loss of Templars blood,
castles recaptured from retreating Mongols were returned to the the destruction of their rivals' castle also suited the Templars' agen
sect but those castle masters who had surrendered to the Mongols da. Baibars subsequently attacked Krak des Chevaliers with a large
were executed. Baibars then ordered that tribute from Assassins
I •
force. including a contingent of Syrian Assassin sappers. Any
formally going to Knights Hospitaliers be given to the Mamelukes. Hospitaliers captured were beheaded in full view of the castle's
Baibars also cut in half the tribute to be paid. These actions made defenders. After 10 days of bombardment and undermining by
Baibars very popular in Assassin circles, as was his intention Assassin sappers, the castle fell. By 1273 Baibars occupied all the
Unlike Hulagu, Baibars had no plans for either exterminating the ~ins' castles, had final approval over the appointment of their
Assassin sect or living in fear of their poisoned blades. Instead, cers, and was de facto grand master of the Order.
Baibars planned to employ the Assassins to do what they did best: In 1275, assassins with Baibars' blessing recaptured Alamut,
spy on his opponents and exterminate his enemies. --~y to lose it a year later. Ironically, Baibars himself was killed by
Better the blood of one than the blood of many when it coroes „Pison he intended for a rival prince whom he had invited to a
.
'
..
-~
45
"g
1..i;
44
banquet on July 1, 1277. Somehow the cups were accidentally (?)

switched, and Baibars died the agonizing death he had intended for CHAPTER FOUR
his guest. Baibars' Mameluke successors continued effectively
The Evolution of the

employing Baibars' stone killers to spy on potential opponents and
t
kill enemies until the Mameluke dynasty was defeated by the I

Ottomans in 1517.
In 1238 envoys from the grand master of the Order of Assassins: From
Assassins visited the courts of both England and France to urge an
alliance of Christians and Muslims against the Mongols, but the Freebooters and
Assassins' call for a Euro-Islamic alliance fell on deaf ears. In fact,
it was the Europeans' grand hope that Mongols and Muslims Freemasons to
would kill each other off. Then, after both sides had exhausted
themselves, the Europeans would move into the Middle East and
Modern-Day Terrorists
pick up the pieces. Disappointed, the Assassin whom the envoys
had left with the European kings had a final cryptic prediction
from the grand master: "The same serpent that feasts in my garden
"He who fights with monsters, let him be careful lest he
today will tomorrow draw it's succor from your heart." The
thereby become a monster."
Europeans laughed, thinking the grand master's riddle referred to
the advancing Mongol horde. -Nietzsche
It didn't.
At this point the reader should have a solid grasp of the histo
rY of the Order of Assassins up until the time the Mongols were
defeated. The reader should also have a good idea of how treach
erous the Assassins were, how they would spend years lying in
wait to strike if that was necessary, and how committed Assassins
were to their masters and their craft. In this chapter we will sim
ply note the most important and interesting of events from the 12th
century up until 1996, with commentary on especially critical
events and people.
IMPORTANT DATES, FACTS, AND EVENTS
1147 to 1270
i„,"*"Yepean infighting largely hamstrings many nations' and
actions' ability to crush the Order of Assassins in a kind of early
Cold War.
1180s
~-::tecr:cili~ author~ti~s. wa_ge war against the Avengers, a Sicilian
„etsociety specializing in nocturnal assassinations.
4% 47
'
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins [le Evolution of the Assassins: From Freebooters and Freemasons to Modern-Day Terrorists
1184 troops for action (against the Templars) and tells them not to open
English knight Robert of St. Albans defects from the Templars the second until the evening of 12 October. By the morning of 13
and becomes a Muslim. He later leads an army for Saladin against October, nearly every Templars in France is in custody. Edward II
the French in Jerusalem. of England (Philip's son-in-law) likewise seizes what he believes to
be all the Templars in England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
1186 However, Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, defies Edward's
Avenger grand master is hung; Order of Avengers believed order and secretly establishes the Order of H.R.M./Knights
wiped out. However, many believe that the Aleppine Assassins R.S.Y.C.S. from the Templars in his service.
were an offshoot of the Avengers. Secret societies such as the Beati
Paoli and the Black Hand can be traced to the Avengers. The Black 1311
Hand would later be known as the Mafia. With the issuance of a papal decree, the Knights Templars offi
cially ceases to exist after four years of persecution. Grand Master
1213
The Templars take the side of King Bohemond against the Assassin sed emblem Sample of knights templar's secret
Hospitaliers after the Hospitaliers are implicated in the murder of writing
Bohemond's son and the patriach of Jerusalem.
1261
King Louis IX of France convenes a meeting of the leaders of
the northern consortium in Acre, with the grand masters of both
the Order of Assassins and Knights Templars in attendance. Louis
proposes that they join him and six powerful merchant groups-to
be collectively known as the illuminati or enlightened ones-in a
scheme to control Europe, the Middle East, Far East, and Africa
rather than fight each other for control. The Assassin grand master
accepts, but the Templars grand master refuses.
1271
The Hospitaliers lose their main castle in the Holy Land (Krak Symbol of freemasonry
des Chevalliers) after the Templars reportedly make a deal with
Mameluke warlord Baibars.
1305
King Philip IV of France seizes Pope Boniface VIII and installs a
puppet pope, Clement V. Popes remain under direct French control
until 1377, the period becoming known as the Babylonian Captivity.
12 September 1307
Royal officers throughout France receive two sealed letters
from King Philip. The first instructs the recipients to prepare their ile similarities ore obvious.
48 49
- . .. r#
f. ¡le Evolution of the Assassins: From Freebooters and Freemasons to Modern-Day Terrorists
De Molay and his lieutenant, Guy of Auvegne, are burned at the Persia; the consul recognizes as their leader a man claiming to be
stake, still proclaiming their innocence. a direct descendant of the fourth Assassin grand master, Hasan II.
1314
King Robert the Bruce ("Robert Bruce") defeats King Edward 1836
II at Bannock, thus securing Scottish independence until the 18th The first Muslims are accepted into the Brotherhood.
century. King Robert, in recognition of the commoners who
fought for his cause, allows guilds of working men 1865
Freemasons-to join the new Order. This revised Order became The first Jews and Hindus are accepted into the Brotherhood.
known as the Brotherhood of True Scots Rite Masonry, which
would eventually spread to other countries and faiths under the 1928
generic name Freemasonry; eventually six million members The Muslim Brotherhood is established; it would become the
would be claimed worldwide. J
foundation of all modern Islamic terrorist groups.
1624 1931
The Rosecrucians are established. Elijah Muhammad founds the Temple of Islam in Detroit;
many suspect he was an initiate of Prince Hall Masonry and the
1717 Moorish Science Temple (African-American offshoots of Scots
The first Scots Rite Lodge is founded in England. Rites Masonry).
1760 1946
Christian masonry takes its current form after the Bible Jewish terrorists use the Assassin tactic of mass killings by
becomes the Order's "Great Light." blowing up the King David Hotel, killing 91. They also slaughter
254 Palestinian civilians in the village of Deir Yassin.
1765
The Sons of Liberty, an offshoot of the Freemasons, are offi- 1952
cially established in the colonies. Anwar Sadat suspected of being involved in the overthrow of
King Farouk by Muslim Brotherhood.
1776
The Illuminati of Germany are established by Adam 1954
Muslim Brotherhood banned in Egypt.
Weishaupt.
1780 1956
The Brotherhood of Asia is established in Germany. Muslim Brotherhood begins fedayeen attacks into Israel.
1781 1965
The Asiatic Knights of Hamburg are established. Malcom X, heir-apparent to Elijah Muhammad, is assassinated
by a Black Muslim hit team.
1810
Modern Ismailism established when the French consul at 1971
Aleppo "discovers" descendants of the Order of Assassins living in
•
Palestinian/Arabic terror period begins with the unleashing
50 51
-~
Be Evolution of the Assassins: From Freebooters and Freemasons to Modern-Day Terrorists
7 -%
,.

•.
1
.,îi • ·.¡: •
,.
*A
3¥
World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured more
a
of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) mad dog,

e
than 1,000. (Had the plot succeeded as planned, tens of thousands

Black September.
would have been killed.)
1972
Black September terrorists massacre Israeli olympic team in
Munich.
1975
Elijah Muhammad dies; Black Muslims split into two fac
tions, with the Reverend Louis Farrakhan leading the radical
Nation of Islam.
1977
Twelve Hanafi Black Muslim members seize three buildings in
Washington, DC, killing one and taking 134 hostage.
1981
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat assassinated; Muslim
Brotherhood believed behind the assassination.
Early 1980s
FBI discovers Libyan agents are funneling large sums of •
money into a Chicago-based pseudo-Islamic group known as El.

Rukn ("The Stone").
18 October 1983
U.S. Embassy in Beirut destroyed by suicide car-bomber; 50 killed
23 October 1983
U.S. Marine Amphibious Unit barracks destroyed by suicide
truck bomber; 241 killed.
1995
June: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak survives assassina·
tion attempt by Muslim Brotherhood. August: More than 300 mem
bers of Muslim Brotherhood arrested by Egyptian security forces.
. .
'"
1996
~+
:; " ♦
3
Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman-a Muslim cleric-and nine mem

{o
*a¢7
I. • .. '
3
ii
•Â-
:¿.
bers of his Queens-based terrorist organization are convicted of the
52 53
PART TWO
•
Fist and Fire
"All warfare is based on deception."

•
-Sun Tzu,
The Art of War
"Allah's Messenger named War: Deceit."
-Abu Huraira,
•
Shihih Al-Bukhari
I
THE RULES OF WAR
Every major military since the dawn of warfare tens of thou

sands of years ago has fashioned certain rules or principles to bet
ter achieve victory. Islamic forces were no different.
Islamic Warfare Rules

It is a rule of war that no battle plan survives first contact with
the enemy. In other words, your enemy determines your strategy.
'In war you adapt or die, period. In keeping with this idiom, Arabic
warfare strategy changed after the advent of Islam, and changed
gain with the coming of the Crusades.
+13
-Islamic Warfare
-b'
.
Prior to the coming of Muhammad, internecine warring

57
Fist and Fire
ter. in a good way. So every one of you should sharpen his

between Arab tribes was the norm. This infighting in many ways
knife and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably."
resembled the type of warring common between Native American
tribes: raiding aimed at seizing goods, slaves, and brides rather
-The Prophet Muhammad,
than at seizing territory. When serious conflicts took place between
Arab tribes, it was generally over vital oasis watering rights, or Al-Jami-us-Sahih, DCCXCV
over real or imagined insults. Pre-Islamic Arab warriors possessed
Despite all-too-common Western depictions of Muhammad as
a warrior ethic and etiquette centered around a code of honor com
a wild-eyed, bloodthirsty desert demon, he was, in fact, a man who
parable to the Bushido of the Japanese samurai. This Arabic war
preferred diplomacy to destruction, talking to taking heads. Yet
rior code was comprised of two concepts: islam and ghira. In pre
Muhammad Arabic culture, the concept of "islam" referred to an when the time came to take scimitar in hand, Muhammad held no
illusions about the nature of warfare. Some scholars translate
attribute of manliness, combining virility and virtue, and was often
Muhammad's summation of war as "war is stratagem." In any
applied to a warrior exhibiting special heroics in battle.
Inherent in the concept of islam was a devil-may-care attitude case, the meaning and intent is clear.
toward death and an acceptance ("submission to"] the dictates of It is intriguing that Muhammad's succinct summation of the
nature of war so closely resembles that used by renowned Chinese
qismah, "duty or destiny." In English, qismah is often rendered
kismet, a synonym for "fate." Only after the sixth century coming warrior Sun Tzu, who summed up the essence of war in his Ping
of the prophet Muhammad did the meaning of the word islam take Pa (The Art of War). Written during China's tumultuous Warring
on the more specific religious meaning of "submission" to Allah, States Period (453-221 B.C.E.), The Art of War remains to this day
unrivaled in its discussion of war strategy and is still widely
the god of Muhammad.
The second major motivating concept for pre-Islamic Arabic regarded today not just as a military treatise, but as a guide to such
warriors was ghira. Ghira {"respect"] is in many ways similar to •di verse subjects as philosophy and finances. The Art of War was
the Asian concept of face. A warrior failing to defend his honor or salready 1,000 years old by the time Muhammad began his religious
avenge a wrong against his person or his tribe was considered @usade. Did Muhammad read, or was he otherwise exposed to,
lacking in ghira. An affront to ghira required that reparation be the strategy of Sun Tzu? Recall that before embarking on his reli-
paid, often in blood. Predictably, real or imagined affronts to ghira glous crusade, Muhammad ran a caravan business, a vocation that
led to long-standing blood feuds. Slights between individuals often 'brought him into contact with tales and travelers from many lands.
escalated to involve whole tribes. Of course, like the chivalry of Mt the very least, Muhammad could have picked up snippets of
the Christian Knights or the Bushido Code of the Samurai, the ., ·:-ate~ while s1tt1ng around carava~ campfires or while convers-
9g with travelers, merchants, mendicants, and mercenaries from
Arabic warriors' adherence to the ideals of islam and ghira often
„„" "9},
the Far East.
fell short. Despite these ideals, Arab warriors were not above
Mumma» momma f„" "et
•
resorting to guile and treachery to accomplish their aims: "To «. "9_9""

z
sneak up behind someone and slit his throat from ear to ear was imply be insight on his part. Perhaps good strategy is simply com-
viewed [by pre-Muhammad Arabs] as the right thing to do in cer-,, ~Jaon sense which, unlike ignorance, is not all that common.
tain situations, and the person who did it was viewed as a hero. ~estingly eno~gh, there i~ a saying attributed to Muhammad
(Robert Morey, The Islamic Invasion: Confronting the World's Fastest t perhaps provides a clue: Seek science, even in China."
1
Growing Religion.)
-s• • • • •
...
Muhammad and War
.
sf
•
~ f'i:' uhAccording to Hadith {the recorded sayings and actions of

"
" À
8 •.'
"Verily Allah has enjoined goodness to everything; so when

you kill, kill in a good way and when you slaughter, slaugh- -.1 ammad), the prophet forbade Muslims from fighting one another:
~!.
58 59
Fist and Fire
unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water."

•
"When two Muslims fight each other with their swords, both
the murderer as well as the murdered will go to the Hell-fire." According to this account, Muhammad's forces killed those who
In preparing his followers for the battles he knew would sure resisted and enslaved others.
ly come, Muhammad taught his followers that they should not
desire an encounter with the enemy, but that it was essential to Jihad and Martyrdom
show "firmness" during such an encounter. According to noted "A man asked Muhammad, 'What is the best deed?'
author Eddie Stone in his Khomeini, the Shah, the Ayatollah, the Muhammad replied, 'To believe in Allah and his
Shi'ite Explosion, Muhammad set humane standards of warfare Messenger.' The man then asked, 'What is the next in good
ness?' The Prophet replied, 'To participate in Jihad in
which his followers were commanded to observe:
Allah's cause.'" {Abu Huraira, Shihih Al-Bukhari.)
• All agreements and treaties were to be honored.
No other Islamic concept has been more misunderstood by
• Treachery was to be avoided.
• Wounded enemies were not to be mutilated. Westerners, and more manipulated by self-serving Middle Eastern
power-mongers, than the concept of Jihad (Holy War). Jihad grew
• Enemy dead were not to be disfigured.
out of the Arabic ghira blood-feud mentality that required all tres
• Women and children were not to be slain.
• Properties such as crops and orchards, as well as sacred pass against honor to be met, all slights avenged. Before
objects, should be spared from destruction. Muhammad, jihad was applied generically to mean any combat or
campaign undertaken to assuage ghira. Under Muhammad, Jihad
Allah's messenger indeed disapproved of the killing of women was applied specifically to crusades undertaken for the purpose of
and children. We are left to wonder then what the prophet of Islam advancing or defending Islam. Raiding between rival Arabic tribes
would have thought of the intentional bombing of a bus packed full for revenge or slaves was a way of life before Muhammad. Under
Muhammad, raiding was elevated to a religious duty and eventu
of women and children?
Far from having his head in the clouds, Muhammad's war ally expanded beyond Arabia. While booty could still be taken,
strategy was realistic as noted by his instructions in the Quran: Muhammad made plain that the underlying justification for raid
mg and conquest was spreading the word of Allah:
Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idol
ators wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and A man came to Muhammad and asked, 'One man fights for
beseige them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if war booty; a second fights for fame and a third fights to
show off; which of them fights in Allah's cause?'
♦
they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due,

then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful. Muhammad replied, 'He who fights that Allah's Word tri
umphs, that man fights in Allah's cause.' (Abu Huraira,
As this passage indicates, Muhammad understood the dynan Shihah Al-Bukhari.)
ics of taking prisoners (possible converts, individuals who could be
ransomed, enslaved); the necessity of the seige; and the usefulness Pre-Islamic Arabic warriors believed paradise awaited any
of catching an enemy napping. He understood the practicality of warrior who died bravely in battle. To this traditional belief
ambush in a guerrilla campaign. In Arabic, the word often used for Muhammad added an extra element of religious fervor and
ambush, an-najash ("drawing out") refers to a ploy of bidding higl reward: In Islam, any Muslim dying in Jihad was a martyr and
to trick another bidder into bidding higher and eventually over earned his place in Paradise:
bidding. Narrator Al-Jami-us-Sahih relates the story of an ambush
by Mohammad upon the Banu Mustliq tribe ". . .while they were A man asked Muhammad to show him a deed equal to
60 61
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Fist and Fire
Jihad in reward. Muhammad told the man, 'I do not find such as suicide bombings, are expressly forbidden to
such a deed.' (Abu Huraira, Shihah Al-Bukhari.) devout Muslims: "Allah said: My slave has caused death on
himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise to him." (Abu
According to Islamic tradition, a Muslim dying in Jihad has all Huraira, Shihih Al-Bukhari.)
his sins blotted out and automatically wins an honored place in
heaven, the garden of paradise. In addition, a martyr: Perhaps someone should inform such fanatical groups as
Hamas and Hizbullah about this.
• receives a crown embedded with an invaluable ruby set in the
center (an obvious symbolic reference to the halo and the ASSASSIN RULES OF WARFARE
acquisition of the mystic's "third eye" of enlightenment)
• is married to 72 dark-eyed celestial virgins The only rule to the Order of Assassins' strategy for war was:
• and, perhaps most importantly, Allah intercedes for 70 of the There are no rules!
martyr's relatives Assassin indoctrination led recruits step-by-step through a tran
scendence of moral qualms and restraints toward a mind-set that
••••• allowed Assassin agents to act without hesitation. The dagger's duty
is not to ponder, but merely to remain firm when plunged forward.
Islam is not the only culture to promise its warriors reward in Religious fanatics and psychopaths share one thing in com
the next world if they but give up their lives in this one. The mon: the belief that the end justifies the means.
Norsemen believed that the warrior's paradise of Valhalla was the
destiny of any Viking berserker or wolfshirt who died with sword in AlJebr
hand. Later, Christian knights were likewise promised heavenly The Assassins' overall fighting strategy, which included battle
reward if they died during a "holy" crusade. Assassin sect members tactics, is known as Al Jebr ("calculation"). It is from this word that
had even more reason to embrace martyrdom in the sect's service, we get our English word for mathematical calculation, algebra.
since, as recruits, they had already been given a foretaste of "par Al Jebr consists of four steps.
adise" in Hasan's magical garden.
Jihad has been manipulated down to the present day as an Understanding Self
excuse for Islamic crusade and conquest. Today, terrorists through This is taking a realistic assessment of your strengths and
out the Middle East and the world use Jihad as a call for the cre weaknesses, honing both your mental and physical reflexes.
ation of a one-world, trans-Islamic empire. However, moderate
Islamic scholars dispute that Muhammad's original call for Jihad Understanding Others
was meant as a perpetual cry for constant war: Deciphering intent in others is what this is, i.e., discovering
weaknesses that can be exploited.
Actually the Koran's call to arms, or Jihad ("holy war"),
relates to a specific episode when the Prophet prepared Understanding Flux of Circumstance
to attack his enemies from the city of Mecca. It was Here the warrior is making a realistic assessment of situation
never intended as a prescription for permanent warfare el factors such as time, place, and terrain.
against the rest of the world. (Sai'd Al-Ashmawy, Islam's
s
Real Agenda.) Effective Execution

z4„_{his is your understanding of the first three steps. Action without
These moderates go on to point out that suicidal actions, Towledge is foolishness. Knowledge without action is cowardice.
$°
2:
62 63
••••• • ••••
Danger increases with proximity. The closer an enemy can get When respected Sunnite scholar Razi began preaching against
to you, the more danger you are in. Consequently, the closer an Ismaili doctrine, Grand Master Muhammad II sent an Assassin
Assassin could get to an enemy-literally getting inside an enemy's agent to dissuade Razi. Posing as a student for seven months, the
physical defenses or figuratively getting inside his mind-the easi agent finally succeeded in gaining Razi's confidence. One day, as
er the accomplishment of the Assassin's mission. Razi was preparing to make another sermon, the Assassin "student"
put a dagger to Razi's throat and ordered him to stop preaching
Intelligence, Strategy, and Execution against Ismailis. Predictably, the wise scholar decided to temper his
Al Jebr aims at penetrating ever deeper into an enemy's tongue. Asked later why he'd refrained from preaching against the
fortress or mind by employing three successive steps: Ismailis, Razi quipped: "The Assassins' arguments are too pointed!"
1. Intelligence gathering The Psychology of Self

2. Strategy development (based on intelligence gathered) Early on in their training, Assassin recruits were introduced to
3. Execution of that strategy mental disciplines designed to steel them in the face of danger and •
death. Assassins aimed at cultivating a mind-set that allowed them

These three steps require not only the deployment of physical to act with calculation but without hesitation. For an Assassin, hes
factors (troops, traps, etc.), but also a studied consideration of psy itation equals death.
chological factors, both your enemy's and your own. In order to acquire a level of training and awareness where
thought and action were one, Assassin recruits were taught a vari
Psychological Warfare ety of mental gymnastics akin to and perhaps derived from Indian
Assassin grand masters used psychology to determine an yogic disciplines.
enemy's intent as well as when and where an enemy was most vul Two of the most useful of these Assassin mental practices were
nerable. Assassin psychological warfare considers two aspects: the meditation and hypnosis.
psychology of self and the psychology of others. The more yoV
know about yourself, the better prepared you will be to deal with Meditation
others. Conversely, by uncovering the weaknesses of others Meditation teaches the body patience when waiting is required
secret fears and obvious foibles-the better you become at perfect and calms the mind when clear-headed calculation is called for.
ing and protecting yourself against such weaknesses. In other Assassin mental disciplines in general, and their meditation prac
words, Al Jebr aims at the systematic penetration of an enemy's tices in particular, are known as Khilwat weave.
mind, circumventing impressive mental facades and defensive Arabian tales of "magic carpets" carrying adventurers aloft, to
rationalization barriers to discover his secrets: Hidden fears and any clime or dimension, are actually thinly disguised references to
desires that can be manipulated to an Assassin's advantage. Sufi (Muslim mystics) meditating on their prayer rugs. The magic
An enemy's fear, greed, arrogance, and other weaknesses are Carpet is also symbolic of the sacred robe Muhammad used to lift
exploited through the use of the nine-gates philosophy (discusse! the "black stone" at the rebuilding of the Ka'ba.
more fully in a moment). Defeating a foe using a psychologica! Khilwat meditation is practiced by sitting with legs crossed in
ploy is always preferable to having to kill him. Remember that • comfortable position, back straight, head slightly bowed. The
Hasan ibn-Sabbah's preference was to try educating foes before _.. lrleditator's hands are held approximately three inches out from
having to assassinate them. Better a warning than a wounding. , 9eta4 heart level win îe fogers entwined to form one of
s. ., *ur mystic "weaves."
64 65
Fist and Fire
they would chant when meditating. In stressful situations, by

Each Khilwat weave is associated with and designed to infuse
. invoking this "key word" they had trained their body and mind to
the meditator with the particular attitude and power represented
associate with relaxation, Assassins could "trick" their mind and
by that weave: body into relaxing. For combat training, recruits were taught a
"trigger" word that they would shout (audibly or internally) each
Earth weave= courage and strength
time they threw a punch or kick or thrust a weapon. Faced with a
Water weave= morality and justice
life-or-death situation, Assassins could then invoke this trigger
Fire weave= reasoning and wisdom
word in order to ignite their flight/fight adrenaline response and
Air weave= temperance and spirituality
release their power.
Hypnosis was also mastered by Assassins as a method of
Hypnosis and self-hypnosis were taught to recruits as methods
manipulating others. The same kind of hypnosis technique used by
for improving control over self and for manipulating others.
today's stage magicians to dazzle audiences were employed by
Self-hypnosis taught recruits how to relax physically and calm
Assassin grand masters with many sinister goals in mind. To
their mind in preparation for going on a mission. During medita
induce or augment control over a hypnotized subject, Assassins
tion, recruits were given a key word, for example, "calm," which
often used a variety of drugs to make the subject more pliable.
Hypnotized individuals could then be given post-hypnotic sugges
tions designed to be triggered when an Assassin agent whispered a
specific trigger word in the subject's ear, or when the subject saw
a trigger word in a written message. While the rule of thumb is that
a hypnotized person cannot be made to do anything they wouldn't
normally do, a post-hypnotic suggestion could be framed in such a
way as to work to the Assassin's advantage.
For example, whereas a hypnotized servant would balk at the
post-hypnotic suggestion, "You will kill your master while he
sleeps," that same hypnotized servant would obey the post-hyp-
notic suggestion that, at a prescribed time, "You will open the
locked window in your master's bedroom so that your master can
•
Earth weave Water weave

enjoy the night breeze." The Assassin agent would then take advan
tage of that open window to do what he did best.
j •••••
Sinan the Physician was a master at infiltrating agents into the
Purts and retinues of influential leaders. Visiting with these
{Purts, Sinan would often exhibit his "powers" of mind control by
*stantly "hypnotizing" one of his host's guards. Sinan could then
Fire weave Air weave rder this "hypnotized" guard to commit suicide or some other out
±8eous act, all to the shock and chagrin of the guard's master. Of
e
urse, the "hypnotized" guard was really one of Sinan's faithful
tents who had infiltrated the court sometime before.
lllvstrotion 3
66 67
This same ploy is still used today by stage magicians and hyp unreliable agents. (An individual or agent dealing in namima is
notists who invite members from the audience up on stage to help called a qattat.)
them with an illusion. The audience member "picked at random" As an example of this, the Old Man of the Mountain needed to
is really a confederate. remove the loyal captain of a particular king's guard in order for
an Assassin infiltrator, already planted in the king's guard, to move
The Psychology of Others into the captain's position. Not wanting to arouse suspicion by sim
Psychology and propaganda were used routinely within the ply murdering the captain, Hasan decided that a namima ploy was
Order of Asassins to inspire and otherwise manipulate followers. called for.
Young assassin recruits were eager to throw their lives away after Discovering the captain's wife to be a regular patron of al ocal
tasting the forbidden fruit of paradise in the Old Man of the soothsayer, the Assassin grand master convinced (bribed or threat
Mountain's magic garden of delights. Today's young Islamic fanat ened) the ersatz psychic to give the captain's wife a special read
ics are likewise all too eager to detonate the bomb strapped to their ing. The next time the woman visited the psychic, the psychic pre
chest, having been promised paradise by their masters. This kind dicted that the woman's husband was going to divorce her.
of psychological manipulation is not limited to Middle Eastern Distraught, she asked what she could do to prevent a divorce. As
countries and culture. instructed by Hasan, the psychic gave the woman a "magic dagger"
Throughout history, religious figures and cult leaders have and told her that, on the night of the full moon, she must use the
used superstition and the promise of paradise both to control fol dagger to cut off a lock of her husband's hair while he slept. The
lowers and to galvanize them into throwing away their lives. As wife was then to bring the lock of hair to the psychic, who
previously mentioned, the belief that the blood of Christ flowed promised to cast a spell designed to prevent the divorce.
through the veins of European royalty helped to keep Europe's feu- Around the same time the psychic was telling the captain's
dal populace in line. For example: wife to cut off a lock of her husband's hair, the captain received an
anonymous warning that, on the night of the full moon, his wife
• Trapped in a losing battle, 4th century emperor Constantine planned to murder him! Predictably, come the night of the full
rallied his troops, winning the day and converting all of Rome m00n, the captain, feigning sleep, sees his wife sneaking up on
to Christianity after claiming to have seen the "sign of the him, dagger in hand. Enraged, he kills his wife on the spot and is
cross" hovering over the battlefield. subsequently executed for her murder. And, as planned, the
• At the mired seige of Antioch in 1098, the flagging morale of Assassin agent becomes the new captain of the guard.
Christian crusaders was revitalized by the all-too-convenient The similarities between this true story and Shakespeares'
discovery of the "holy lance," the spear believed to have been Othello (written in 1604) are striking.
used to pierce the side of Christ. .. Whereas lying was universally despised in Arabic culture, nami
• Muslim Caliph Omar, facing overwhelming odds, outfitted his ma disinformation was a vital weapon in the Assassin's arsenal.
troops in silken robes designed to reflect the dawning sun. To
the opposing army, it appeared that there were angels among The Nine Gates to the City
Omar's hosts. In calculating how to get close to an enemy, either to infiltrate
or to assassinate, assassin trainees were taught that, like a great
~ed city, the mind and body of man has nine "gates• through
•
In the Assassin bag of tricks, such ploys are known as nanl'
ma. false information designed to create chaos and calamity- hich a knowledgeable Assassin might penetrate. An enemy's
¿
2,""]y,
, · ts :;:~~1cal gates could be penetrated by physical techniques.
Namima covers ploys, propaganda, and deception of all sor '
from making the enemy think you have more troops than yo" S"' en enemy could a1so be attacked (trough his nine pey
to feeding a list of phony contacts to compromised or otherwis gfological gates via psychological attacks.
,
-sze *,
1."
68
.•
69
A
Physical gates included the eyes (two), ears (two), nose (two
nostrils), mouth (one), urethra (one), and anus (one}, totaling nine.
Psychological gates consisted of sight, hearing, attraction, distrac
tion, appetite, needs, sex, wants, and predictability, again totaling
nine.
•
Physical Penetration
Assassin students were required to master the subject of
human anatomy (what parts of the body were most susceptible to
blows and dagger thrusts, how particular drugs and poisons
•
worked) in preparation for physical assault.
• The eyes of an enemy can be attacked by blinding him with toxic

liquids and powders. Eyes can be blinded by too much light as
well and can be rendered almost useless with too little light.
• An enemy's ears can be startled by loud noises. A person's ears
also control his balance; strong blows to the ears can shatter ! e "e,
the ear drum, thereby unbalancing an opponent, producing

pain, disorientation, and even death.
• Can't breath, can't fight. Mace and other toxics can interfere
with an opponent's breathing (nose). Sharp blows to the nose ••
can interfere with breathing and cause temporary blindness

through tearing of the eyes. Strong punches to the midsection
I
••
•
(diaphragm) can also interfere with breathing.
1
.'
I
:
.
• Medieval assassins concocted special perfumes that, separate,
s
were harmless, but when combined produced deadly gas.

•
J
i
%
• Anything a person eats (mouth) can be poisoned.

• The hands and fingers of an attacker can be counterattacked
by stabs and cuts with sharp implements. Hands can also be
crippled by blows from heavy objects and/or punches. Fingers
can be broken through the use of grabbing or twisting breaks
and locks.
®
• The wrist is the weak link connecting the hands ("guns") with
the muscles ("ammunition") of the arm. Break this link and you
make it impossible for an opponent to use his hands as
weapons. The wrist can be dislocated by jerking an attacker's
hand forward sharply. The wrist can also be incapacitated by
heavy blows and/or tendon-severing cuts.
®
I
• The elbow can be jammed, taking power from a punch. The
elbow can also be "locked out" and broken.
4
70 71
Fist and Fire
• The neck and throat can be targeted with sharp implements

and with hand blows during close-in fighting.
• The groin can be targeted with kicks, hand blows, and with stab
bing implements, either from the front or the rear. The testicles
G
and penis can be targeted with wrenching or squeezing grabs.
• The head can be targeted with hand strikes (when an opponent
is standing) and foot blows (when an opponent is down), with
heavy bludgeon blows, and with stabbing strikes.
• The armpit can be targeted any time an opponent raises his
® arm. Use a feigned overhead strike to make an opponent
expose this vulnerable area. Attack into the armpit with
G
..•
clenching grabs where the pectoral (chest) muscle connects
/
onto the upper arm. Stab into the armpit with stabbing imple
ments and with stiff-finger strikes.
® • The solar plexus can be attacked with punches, horizontal
elbow blows, and with stabbing implements.
4.
• The knee can be targeted with sweeping kicks and with stomps.
• The shin can be attacked with kicks and with painful down
ward scraping attacks.
• The foot and ankle can be attacked with stomps designed to
impede strikes and with kicks designed to force an opponent
off balance. The Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle can
,, be attacked with debilitating stomps and with kicks again
designed to throw your opponent off balance.
• The kidneys can be attacked with a variety of hand and foot
blows, as well as with stabbing implements.
• The spine offers targets all along its length. The seventh verte
bra is susceptible to forceful "hammer" blows from the fist and
from bludgeons. This is also a major stabbing target when
attacking from the rear.
Psychological Penetration
The nine-gates philosophy is also used to plot psychologically
based attacks, such as when an enemy's eye and ear gates are
tricked through the clever use of camouflage and disguise.
For example, after scouting the Persian fortress of al-Ubullah,
Caliph Omar's lieutenant, Utbah, realized that a direct assault by
his small force would be futile and decided instead to use a ruse.
Utbah had the women in his camp sew extra flags, which he then
hung on spears. These spears he gave to the women, ordering them
Illustration 5
72 73
to march behind his army, raising as much dust as possible. When young man, depending on the target's particular proclivity). At a
the Persian defenders saw the Muslims advance and saw the deeper level, an enemy official might spy against his own govern
amount of dust being raised, the defenders falsely assumed that ment if you convince him that his talents would be more appreci
Utbah's small force of 300 was merely the vanguard for a much ated and respected by your side.
larger army. The Persians quickly abandoned al-Ubullah, allowing Anus gate strategy teaches us that we are all creatures of habit.
Utbah to occupy the fortress and the surrounding countryside Fearing the strange, we fall to the familiar. We take the same route
without firing a shot. This is an ancient ploy, one spoken of Sun home every day, eat at the same restaurant each weekend, and
Tzu's The Art of War: "In night fighting use many torches and sooner or later we must all heed the call of nature. Around any one
drums, in day fighting many banners and flags in order to influ of these corners we turn on the way to these familiar spots, death
ence the sight and hearing of the enemy." can be waiting. Many a Muslim (Shiite founder Ali, for example)
During World War II, Allied forces created phony airfields has been slain while attending mandatory prayers. The bottom
and army bases replete with straw soldiers, wooden planes, and line: human beings are predictable.
inflatable trucks and tanks, all designed to fool the eye gates of
Axis spies.
The ear gates can also be attacked through rumor and disin- The Art of Espionage
formation (namima). During the War of 1812, two young girls, In any time and clime, the goal of espionage is twofold: deci
alone at Scituate Light, Massachusetts, frightened away a British pher the enemy's intent and mask your own. Knowledge is power,
invasion force simply by playing a fife and drum up and down the and intelligence, both the inherited kind and the gathered variety,
shore, tricking the British into believing colonial troops were mass is a coveted commodity, vital to the success of a mission and vital
ing to defend against any landing. to the survival of an agent.
Mouth gate ploys attack enemyies through their appetites and No one knows when or where the organized use of spies
needs. We all must eat, making each of us susceptible to poisoning began. However, 2,500 years ago, Sun Tzu thought the use of spies
on a physical level. However, we can also be "poisoned" on a men- s0 vital to strategy that he devoted an entire chapter in The Art of
tal level. War to the subject.

"Appetite" also applies broadly to greed and to those things we Naturally, spies are nothing new in the Middle East. In the
think-or can be convinced-we need. Implanting "false" needs 13th century, the Hebrew warlord Joshua sent spies into the land
into a person's head is a tried and true ploy; just ask the master of Canaan prior to his Israelite invasion. The prophet Muhammad
manipulators on Madison Avenue. also understood the need for spies, as it is recorded that the
Metaphorically speaking, to use a nose gate ploy to trap a foe, "reconnoiterer" Az-ubair brought Muhammad vital information
we must first find something that either attracts him greatly or prior to the strategic Battle of Al-Ahzab. Assassin trainees were
repels him greatly and then use that strong like or dislike to "lead drilled in a regimen of espionage skills that would have made
him around by the nose." Psychologically, the nose gate is influ James Bond envious. This course of study included studying cus
enced by attraction and confused by distraction. Confidence toms and religion, language, codes, disguise, infiltration, and
schemers enter the lives of their victims through this unguarded escape and evasion. Recruits showing aptitude in certain areas
gate. A sweet smell (a too-good-to-be-true deal, for example) catch were then given advanced espionage training.
es a person's attention in the same way the smell of blood attracts
a predatory animal. Types of Spies
In employing urethra gate manipulation, an enemy's desires Assassin grand masters employed four types of agents.
and lusts are used against him. At the simplest level, a foe might
be distracted and set up for murder by a damsel in distress (or Gatherers: These were persons living in a specific area who
74 75
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assossins Fist and Fire
re
passed on bits of information, often without knowing that the If the plot used to assassinate Bakhitiar in 1970 sounds famil-
>.•
g
information would eventually find its way to the Assassin grand ?jar,
•...
that's because it's the same plot Sinan the Physician used to kill
master. Each piece of information might be unimportant in and of sponrad of Montferrat in 1192. (See "The Art of Disguise" later in
itself, but when put together with other fragments of information, this chapter.)
a
emerging patterns were often revealed. As for sleeper agents, they are common in intelligence operations
and are given sufficient funds and cover identities to allow them to
Turned Agents: Turned agents were also indigenous personnel insinuate their way into a particular clique, court, or community.
(natives, officials, and sometimes captured enemy spies) who were Positioned well in advance, sleepers give logistical help to
convinced (through bribery, threats, or blackmail) to work for the other agents arriving later and use their established, trusted posi
Assassin cause. tion to get close to notables, cutting them down when the order
comes from their "controller" (spy master). Sleeper agents can
False Agents: False agents were expendable. These agents were spend years worming their way into trusted positions within an
sent on impossible missions guaranteed to result in their death or • enemy stronghold and then remain in place for years, waiting for
capture. These agents were expected to fail and would be supplied the single command from their leader to strike.
with false information that would either be found on their bodies or To show the extremes to which Assassin agents will go to insin
tortured out of them. Such disinformation would consist of Assassin uate themselves into an advantageous position, Zengi, father of
contacts (actually loyal courtiers) or false travel plans for individuals Nur ed-Din, was murdered by an Assassin sleeper agent posing as
or caravans (designed to entice the readers into an ambush). a eunuch. (We need not ask how this Assassin successfully passed
himself off as a eunuch. Obviously the agent had been chosen for
True Agents: These agents were of two types: sappers sent out the mission because he was a cut above other agents!) Assassin
on specific missions (attacks on castles, assassinations, ambushes) grand masters went so far as to purchase young European slaves,
and sleepers, who were infiltrators and deep-cover agents. raise them in Assassin doctrine, then send them out to spy among
Here's a tale of two sappers: In 1970, two hijackers comman the Christians.
deered a plane on a flight out of Teheran and forced it to fly to It has been alleged that, after the breakup of the Order of
Baghdad, where they declared their intention to join General Assassins, these Assassin-trained European sleepers helped found
Taymor Bakhitiar's fight against the Shah of Iran. Bakhitiar wel several European secret societies and Freemasonry lodges.
comed these defectors with open arms. (In 1956, Bakhitiar had
become the first chief of SAVAK, the Shah's dreaded secret police. • ••••
By all reports, Bakhitiar took pleasure in personally torturing pris
oners. His power grew in Iran until the Shah himself began to fear Assassin sleepers were skilled in all aspects of imposture and
him. Finally, after being implicated in a 1967 plot to kill the Shah, Assassin sappers were drilled in all manner of stealth in preparation
Bakhitiar fled to Iraq.) for infiltration and in case they needed to escape or evade capture.
Three years later, a few days after the arrival of the two defect-
ing hijackers, Bakhitiar and his two new friends embarked on a The Art of Stealth
hunting expedition. The hunting was good for the two defectors. The Assassin art of stealth, called kasafat ("eclipsed") included
As soon as they saw their chance, they put a bullet through not only silent movement, but also the breaching of barriers (walls,
Bakhitiar' s brain and fled back to Iran. moats, etc.). Assassin sappers slipping into crusader camps past
To this day, whether the two assassins were sent by the Shah guard dogs often did so naked, since it was believed that dogs
himself or by the Iranian terrorist group Siahkal, whom Bakhitiar never bark at a naked man. This also let sappers know that anyone
had ruthlessly suppressed, is not known. they touched who was wearing clothes was the enemy. In modern
76 77
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Fist and Fire
times, Arabs infiltrating French Foreign Legion posts in Algeria • The more things change, the more they stay the same. In
also used this ploy. November 1991, an assassin disguised as a journalist repeat
Before infiltrating a fortress, sappers oiled their bodies. This edly stabbed the former king of Afghanistan in a failed assas
not only helped them to squeeze through small openings, but also sination attempt.
allowed them to wiggle free if attacked.
The Art of Disguise

"The Jinn may take the form of animals like snakes, scor
pions, camels, cows, goats, sheep, horses, mules, donkeys,
and birds. They may also assume the form of humans. . "
-Ibn Taymeeyah,
Essay on the Jinn
Called taqiyah, the art of disguise can be as simple as turning a

reversible jacket inside out and pulling a cap down over your head
in order to lose yourself in a crowd. To a sleeper agent spending
months or years creating a deep-cover story, insinuating yourself
into a community, court, or clique in order to get close enough to
kill the target meant nothing.
In 1192, two well-educated and wealthy Syrians, from all out-
ward appearances the very image of Muslim nobility, settled in the
city of Tyre. Expressing an interest in converting to Christianity,
the two quickly made friends amongst the Christians, including the
leader of 'lyre, Conrad of Montferrat, next in line for King of
Jerusalem. Convinced of the two's sincerity, Conrad himself spon
sored the two Muslims' baptism as Christians.
Conrad was very proud of his part in the conversion of the
two "godless" Muslims. As a result, the two converts soon
became permanent fixtures in Conrad's court and were often
seen in his company.
Months passed. Then one day, Conrad was approached on the
street by his two new friends. As Conrad heartily greeted them,
one pinned Conrad's sword arm while the other repeatedly
plunged a dagger deep into Conrad's body. The two "converts"
were, of course, Assassin agents unleashed by Sinan the Physician, •
whom Conrad had angered by pirating a merchant ship carrying

Assassin cargo.
• ••••
78 79
...
Janna: Assassin
&
y·unarmed Combat
-
~...
_.,
/::
·a3:
.,
-E,
"So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him."
3
i ..... :-,
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....
-The Quran
.. i
.
•°
-t::"' '
?,
3-,
.
t
Before his untimely death in 1405, Mongol conqueror

3: Tamerlane
seemed undefeatable. In 1387, the warrior conquered
Persia and by 1392 the Caucasus were under his control. In 1398
* he invaded India and sacked Delhi. He then ran across Syria to
defeat the Ottoman Turks in 1402.
»
Tamerlane's successes were in a great part due to his use of the

nine blows military strategy. He divided his forces into three parts:
. a center and two wings. Each of these was composed of three divi
sions. During a battle, these nine divisions attacked in waves,
delivering nine separate successive blows against enemy positions.
THE FOUNDATION OF JANNA
Assassin unarmed combat-janna-employs a strategy similar

to Tamerlane's, relying on nine principle body weapons striking in
• a succession of blows designed to overwhelm an opponent.
Unarmed hand blows and blocks used in janna closely
approximate those movements used when the hand is gripping a
kife {or any other weapon for that matter). As with all reality-
based martial arts, regardless of time or place, Assassin janna
·:i 1J: -ttainees were first required to master a course of hand-to-hand
81
Janna: Assassin Unarmed Combat
combat be£ore progressing to armed combat forms. This com

mon sense progression helped toughen trainees physically as
well as psychologically, preparing them for violent one-on-one
struggles. An initial course of unarmed combat study also helped
instructors separate those students with natural fighting (and
killing) ability from those requiring additional instruction and
from those who would never be suited for what some modern
©
day assassins call "wet work." Effective mastery of unarmed
combat provided Assassin operatives with an additional line of © ©
defense in the (unlikely) event they ever found themselves sepa-
rated from their weapons.
THE NINE BLOWS OF JANNA
Assassin initiates learned the nine blows of janna during

their training.
Hands ©
Janna hand blows primarily consist of three techniques: ham
mer-hand (closed-hand fist), knife-hand (palm blows and stiff-fin
ger jabs), and the lion's paw (claw-hand/splayed fingers).
Hammer-Hand
Hammer-hand blows are performed exactly the same as blows
delivered when gripping a knife or other stabbing weapon.
Knife-Hand
These strikes are extended-finger jabs mimicking the stabbing ••
of a real knife blade into soft targets (eyes, the front of the throat,
solar plexus). In addition, knife-hand/open-hand palm blows give
the added advantage that once the palm blow makes contact, the
hand can easily be closed and used for grabbing (jerking an oppo
nent off balance, pulling him into another strike, etc.).
•
Lion's Paw
These clawing hands are also used to attack soft targets such
as the eyes and throat.
Feet
Unlike most Far Eastern unarmed combat styles (karate, kung 16
82 83
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Jonna: Assassin Unarmed Combat
sc22
fu), janna unarmed combat does not emphasize high kicking, con to protect the blocking/deflecting arm when defending against
'a
centrating instead on low-level kicks including covered-toe strikes attack by a heavy bludgeon or blade.
forward and up (targeting the groin and bladder), sweeps and Punches, kicks, and weapons blows can be effectively blocked
strikes with the instep, and heel stomps forward and down . or deflected with your arms.
(designed to deliver the coup de grace to an opponent once he is
knocked to the ground).
Elbows and Knees

These are used in janna as secondary, close-in weapons and as fin
ishing-off weapons. An opponent's head can be pushed down to meet
©
a rising knee. An elbow strike to the temple can kill an opponent.
The Head
Head butts and strikes can be employed in both offensive (the
forward head butt) and defensive (the rear head butt when grabbed
from behind) maneuvers.
•••••
••
It must be remembered that Assassin recruits were not trained

to be unarmed fighters per se, but rather were trained to kill
unarmed. It was vital that an assassin finish off a foe as quickly as
possible, especially one encountered unexpectedly (such as when
©
•
escaping from a castle). An Assassin sapper entering or exiting a

castle had scant seconds to disable an unexpected sentry before an
•
alarm could be sounded. As a result, janna emphasizes striking a

foe with a single forceful blow designed to kill him, or at the very •
©
least knock him unconscious. Barring a single, decisive blow, assas •
sins struck with a succession of three rapid blows designed to first

stun and then kill a foe. Anything less would delay the assassin's
mgress
•
or egress.
When your escape depends on quick action, delay equals death,
UNARMED BLOCKING TECHNIQUES
Whenever possible, it is preferable to block any attack with a

weapon in your hand. This applies whether your attacker is armed
•'
or unarmed. Any stout stick, rolled-up magazine, or similar

weapon can be held flush with the forearm using the inside grip to
augment blocking (see Illustration seven). It is especially important
7
84 85
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins [le Evolution of the Assassins: From Freebooters and Freemasons to Modern-Day Terrorists
1184 troops for action (against the Templars) and tells them not to open
English knight Robert of St. Albans defects from the Templars the second until the evening of 12 October. By the morning of 13
and becomes a Muslim. He later leads an army for Saladin against October, nearly every Templars in France is in custody. Edward II
the French in Jerusalem. of England (Philip's son-in-law) likewise seizes what he believes to
be all the Templars in England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
1186 However, Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, defies Edward's
Avenger grand master is hung; Order of Avengers believed order and secretly establishes the Order of H.R.M./Knights
wiped out. However, many believe that the Aleppine Assassins R.S.Y.C.S. from the Templars in his service.
were an offshoot of the Avengers. Secret societies such as the Beati
Paoli and the Black Hand can be traced to the Avengers. The Black 1311
Hand would later be known as the Mafia. With the issuance of a papal decree, the Knights Templars offi
cially ceases to exist after four years of persecution. Grand Master
1213
The Templars take the side of King Bohemond against the Assassin sed emblem Sample of knights templar's secret
Hospitaliers after the Hospitaliers are implicated in the murder of writing
Bohemond's son and the patriach of Jerusalem.
1261
King Louis IX of France convenes a meeting of the leaders of
the northern consortium in Acre, with the grand masters of both
the Order of Assassins and Knights Templars in attendance. Louis
proposes that they join him and six powerful merchant groups-to
be collectively known as the illuminati or enlightened ones-in a
scheme to control Europe, the Middle East, Far East, and Africa
rather than fight each other for control. The Assassin grand master
accepts, but the Templars grand master refuses.
1271
The Hospitaliers lose their main castle in the Holy Land (Krak Symbol of freemasonry
des Chevalliers) after the Templars reportedly make a deal with
Mameluke warlord Baibars.
1305
King Philip IV of France seizes Pope Boniface VIII and installs a
puppet pope, Clement V. Popes remain under direct French control
until 1377, the period becoming known as the Babylonian Captivity.
12 September 1307
Royal officers throughout France receive two sealed letters
from King Philip. The first instructs the recipients to prepare their ile similarities ore obvious.
48 49
3
,
,
CHAPTER SEVEN
s
2z>
Assassin Blade
Techniques and
Strategy
We live in the age of the gun. But rather than making blades
obsolete, the modern age's overdependence on firearms actually
works to the blade wielder's advantage since an enemy may under
estimate the lethal potential of the blade. For example, whereas
most modern body armor designs will stop many handgun bullets,
many won't stop a knife blade. This is because lead bullets expand
on contact with body armor material, whereas knives (especially
daggers and well-made combat knives) and other piercing instru
ments (high quality arrows, etc.) retain their shape and sharp
edges. In the Middle Ages, Assassins studied how to circumvent
crusader armor, learning that, whereas a long sword, spear, arrow,
or other such weapon couldn't penetrate, a small dirk could.
Is there really that much difference between 14th century
knight's armor and the Kevlar body armor of today? Not when it
comes to quality edged weapons.
FIGHTERS VERSUS KILLERS
Medieval assassins were not trained to be knife fighters so

much as simply to be killers. There is a big difference between
having the mind-set of a knife fighter and having the mind-set of a
knife killer. In prison, where homemade knives ("shanks") are the
: •"1e
;-"8in weapon of necessity, convicts have a saying: "You never see
knife that kills you." According to prison logic, if one prisoner
y Is a knife on a fellow prisoner and lets his intended victim see
89
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Assassin Blade Techniques and Strategy
the knife, the first prisoner is just trying to scare the second pris
oner. Conversely, a convict determined to kill another never lets •
the intended victim know he (the attacker) has a knife until the vic •
tim feels it enter his body. (Often a prisoner will feign friendship
with the intended victim-an old assassin ploy-in order to get the
victim to drop his guard.)
BLADE BASICS
Whereas some societies never developed the bow and arrow,

all primitive societies developed knives, first as tools, then as ®
weapons. Knives are the simplest of weapons to make. All you
need is a sharp stick or a shard of obsidian. When man graduated
from hunting animals to hunting his fellows, knives became more
specialized, evolving into swords and other killing blades. From
African fighting knives such as the Ethiopian shotel sword, the •
Dahomey yekplenetoh (straight razor), and the respected Zulu

assegai (short spear) to the East Indian katar (punching dagger) and
bagh nakh ("tiger claws"}, Okinawan sai and kara, and the
Japanese ninja's use of shuriken (throwing stars), societies and cul
tures developed specialized bladed weapons and often systemized
styles of combat based on those weapons.
Ironically, while the world thinks of America as the land of the
gun, American's first private martial arts school was founded in
1820s Louisiana, where there existed a studio where students
learned knife-fighting techniques from Jim Bowie. • •
For the novice, the prospect of having to study the myriad of

bladed weapons, not to mention the scores of knife-fighting
styles and schools, is daunting. However, no matter what the
particular type of knife, human anatomy limits the ways a knife
•
can effectively be gripped and used. In other words, knifelike

weapons must be held in one of two grips: the outside grip or the
ulstration B
inside grip.
fron'm the
the rear (Illustration
.
.•
Outside Knife Grip 5). The outside grip also allows for
"PWard-rising stabs along the centerline, targeting the groin, solar
Using the outside grip [Illustration 8i), the knife is held with
ê©mus, or throat {Illustration 16), and slashing back and forth
the blade extending out from the thumb side of the hand. An
attacker stabs forward in a straight thrusting attack, targeting areas „c ard toward his centerline and outward away from his center
«ge) along a horizontal plane, as well as up and down diagonally
along the centerline if his opponent is facing him (Illustration 4
an "X" pattern (Illustration 9).
and into multiple targets along the spine and back when attacking
90 91
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Assassin Blade Techniques and Strategy
Inside Knife Grip t

•••••
When using the inside grip, the combatant holds the knife with
the blade extending out from the bottom of the fist. This places the •• Beginning students always ask how tightly they should grip
blade flush with the forearm, making it easier to conceal during =:i: their knife. The answer is traditional, yet still valid: hold your
pre-fight (Illustration 11). Attackers employing the inside grip tend • blade as if it were a little bird. Held too tightly, it will not be able
to stab downward into the upper body of a victim, targeting the to breathe; too loosely, and it will fly from your hand.
side of the neck and the subclavicle arteries. (This high-level,
z
inside grip, downward slashing movement is the most common BASIC ATTACK PATTERNS
type of knife attack employed by the untrained.) The inside grip •
can also be used for back-and-forth slashing attacks along a hori A knife fighter is restricted to a limited number of basic cuts
zontal plane (Illustration 14). Held flush along the forearm, a long or directions of attack, regardless of the grip he is using. These con
bladed knife or similarly elongated weapon can be used to rein sist of straight-in stabs, inside-outside horizontal slashes ascend-
force a forearm block, such as when defending against an overhead " ing-descending vertical slashes, and diagonal "X" slashes, also
•f
bludgeon attack. _;\ known as "figure 8s."

Untrained attackers often attempt straight-in stabs (Illustration
9ij. On the other hand, experienced knife fighters often make
- thrusts toward a victim's face in order to elicit a flinch reaction.
• Horizontal cuts (Illustration 9ii) slash back and forth along a
horizontal line. (The untrained use such slashing at the level of
their would-be victim's solar plexus, whereas skilled killers use
horizontal cuts to attack a victim's throat from the front, pulling a
victim off balance and cutting their throat before the victim even
realizes a knife has been drawn.
® Horizontal cuts can be made with the knife held in either the
© inside or outside grip. A double-edged knife can easily be drawn
back and forth along this horizontal plane. A single-edged blade
Pust be rotated by flipping the wrist each time it completes its
aside or outside swing. Note: Care must be taken when using the
horizontal cut to employ short slashes rather than overly wide
swings that close off your centerline and leave you vulnerable to
counterattack (Illustration 9iii.).
Vertical cuts rise up from the floor (using the outside grip) or
slash down from overhead (using an inside grip). Note: Care must be
I
taken when employing downward slashing strikes from the front, in
~~~ orde~ to avoid overextending the drawing back of your hand, thus
„'PPening yourself up to counter-jamming (Illustration 9iv).
.„,"e9! x° evo gjh v ad down t a csscrossie
2"ton. This type of cutting can be used with an up-and-back
Jelashing action, or can be blended into a continuous figure-8 cut-
ag pattern.
Illustration 9
3
92 93
,
•
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Assassin Blade Techniques and Strategy
.
MOVEMENT RUSES, FEINTS, AND STRATAGEMS . :~Illustration lOii shows how the veiled hand also permits the assas-
~- \sin to shift the knife unseen from an inside to an outside grip.
Knowing when to use a weapon is just as important as know "zu
.,,
Efe
fg
=k
Concealing Your Weapons
313
. ... ..
ing how to use that weapon. Say you have been cornered by an
attacker in your own home. Behind your back you hold a ballpoint Assassin sappers extrapolated the concept of the veiled hand to
k
pen or a shard of broken glass (both viable knife substitutes) You 'include larger weapons (swords, spears). Larger weapons could be
know how to use your makeshift weapon-straight through the eye Shidden behind an assassin's body, even when the assassin was not
and into the brain-but unless you know when to strike, timing ~:~:wearing a voluminous robe or cloak. Carrying weapons flush with
\i
your single strike just right, your weapon will be useless. ,~: or behind his body also helped distort his silhouette at night.
Assassin recruits were taught to disguise both their intent to do Modern-day assassins and street thugs know the advantange of
bodily harm and the weapon with which they intended to do that . '
bodily harm. Ideally, an assassin's victim never saw the assassin's

weapon until he tasted blood.
The Veiled Hand

Professional knife fighters disguise the movement of their
blades by keeping their free hand "dancing" in front of their blade
hand. Intent on keeping track of the attacking blade each time the
attacker's blade disappears and then reappears from behind the
blocking hand, the defender's eyes and mind must readjust. The
split second delay a defender's eyes and mind needs to readjust to
the disappearance and reappearance of the threatening blade can
be all the attacker needs to deliver the telling blow. Among assas-
sins, this technique is known as the veiled hand. .
Illustration lOi shows how the veiled hand allows the assassin
to hide his blade's movement (up and down, side to side).
•
•
/I • •
Illustration 1 O . 11
94 95
Assassin Blade Techniques and Strategy
sd®
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• r
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J
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Illustration 12
concealing weapons in order to get close to an intended victim

without alerting that victim to danger. For example, that harmless
looking drunk staggering toward you appears to be carrying a bot,
search. As a result, street punks and other killers have mastered
,l
tle in a paper bag. But, even if the paper bag is in the shape of a the art of concealing deadly blades.
g "
bottle, how can you be certain there is a bottle in it? Up-the-sleeve (Illustration 13i): A variety of knives can be hid-
Carefully concealed weapons are often missed during a curso,
96 97
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Assassin Bkde Techniques and Strategy
den by strapping them to the forearm. Several models of spring Canes and umbrellas (Illustration 13xi) can make excellent
loaded devices exist that are designed to drop a hidden forearm ; -~ ;,uAing weapons. Sword canes of assorted types (and levels of
{reliability) are also available. Street gangs often augment canes and
knife into a wearer's hand.
i
Behind-the-back (Illustration 13ii): A blade can easily be con- umbrellas by sharpening the points.
cealed behind a wielder's back, stuck through the belt, or in the Boots (Illustration 13xii} worn by gang members are often aug
mented with protruding spikes. Legal-to-wear cleats (further sharp
waistband of the pants.
Pockets of all sorts (Illustration 13iii) can conceal blades, espe- ened by street thugs) are a definite asset in any kill-or-be-killed sit
cially pen knives. It is a common practice on the street to slice the ¿uation, whether or not the wearer is an accomplished kicker.
waist pockets of a jacket to allow your hands to reach in through i Gloves (Illustration 13xiii) can be affixed with protruding
the cut pocket in order to retrieve a knife (or other weapon) stuck ~~-it¡>ikes to augment punching. Sharpened, such spikes can cause
in the waistband of the pants. {imajor damage or death from blood loss. Street gangs sew razor
Shoes and socks (Illustration 13iv} can easily conceal knives, :;J,lades onto the fingers and seams of gloves between the thumb
straight razors, and other weapons, all of which can be easily .,J.nd index finger. This arrangement allows an attacker to cut a vic
s„
missed during a cursory search. Blades and other weapons hidden 'im's throat simply by seizing their throat.
in socks and boots have an advantage of being readily accessible Flbows {Ilustration 13iv) can be augmented with spikes
when you are knocked to the ground. ; . . ched to elbow pads on the jacket. These spikes supplement
Tethers and chains (Illustration 13v) can be used to hold blades •. :· bow blows and, if of sufficient length, can kill.
under a person's shirt or behind their back. A tethered knife situ • Knees are likewise augmented with spike-impregnated knee
ated in the center of the back between the shoulder blades will ds (Illustration 13xv) worn under the pants. These spikes can
often be passed over during a cursory search. use severe damage when directed against a victim's groin, caus
Long hair (Illustration 13vi) can also conceal small knives, bleeding, trauma, and shock. They can also be used against a
'ma's head (pressed downward by your hands) to stun, causing
razor blades, and so on.
Hats of all kinds (Illustration 13vii) can conceal blades and onscousness or death.
it
other weapons. Street gangs sew razor blades into the bills of their ';, :, t:.
caps, which remain unseen until needed. . ,:
The center of the chest (Illustration 13viii) is an excellent ...... ,. "
e°
place to duct-tape a blade, since it will often be passed over dur- .- .
-i
ing a pat-down.
z.. -
-
3 .:
Belt-buckle knives (Illustration 13ix} of various sorts (and with

various levels of reliability) are available to the general public.
Note: Blades come in an array of tempers (strengths). Some well
forged blades cut through bone like butter, while cheaper blades
can snap from the slightest pressure. However, when it comes to a
kill-or-be-killed survival situation, getting your hand on any
weapon-a cheap blade or otherwise-is better than being
unarmed. Snowball better than no ball!
The groin area (Illustration 13x) is an excellent place to hide a
blade, since most security personnel will pass over the groin rather
than grope it during a pat-down search. (Note: This does not apply
to security personnel in San Francisco.)
98 99
CHAPTER EIGHT
E Movement Patterns
•
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i
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It is instinctual for humans to move back and away from dan

.: ~¡er. While this reflex gets us out of trouble most of the time,
.~ ~today's experienced attackers familiar with these instinctual reac
jtions use them against their victims, just as medieval Assassins
once used such instincts against their targets. Janna combat train
~ ~:ing taught Assassin trainees to step toward and into an opponent,
. :since it is unnatural to step toward danger and is the last thing an
~;; opponent-especially an armed attacker-expects.
•
.
77
...
.
UP AND DOWN
•;.
h
......
,
"*A
,:--
--~
I is instinctual to duck when a threat is aimed at your head.
.;~ Unfortunately, just ducking seldom gets us out of danger
. • •11nustration 14i).
When used for self-defense, ducking must be a purposeful
;::.•ction designed to get us out of danger or to help us overcome an
7e
~"attacker. Any ducking action must be followed up with a counter-

*jction, either fleeing or counterattacking.
'Likewise, when something threatens our lower body, we jump
~.Formost people, jumping up (to avoid a leg sweep, etc.) is not
{{stinctual and must be trained, like jumping rope. An attacking
,3, . ssin comes in low under an opponent's guard or attacking
dto strike or counterstrike into an opponent's body.
101
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Movement Patterns
BACK-STEP DIAGONAL LEFT
When stepping back (Illustration 14iii), it is preferable to step
© 1.
back diagonally. Stepping back diagonally places you at an oblique
angle to your opponent and puts you in position for a throwing tech
nique or for a counterattack. Against a straight forward advancing
i opponent, stepping diagonally throws off his advance, causing
~~ momentary hesitation as he must adjust to your new position.
e
:
' i? •
-l."i
f BACK-STEP DIAGONAL RIGHT

•· I •
=
-• Ei
,,,;
g
This works the same as backpedaling left (Illustration 14iv).
«,'r
-~~ The choice of direction is made to place yourself in the most

j
G
-~! advantageous position for throwing and counterstriking.
t-
q 4lii:
~~
SIDE-SHIFT LEFT
This allows you to move to the outside of an attacker's thrust

ing hand or foot (Illustration 14v), placing you in a better position
: ;,.for counterattacking with a hand blow (targeting the attacker's cen
~-terline) or with a foot strike (a side kick or a sweeping-in kick). This
~:•hifi also places you in a better position for slicing across your oppo-
. '
a ent's body using a horizontal blade stroke (see Illustration Nine).
SIDE-SHIFT RIGHT
Whether to shift right or left depends on your attacker's thrust,

{since you want to move to the outside of his power (Illustration 14vi).
Illustration 14 6
FORWARD-STEP STRAIGHT
BACK-STEP STRAIGHT
Meeting an attacker head-on is seldom a good idea, since his
ategy for attacking you straight-on depends on your remain-
It is also instinctive to backpedal when faced with an attacker.
g in the path of his punches, kicks, or weapon thrusts
unfortunately, merely backpedaling ·- to the rear sstill
1 perrmits anf lustration 14vii).
attacker to continue his straight-line attack. For the purpose ~s
Stepping straight forward is effective for jamming an attacker's
Offensive action it is important to learn to step backwar 8 ches and kicks before he can effectively execute them. The sur-
(Illustration 14ii)' without losing
• your balance in• order t~ draw tech· se of stepping forward to meet an attacker must be weighed
•
grappling opponent off balance (in preparation for a throwing
linst the danger of meeting an attack head-on.
nique or for impaling him on a blade).
102 103
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Movement Patterns
FORWARD-STEP DIAGONAL LEFT
Ideally, when countering a straight forward attack, you should

move forward diagonally (Illustration 14viii), shifting forward
either to the right or left. This shifting forward places you in the
ideal position for counterattacking (see Illustration 15).
•....
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FORWARD-STEP DIAGONAL RIGHT

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The same advice applies as for a side shift (Illustration 14ix).

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COUNTERATTACKING ,. .
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When faced with a kill-or-be-killed situation, any movement
2=
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on your part must be intended to first, take you out of the "line of ....~...
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fire" and second, place you in the best position to counterattack.

Faced with an attacker, the defender blocks the attacking hand
(or foot) in toward the attacker's centerline (Illustration 15i), while
simultaneously stepping diagonally forward (Illustration 15ii),
which takes the defender out of the line of fire and forces the í()
®
attacker to hesitate in order to redirect his attack. Any hesitation
on the attacker's part, allows the defender time (if only a second)
to counterattack or flee past the attacker. The defender counterat {J I
tacks with blows directed into the attacker's side or centerline
(Illustration 15iii), or uses a sweeping hand movement to unbal IA
ance the attacker. I
I
Note: A defender's counterattack is aided by seizing and •
retaining control of the attacker's thrusting hand or foot.

I
15
104 105
CHAPTER NINE
•
\.
• . Targeting and aK.4

, .,: .... ')
25
·.
'
i Anatomy
6
s
••
yr
·•
E~
"The more you know about how the human body is put
together, the easier it is to take it apart."
-Dirk Skinner,
Street Ninja: Ancient Secrets
for Today's Mean Streets
BLADE LENGTHS AND STRENGTHS
.):. Even a small knife can kill. A razor blade is barely an inch long,
yet think of the damage a simple double-edged razor blade can do
to the human body. A three-inch long blade (legal in most places) is
%
more than sufficient to kill a human being. Longer blades, on the

s other hand, have the advantage of doing more damage to underly
ing organs (organs behind the actual organ you are targeting).
Many blade schools train students to twist their blades after
stabbing into a victim in order to do maximum damage. However,
twisting a knife in a wound should only be done when you are
assured of the quality of your knife. A well-tempered blade will
stand up to such twisting, while a cheap blade will snap in two in
~~- the wound.
-►~~
i!j. Snapping a blade off in a victim's wound is counterproduc

tve, since it helps prevent blood loss by blocking the wound. If
¡You hit what your aiming at in the first place, there is no need to
[twist your blade.
107
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Targeting and Anatomy
FRONTAL TARGETS
.. The front of the body offers many viable and effective targets.
ji
{Centerline
,~ <D
:J;;~ Martial artists envision an imaginary line running down the
center of their bodies (Illustration 16i), running between the eyes,
z 'I 1¼ down the front of the torso to the testicles (balanced on both sides).
.'j Martial arts students are taught to guard their own centerline
I
:\
eTi ·•....:t, · while attacking their opponent's.

;:,, '
f '
Throat and Neck

2
E3
~f
Attack the throat and neck area (Illustration 16ii) from the
d
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front using stabbing thrusts and horizontal slashes. (Refer to
;#= IDustration 17 for a more detailed discussion of the inner organs of
the throat and neck.)
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\ ,.. Larynx
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5
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(See Illustrations 16iii and 17vi.)
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Aorta
·f¡
4.
The aorta (Illustration 16v) and the arteries branching off from
ce
*
A@ ~f; it carry blood away from the heart to the brain and extremities.
he ascending aorta, situated at the top of the heart, is attacked
•\
I ____,, .,._.,__--t- @ ~.-using a rising vertical stroke stabbing in and up at the solar plexus.
\, SThis target can also be attacked by striking down into the hollow
I
•
T..*y„k
T'of the neck between the clavicles. Severing it causes unconscious-
\
•
'
?
' ness in 30 seconds and death within three minutes due to the inter-
• ;,,,
--i~ ruption of blood flow to the brain.
.. Heart
Any major trauma to the heart (sudden penetration, forceful
Eblow) can stop it from beating. When the heart (Illustration 16vi)
- .,~:/Stops beating, blood ceases to flow to the extremities (such as the
-u
1;
:1J;:brain), which cease to function. Surprise! You're dead.
The heart is well protected by the rib cage and the sternum
and is further insulated by the lungs. It is best attacked by striking
4
~j4hand blow or knife) up and into the solar plexus.
Illustration 16
108 109
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Targeting and Anntomy
Lungs Bladder
a
While not immediately fatal, a preliminary knife strike to . Hand, foot, and knife strikes to the bladder (Illustration 16:xiii)
either lung (Illustration 16vii), coming up and under the solar g° Pe_""9! 4ne'!v sa, owto ne baa&er
plexus, makes it difficult for a victim to breathe and can cause .•. ~ can cause pain and unconsciousness (due to trauma). If you are
unconsciousness (due to trauma). Lung strikes are used as soften .• : una11ned, attack the bladder with low-level rising kicks and
ing-up blows designed to make the victim susceptible to the coup ~ _t stomps. With a blade, employ rising vertical stabs.
%
de grace.
Groin
s?
.
3
' Hand and foot strikes to the groin can cause distraction,
,:
Liver
\ t
A forceful hand blow to the liver (Illustration 16viii) area can ii pain, and unconsciousness. While not immediately fatal, knife
cause pain, internal bleeding and unconsciousness (due to trauma). :~-- strikes to the groin area cause pain, bleeding, and unconscious
/.:~, ness (due to fear and trauma). Blade attacks to the groin use ris-
i
A knife strike to the liver can cause unconsciousness and death.
ing vertical stabs.
Major (femoral) arteries run up both the inner thighs. Severing
;¡: one of these arteries causes major blood loss that can result in
Stomach
Stomach wounds (Illustration 19ix) are painful, but not imme
jf~ unconsciousness and, if left untreated, death due to blood loss.
y
diately fatal (though victims have died from trauma and shock).
For Assassins, the stomach is more of a softening-up strike. The
.,L;.,
stomach is attacked using straight-in stabs with rising vertical TARGETING THE MAJOR VESSELS
f . It has been said that an adventure is a result of incompetence.

slashes and horizontal cuts (see Illustration nine). 8°
Spleen :·-·:. This holds true for assassins. If an assassin has to struggle with an
to
Trauma (blows, stabs, and cuts) to the spleen (Illustration 19x) ~ tt opponent, something has gone wrong. Let's examine how this
{:a pplies knife fighting.
"ff°
causes pain, unconsciousness, and even death. Attack the spleen
with forceful hand blows and with straight-in jabs. Horizontal cuts $„.. feh?r cmn afford to wear an opponent dov by fens
can be employed after shifting to the victim's left side (see i, ing with him until the opponent drops from a loss of blood or until
few
authorities arrive to break up the fight.
Illustrations 14 and 15).
*wih exceptions, even striking into a major artery will not
Large Intestine instantly kill an opponent. Though you succeed in severing a major
While not immediately fatal, stabs and cuts to the large intes i{I artery, an opponent may still be able to kill you before he bleeds to
tine (Illustration 16xi) cause pain, unconscious, and sometimes ij. death. More often than not, in the heat of battle, a knife fighter will
f
death (due to blood loss and trauma). If unarmed, use forceful not even realize he has been seriously cut until after the excitement
hand and foot blows. Armed with a knife, target this organ with of the fight wanes. All too often, in a protracted knife fight, it's the
~y· .
straight-in stabs, rising vertical slashes, horizontal cuts, and low· man who bleeds slowest who wins!
level diagonal cuts. An assassin is not a fighter. Implicit in the nature of an assas
~ f~ Sm's_ business was the necessity of getting in and out as quickly as
Small Intestine {Pe5te The longer the assassin had to spend on enemy ground,
Long blades can stab into and through the small intestine ; .•. the higher the likelihood of his mission being compromised. In
(Ilustration 16xii) if the stab is deep enough and reaches into the {'Pther words, assassins didn't have time to waste in fencing with a
arteries and veins supplying blood to kidneys (see IIllustration 19). :( ~.lentry. Non~theless, assassins had to be prepared for any contin-
1
:_ Rency. If a single, telling cut could not be delivered, the assassin
•
110 111
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Targeting anel Anatomy
might have to settle for inflicting a fatal wound on his target, sev Neck Arteries
ering a major artery so the victim would bleed to death, or allow.. Since neck arteries (Illustration 17i) carry blood to the brain
ing the poison on the assassin's blade to do its job. severing one (such as the carotid artery, situated on both sides of
• I
Arteries carry blood away from the heart out to vital organs i: the neck under the ear) causes unconsciousness and death within
and extremities. Veins carry blood back to the heart to pick up : •• seconds. In lieu of a blade, a forceful open-hand blow to the side of
needed oxygen. Severing one of these arteries or veins can be com the neck forces blood out of the neck arteries, producing a "blood
pared to cutting the supply lines to an army in the field: without : .' spurt" into an opponent's brain that causes temporary disorienta-
needed ammunition and supplies (arterial blood) being ferried out . : öon•
or unconsciousness.
•
to them, an army in the field grinds to a halt. Likewise, without

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intelligence [veinous blood) coming in on a regular basis, the com Neck Veins
mander (heart) has no idea what is needed out in the field. We know that veins carry blood back to the heart. Severing a
By the way, dull knife blades collapse arteries, helping staunch .: . major vein (such as the jugular, running roughly parallel to the
blood loss. Conversely, a sharp knife cleanly severs arteries and carotid artery) causes unconsciousness and death (due to blood
veins, allowing blood to flow freely. loss, trauma, and heart arrest).
Subclavian arteries (lustration 17iii) carry blood to the arms.
,._ :i
{ Severing one of these arteries diverts blood from the brain, causing
Î.
;_¡. unconsciousness in seconds and death within three minutes. Sub
• •
clavian arteries can also be severed by a forceful blow (hand or

f· bludgeon) that breaks the clavicle bone and forces the splintered
ìi· bone down to perforate the sub-clavicle artery. Heavy bludgeon
~, blows can also be used for this purpose.
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TARGETING THE THROAT

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Trachea
8
The trachea (aka the windpipe) connects the mouth and nose
with the lungs [Illustration 17v) and is vital for breathing. Severing
the trachea, while not immediately fatal, will severely interfere
.
.,_
with a victim's breathing.
•
Larynx
Attack the larynx (aka voice box and Adam's apple; Illustration
17vi) with forceful hand or bludgeon blows (designed to crush the
;l larynx) and with slashing knife strokes (designed to sever the lar-
A crushed larynx blocks the trachea, preventing the victim
ti &?m breathing. Unconsciousness and death from asphyxia occurs
yn ).
.~. \Vtthin minutes unless an emergency tracheotomy is performed to

:· • : open the trachea below the blockage.
Note: Crushing the larynx is one of the most effective ways of
strangling a victim.
Illustration 17
112 113
••••• • ••••
Danger increases with proximity. The closer an enemy can get When respected Sunnite scholar Razi began preaching against
to you, the more danger you are in. Consequently, the closer an Ismaili doctrine, Grand Master Muhammad II sent an Assassin
Assassin could get to an enemy-literally getting inside an enemy's agent to dissuade Razi. Posing as a student for seven months, the
physical defenses or figuratively getting inside his mind-the easi agent finally succeeded in gaining Razi's confidence. One day, as
er the accomplishment of the Assassin's mission. Razi was preparing to make another sermon, the Assassin "student"
put a dagger to Razi's throat and ordered him to stop preaching
Intelligence, Strategy, and Execution against Ismailis. Predictably, the wise scholar decided to temper his
Al Jebr aims at penetrating ever deeper into an enemy's tongue. Asked later why he'd refrained from preaching against the
fortress or mind by employing three successive steps: Ismailis, Razi quipped: "The Assassins' arguments are too pointed!"
1. Intelligence gathering The Psychology of Self

2. Strategy development (based on intelligence gathered) Early on in their training, Assassin recruits were introduced to
3. Execution of that strategy mental disciplines designed to steel them in the face of danger and •
death. Assassins aimed at cultivating a mind-set that allowed them

These three steps require not only the deployment of physical to act with calculation but without hesitation. For an Assassin, hes
factors (troops, traps, etc.), but also a studied consideration of psy itation equals death.
chological factors, both your enemy's and your own. In order to acquire a level of training and awareness where
thought and action were one, Assassin recruits were taught a vari
Psychological Warfare ety of mental gymnastics akin to and perhaps derived from Indian
Assassin grand masters used psychology to determine an yogic disciplines.
enemy's intent as well as when and where an enemy was most vul Two of the most useful of these Assassin mental practices were
nerable. Assassin psychological warfare considers two aspects: the meditation and hypnosis.
psychology of self and the psychology of others. The more yoV
know about yourself, the better prepared you will be to deal with Meditation
others. Conversely, by uncovering the weaknesses of others Meditation teaches the body patience when waiting is required
secret fears and obvious foibles-the better you become at perfect and calms the mind when clear-headed calculation is called for.
ing and protecting yourself against such weaknesses. In other Assassin mental disciplines in general, and their meditation prac
words, Al Jebr aims at the systematic penetration of an enemy's tices in particular, are known as Khilwat weave.
mind, circumventing impressive mental facades and defensive Arabian tales of "magic carpets" carrying adventurers aloft, to
rationalization barriers to discover his secrets: Hidden fears and any clime or dimension, are actually thinly disguised references to
desires that can be manipulated to an Assassin's advantage. Sufi (Muslim mystics) meditating on their prayer rugs. The magic
An enemy's fear, greed, arrogance, and other weaknesses are Carpet is also symbolic of the sacred robe Muhammad used to lift
exploited through the use of the nine-gates philosophy (discusse! the "black stone" at the rebuilding of the Ka'ba.
more fully in a moment). Defeating a foe using a psychologica! Khilwat meditation is practiced by sitting with legs crossed in
ploy is always preferable to having to kill him. Remember that • comfortable position, back straight, head slightly bowed. The
Hasan ibn-Sabbah's preference was to try educating foes before _.. lrleditator's hands are held approximately three inches out from
having to assassinate them. Better a warning than a wounding. , 9eta4 heart level win îe fogers entwined to form one of
s. ., *ur mystic "weaves."
64 65
ance a victim. Attackers often use just such an unbalancing slap as

a softening-up preliminary strike.
Jawbone ...
Attacking from the rear or from the side angle when a victim's
• •l
head has been pulled back to expose the throat, stab up under the
jawbone (Illustration 18vi) to penetrate into the spine or into the \.
medulla oblongata (brain stem).
•
Skull-Spine Juncture
See Illustration 19.
REAR TARGETS
J
®
It is always preferable to attack a victim from behind. Not
only does the element of surprise work to the attacker's advan
tage, but most of a person's natural weapons and natural
I
I
defensive motions are oriented toward the front, making
approaching a victim from behind safer for the attacker. In
addition, few people train to defend themselves from attacks •
from the rear. These lapses in defense work as much to the

advantage of today's street mugger as they did assassins in the
y
.,
5x
....
•"
Middle Ages.
The Base of the Skull

This is an excellent target for hand blows and weapon strikes.
Any forceful hand blow (hammer blow, palm blow) or heavy blud .
geon strike to this area (Illustration 19i) will result in pain, uncon
•
sciousness, and possible death from blunt trauma or a broken

t
neck. Thrust through this gate with a blade to sever the spinal cord
(where it meets the brain stem) or pierce the brain itself. This is a
much prized target when removing a sentry.
The Seventh Vertebra

(See Illustrations 19ii and 20ii.)
The Kidneys
A forceful unarmed blow or bludgeon strike to the kidneys
(Illustration 19iii) produces pain, unconsciousness, internal î .
•
bleeding, and sometimes death. With a blade, strike up into

<e ja
lkstration 19
€:
7
Ajf};
116 117
E
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Inrgefing and Anatomy
the kidneys with a rising vertical strike/outside grip to cause

instant unconsciousness and death.
Renal Artery and Vein

Target the major renal artery (Illustration 19iv) and major
•
renal vein (Illustration 19v)-situated between the two kidneys,
n 'CD
under the spine-by cutting through the spine (damaging the
spine in the process) or at an oblique angle, avoiding the bone of
the spine. Severing either of these blood pathways results in the
®
death of the victim.
a
ADDITIONAL SPINAL CORD TARGETS
The brain sends marching orders to the rest of the body via the ••
spinal cord. Attacking the spinal cord nerves is analogous to guer
rillas cutting telephone lines in preparation for attacking a garri
son; without the ability to call for reinforcements and with no way
to receive orders, the garrison is lost. In the same way, any damage
to the vital spinal cord destroys the brain's line of communication ..
to the rest of the body.
•
•
Any forceful intrusion into a spinal area destroys the function-

ing of the areas (muscles, organs, etc.) controlled by those particu
lar spinal nerves. In other words, damage to the spinal cord caus
es loss of body function below the injury level. For example, a man ®
•
aGU
•
fracturing his fifth cervical vertebra might lose the use of his tri
~
©
ceps, hands, chest, leg, and lower body muscles. Damage to the
fourth cervical vertebra can paralyze respiration: can't breathe,
can't fight.
~
Victims of spinal trauma become subject to secondary systems

t
G
shut-down (such as kidney failure) once the communications lines
from the brain that kept them functioning are severed.
The spinal cord's nerves are divided into four areas. In
descending order they are: cervical nerves (eight), thoracic nerves
(12), lumbar nerves (five), and sacral nerves (five).
Skull
The brain and spinal column connect at the base of the skull
(Illustration 20i) and can be attacked with forceful hand blows and
•
with heavy bludgeon blows to produce unconsciousness and

•
death. Heavy blows to this area can break the neck of a victim,
r4
3%
~~~ llstration 20
118 119
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assossins Targeting and Anatomy
paralyzing or killing him. Spinal trauma to this area is especially { groin and leaving it there destroys an opponent's mobility, allow-
z
telling, since it can paralyze everything below the point of injury. ing you time to flee or to deliver the finishing blow.
Violent wrenching of the neck can also result in pain, uncon
sciousness, and death due to referrai shock to the spinal column.
Blade strikes up into the base of the skull cause paralysis due to
spinal nerve damage and death (by penetrating into the brain or
paralyzing heart and lung function).
Cervical Nerves
These nerves (Illustration 20ii) control the head and neck, arm
and hand muscles, and the diaphragm, which is necessary for
breathing. The seventh vertebra (between the shoulder blades) is
a common target for descending vertical knife strikes with an out
side grip. Successful penetration of the seventh vertebra causes
paralysis, unconsciousness, and death.
Thoracic Nerves
The thoracic nerves (Illustration 20iii) control the chest and
abdominal muscles. Strikes to this portion of the spinal column
produce pain and interfere with upper body motor function.
Lumbar Nerves
These nerves (Illustration 20iv) control the use of the legs. A
forceful attack into the spine at this area can paralyze a victim's
legs and lower body.
Sacral Nerves
These control the bowels, bladder, sexual function, and the
feet. While not a prime blade target, striking up into the sacral area
(Illustration 20v) with a forceful kick from behind can be an excel·
lent softening-up and unbalancing strike. A forceful strike to the
tailbone (coccyx) area causes extreme pain and interferes with the
opponent's mobility.
Rectum and Groin

While not an immediately fatal target, stabbing up into a vic
tim's rectum or groin (Illustration 20vi) from behind (a rising ver
tical cut with an outside grip) elicits pain, bleeding, or uncon
sciousness (due to fear and trauma).
Note: Burying a blade [no matter how small) in an attacker'
120 121
•
~.· The perfect knife victim stands completely still, arms spread
wide, allowing you to bury your blade up through the his solar
%1
plexus to his heart, killing him instantly. Unfortunately, from the

J~_- Assassin's point of view at least, the perfect victim seldom pre
z,'
sents himself.
-~~: Human beings instinctively protect themselves by backpedal-
4 •c
i ing, thrashing their arms about, or running like hell so that only
i} rear targets present themselves to your blade. Infused with a rush
of adrenaline, fighting for survival, the body of even an untrained
human being is capable of putting up formidable resistance even
when the mind of that human being is drowning in panic. How
much more so the body of a trained fighter?
FRONTAL ATTACKS
It is always preferable to approach a victim from the rear.

However, there are times when targeted individuals must be
attacked from the front. No matter how undesirable, a trained
Assassin must study for any and all eventualities.
Approaching a victim from the front, the victim will not know
E
the Assassin intends him harm until the Assassin's blade has tast-
<
ed his blood.
•
When attacking into an opponent's front, use softening-up

techniques (Illustration 21i) to distract and unbalance your victim,
.
.- ·~: setting him up for the final blow. Softening-up techniques include
1.23
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Knife Attack Techniques
feinting high while striking low, throwing something into the vie
g tim's eyes (eliciting a flinch reaction or blinding him), attacking
•• :· him with stomps and sweeps to the legs, and with the old tried
.: and-true knee to the groin.
fi The ideal front knife strike (rising vertical with an outside grip)
i
!::
targets up through the solar plexus straight into the heart
(Illustrations 16vi and 21ii).
1· Stabbing into the intestines (Illustrations 21iii) with an outside
~~ grip, draw the knife upward, in effect bisecting the victim's abdomen.
; It is often necessary to seize a hold on the victim's clothing or
.;·~ body (hair, head, arm; Illsutration 21iv) in order to prevent their
~; backpedaling or to draw them forward onto your blade. Seizing the
:~· victim's head allows you to pull his head down into striking range,
facilitating your to attack through one of the openings in the head.
."....
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lllstration 22
'
lllush'ation 21
125
i
124
..
Knife Attack Techniques
ASSASSINL: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins
The respected technique for approaching a target, such as a

i....¡
A solid palm blow under an opponent's chin (Illustration 22vt
forces his head back, exposing the vulnerable throat and under sentry, is to approach to within three to five feet of the victim
f
chin area to attack. ~ by employing a zigzag pattern (Illustration 23i). Trainees are
warned not to look directly at an enemy sentry as they creep
REAR ATTACKS Si close to him since many believe that humans have a sixth sense
about being watched. While this extrasensory ability to sense
I .
The rear approach increases the likelihood of surprise and danger is still debated, it is always better to watch the sentry
shock to the target, while decreasing danger to the attacker. ;.: out of the corner of your eye and concentrate on where you
are stepping so as not to give yourself away by stepping on a
s'
dry stick or loose gravel.

¡· Having approached to within three to five feet of the target, the
<,
Assassin rushes across the remaining distance to attack the sentry.
¡,
Reportedly British commandos were taught this technique by cap
J
tured Thuggee who, in turn, derived their attack technique from
observing Bengal tigers stalking prey.
©
Coming up behind the victim (Illustration 23ii), the Assassin
i stuns and silences the victim by slapping a hand over his mouth or
8
by striking into the victim's exposed throat. Slapping your hand
ft, across the victim's mouth also allows you to pull the victim back-
'1ft
.?,:- ward and off balance.

z
~
Note: Clasping your hand over the victim's mouth and nose
+8
:·1:t causes him to instinctively raise his hands towards his face, which
- in turn opens his abdomen, sides, ribs, and armpits to attack.

.,
®
¥
., . Having secured a hold on the victim (Illustration 23iii), draw

him back off balance and at the same time drive your blade into a
primary rear target.
~ Note: In lieu of a bladed weapon, unarmed blows (fists, palm
blows, elbows) can be used to target the kidneys, spine, and other
targets along the back.
Having secured a hold on the victim (Illustration 23iv), draw
him off balance by moving slightly back and dropping your weight
while simultaneously pulling him with your other hand (the one
covering his mouth or gripping his throat). For recalcitrant victims,
stomp into the back of the knee.
Over-The-Shoulder Rear Attack

Approaching the victim from behind (Illustration 24i), slap
Your hand around the target's mouth and nose, and then violent
ly jerk his head back and to the side.
Note: Jerking the head in this manner can wrench the
Illustration 23
126 127
·,
I
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assossins Knife Attack Techniques
'~-. CD
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:;
Illustration 24
neck, resulting in unconsciousness (from trauma) and death

(from spinal separation).
0
Jerking the head to the side (Illustration 24ii) exposes the neck
and throat to descending vertical stabs targeting the veins and
arteries of the neck and the inner organs of the throat.
Stab down in front of and behind the clavicles (Illustration
24iii) to severe the subclavian arteries and veins.
Target the aorta and heart veins by attacking down into the
exposed hollow of the throat (lliustration 24iv; between the clavicles).
After pulling the victim back (Illustration 24v), the heart can
be attacked directly by thrusting down through the hollow of the
9%1IA
throat or by thrusting upwards from under the solar plexus.
llstration 26
128 129
--
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Knife Attark Techniques
Butt 'n Slash Rear Attack

Approaching undetected from behind (Illustration 25i), the
Assassin (holding his knife with the inside grip) smashes the porn..
mel (butt) of his knife into the right temple, stunning the victim
and driving him to the left.
The force of the pommel blow (Illustration 25ii} drives the vic
tim's head left and into the grasp of the Assassin's left hand, which
immediately clasps over the victim's mouth and nose and wrenches
the head back and farther to the left, exposing the victim's throat.
Simultaneous to his left hand wrenching the victim's head left £
the Assassin positions his knife hand in front of the victim's
I
exposed neck (Illustration 25iii). .

As the victim's neck is pulled back and down, the Assassin \
presses his blade against the front of the victim's throat -
--
(Illustration 25iv) and draws his blade across the victim's exposed
throat, slicing his throat from left to right.
Immediately after cutting the victim's throat, the Assassin uses • ;• llllstration 28
his left hand grip (Illustration 25v) to press the victim's head down
onto the victim's chest to prevent noise (gurgling) from escaping
from the severed windpipe. ADDITIONAL ASSASSIN ATTACK TECHNIQUES
Even when attacking from the front, it is preferable to conceal

your weapon from the intended target until the moment comes to
E
~ ~ strike. When the targeted enemy knows that the Assassin has a
~ weapon, the fact that the enemy cannot see that weapon and keep
track of it helps unnerve him.. .
While the enemy is trying to find the Assassin's hidden weapon,
the victim is less likely to notice a subtle shifting of the feet.
\©
,, \ .
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,ti '
f The "Snake" Technique

I' •
Modern undercover agents all know the importance of carry
ing a back-up weapon and Assassins knew the value of this pre
caution back in the Middle Ages. In addition, Assassins developed
techniques employing the use of two knives. These techniques
t
s were collectively known as "snake" techniques since the use of two
a
'¥
knives brought to mind the fangs of a venomous serpent.

*' One advantage of filling each hand with a weapon is that the
if enemy doesn't know whether the attack will come from the left
a hand, the right hand, or both.
Illustration 27
130 131
.
Illustration 31
„
When either approaching a targeted enemy or facing off

against an attacker, the assassin operative employs a deceptive
stance (Illustration 27i) that permits him to conceal his two blades
lllustration 29 : (or substitute weapons) behind his back (up his sleeves, etc.).
i
Responding to an enemy's thrusting attack, the Assassin brings

his hands forward and up to form a crossed-at-the-forearms X
r block (Illustration 28ii) that deflects the enemy's thrusting attack
and forces the enemy's arm higher, exposing his trunk to attack.
Note: In the event the Assassin is the aggressor, the overt act
of flashing the blades upward will cause the enemy to raise his
arms in a reflexive defensive move. This achieves the same desired
: effect-causing the enemy to expose his mid-body to attack. This
g
X-block can also be employed sans weapons to block and trap

' unarmed punching attacks and to block weapons attacks.
Having succeeded in deflecting the enemy's attacking arm
. upward, the Assassin strikes into the enemy's exposed mid-body
E {lustration 29iii) from one or both sides.
Should the enemy succeed in countering one of the Assassin's
thrusts, the second still finds it's mark (Illustration 29iv).
This two-handed snake technique can also be used as an
unarmed attack to counterstrike into an attacker's exposed sides
llustration 30v} with bludgeon fists or elbow blows.
Having countered into the attacker's mid-body with elbow and
Illustration 30 132 133

ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Knife Attack Techniques
hammer fist blows, drop your striking hands to sweep the attack..
er's legs out from under him (Illustration 31vi).
Note: this sweeping technique can also be employed by substi
tuting a knife blade for the scooping hand. Knife-blade sweeps have
the added advantage of severing the tendons behind the knee.
The Janna "Scorpion" Arm-Trap Technique

When closing to grapple with an enemy, an Assassin fighter
used powerful grips on his opponent in order to unbalance or •
impale the enemy onto his blade. Assassin janna combat classified
these grappling (trapping and locking) techniques as "scorpion"
techniques, a term derived from the scorpion's use of claws to hold
prey while striking with its venomous tail stinger.
This scorpion technique has a parallel in overall assassin
strategy where the Assassin works in two-man teams, with one
Assassin acting as the claws of the scorpion (seizing the victim)
while the second Assassin (the venomous tail) delivers the coup
de grace.
The attacking or defending assassin adopts a deceptive (behind
the back) outside knife grip (Ilustration 32i).
Once the attacking or defending enemy commits himself to a
thrusting attack, the Assassin counters by turning into the attack
ing arm (Illustration 32ii) with a blocking/striking forearm blow.
Simultaneous to the blocking forearm blow, the Assassin seizes
a grip on the enemy's thrusting forearm (Illustration 32iii).
When defending against a leading hand or leading foot attack,
the Assassin must always beware of an enemy's rear follow-up
hand (Illustration 32iv) or foot, since his leading hand attack might
be a feint for his true rear hand attack.
Using the momentum of his turning inward for the forearm
block, the assassin pivots on his lead foot (Illustration 32v), bring
ing his trailing foot around on the outside of his leading foot. t
If necessary, the Assassin uses his leading foot (Illustration
32vi) to upset the balance of an attacker by employing an inward
sweeping kick, targeting the enemy's leading leg.
Having blocked an enemy's thrusting hand, the Assassin slides
his hand down to the enemy's forearm (Illustration 33vii) to seize
the enemy's wrist and hand.
Firmly digging his thumb into the back of the attacker's hand
(Illustration 33viii) while digging his fingers into the base of the lustrntion 32
134 135
thumb (palm), the Assassin wrenches the enemy's hand in a coun

terclockwise direction, causing the enemy to drop his weapon or
breaking the enemy's wrist, retaining his grip on the enemy's wrist
(Illustration 34ix).
The assassin drapes his elbow over the enemy's extended arm
(Illustration 34x), trapping the attacking arm by locking out the
elbow in the armpit.
Retaining his dual grip at the wrist and elbow, the Assassin
continues his pivot inward (Illustration 34xi) and attacks into the
enemy's exposed side (Illustration 34xii) as the enemy is drawn for
ward and thrown off balance by the assassin's double lock at his
G
wrist and elbow.
Note: This technique can also be employed as an effective
unarmed combat technique by substituting pivoting-in elbow
srikes to the side (ribs) and the side of the head (targeting the tem
t
e
ple) of a trapped enemy.
Second note: Once the wrist-elbow double lock has been estab
lished, merely falling on the victim's arm will drive him to the
ground or break his elbow. Extend your leg as you pull your oppo
nent around and down by applying the arm pressure. This will
cause him to trip over your extended leg.
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Illustration 33 Illustrntion 34
136 137
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I ,. Janna Self-Defense
Awareness
s
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Vigilance is always your first and last line of defense. Being
.:.. aware of yourself and your surroundings is the key to survival in
any time and clime.
; .,.
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The number one thing all human predators look for in potential
É victims is a lapse in awareness. Where street predators do not spot
: natural distraction in their targeted victims, they create distractions
$%by asking their victims for the time or asking for directions and
~
is then sucker-punch the victim when the victim glances away.

·, There are three aspects to awareness: awareness of self, aware-
~• ness of your surroundings, and awareness of your enemy.
AWARENESS OF SELF
This entails a realistic assessment of your mental and physical

.: · abilities. Do you have the physical skills and cunning to defeat an
attacker? If you can not fight him off, can you scare him off? What
} is his motivation? Is he after money or is he after you?
} Overestimating yourself can be just as lethal as underestimating
an attacker. Get to know yourself, your strengths, weaknesses, and
fears. Become friends with your body and discipline your mind, and
they will work together to safely see you through any danger.
AWARENESS OF SURROUNDINGS
Awareness also requires realistically assessing a situation. In

139
Janna Self-Defense Awareness
some street confrontations, it is to your advantage to delay an ~., attack is a blocker. A large book or notebook, for example, can be
attacker until help arrives. At other times, delay works to your used as a shield to block punches, kicks, and weapon thrusts.
attacker's benefit. The assessment of a situation includes limiting Shifting to the outside of the attacking arm, the defender uses
·· • the large hardback book he is holding to deflect the attacking arm
f
the time you spend in under-lighted, economically depressed areas

(Illustration 35Ai} or to counterattack into the assailant's elbow.
of the city.
Having deflected the attacking arm in toward the attacker's cen-
-~
Make yourself aware of the potential environmental weapons

and defensive obstacles your surroundings offer you. ,, terline (closing off his centerline), the defender counterattacks into
the attacker's face with the sharp edge of the book (Illustration 35Bii).
AWARENESS OF YOUR ENEMY Other examples of blockers include slipping your shoe over
your leading/defending hand or wrapping your jacket around your
Finally, being aware means always remembering that, despite forearm to guard against knife cuts or using a chair like a lion
all your plans and martial arts training-after all your praying to tamer to hold a street beast at bay.
Jesus (or Allah, as the case may be)-shit happens! Train to impro Approached by an attacker while seated in a chair (Illustration
vise. Survival of the fittest dictates that those best able to realisti ·: 36i), keep your hands up in front (for initial blocking) while placing
cally assess changing conditions and then adjust are the fittest and your feet flat on the floor and shifting your weight slightly forward.
therefore the most apt to survive. Simple, no? •
BLOCKERS, OBSTACLES,
®
AND KNIFE SUBSTITUTES
*...
There is an oft repeated saying, "Keep your friends close and
e
*+.,_
your enemies closer!" Strategy-wise, this is good advice. However, _„zz
"*
when defending against an attacke,r your best tactic is to keep
AS
pi
obstacles between you and and him. And the best obstacle to keep
between you and an attacker is distance. Remember, danger
at
•
.,
increases with proximity.

The closer an Assassin could get to his target, the more likely
that target would not live to see another day. Conversely, the farther lustration 35A
away from an attacker you stay, the better off you are. When unable
to keep distance between yourself and an attacker, employ blockers
•
and obstacles to stymie his advance. Equally important, fill your

hand with any weapon you can find, if only a handful of dirt.
Blockers and Obstacles

These consist of anything and everything you can place in your
attacker's path to impede his advance, or anything you can use to
protect yourself from harm.
Blockers
3 lkstration 35B
.
Anything you can use to ward off an attack or use to counter·
.
140 141
•

Quickly slide your legs out to the side and squat (Illustration
36ii), taking your weight off the chair.
As you squat (Illustration 36iii), simultaneously topple the
<D e 8
i
chair over with your butt.
tr
~\ Still squatting, reach down to grip the legs of the toppled chair
°: (Illustration 37iv), pulling it between your legs up to a guard posi
tion in front of your chest.
This blocker chair (Illustration 37v) can also be used as a blud
\
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geon to strike or stab (with the legs of the chair) into an attacker.
~ 'le..,
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Obstacles
@ ~ .
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Obstacles consist of any object (a wall, stairs, sharp corners,
.Angi
I'
etc.) you can shove an attacker into. Correctly using obstacles
··- - - --L. includes taking advantage of poor positioning on your opponent's
u
= I l part as well as maneuvering an opponent into position.
Street punks know to take advantage of a potential victim lean
Illustration 36
ing into a public phone or leaning over a water fountain, ramming
the victim's head into those objects, stunning him. Other tried-and
'i:. true obstacle ploys include seizing an attacker's extended arm and
i., levering it against a fixed object such as a counter or a telephone
pole in order to break the elbow.
As an assailant thrusts across the horizontal obstacle (store
..
counter; wall; fence; etc.), the defender seizes and jerks the
'
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j,.. assailant's arm forward (Illustration 38i), turning the arm, disarm-
} ing the attacker, and breaking the his elbow over the obstacle.
:
33
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ion 38
Illustration 37
142 143
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Illustration 39
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Taking advantage of a nearby vertical obstacle (telephone pole, .....
I
...., .
fence post, stop sign), the defender seizes the thrusting arm and
levers it against the pole (Illustration 39ii), disarming the attacker
•
,..
and breaking the elbow.
Knife Substitutes .,
®
.
•
Any sharp, pointed object can be used (with various degrees of . .

2
;
effectiveness) to stab into vulnerable, soft body targets (eyes,

~
throat, groin). Any edged cutting tool (razor blade, linoleum cut
ters, etc.) can be used to slash body targets, specifically the throat.
Any pencil, pen, or sharp stick can be held between the fin
gers (Illustration 40i), seated in the palm and be used as a stab·
bing weapon.
Note: In the Orient, whole styles of martial arts have been
built around the use of simple wooden chopsticks. Any shard of
\
glass (Illustration 40ii), concrete, or metal can effectively double as
a stabbing weapon. The serrated edge of a tin can lid (Illustration
40iii) can slash through flesh as easily as a razor blade. Three nails
and a TV Guide-sized magazine can easily be turned into an effec
tive push dagger (Illustration 40iv). Note: To construct this knife
lustration 40
.
substitute, drive the nails through the open magazine, then roll the
144 145
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Janna Sell-Defense Aworeness
magazine up and secure it at both ends with tape or thick rubber Targeting The Puncher-Kicker
bands. Larger macelike spiked weapons can be made by embed The fist of an attacker (Illustration 41i) can be counterattacked
ding larger magazines with protruding nails. with bludgeon blows or with stabs when armed with a knife or
knife substitute. Splayed hands ("kung-fu claws") can be counter
DEFENSE AGAINST A PUNCHING f attacked with counterpunches and with grabbing wrenches
AND KICKING ATTACK (designed to break individual fingers).
·}.: The wrist (Illustration 41ii) is the weak link between the
•A: I
Most martial arts teach the use of punches and kicks in combi ¿~ weapons of the arm (forearm, elbow) and the deadly hand. Wrists
%
nation. You must know how to effectively deal with such an attack. ~s can be dislocated and broken using a variety of locks and twists.
The elbow (Illustration 41iii) can be targeted with punches and
forceful open-palm blows. The elbow can also be locked out and
broken during close-in grappling.
The rear hand (Illustration 41iv) of an attacker must be
. .. ...... „ watched, since his lead hand may be used as a feint to set you up
e Y®
? for the real attack from the rear hand. Note: Some martial arts "ani-
* ,", •.
-«*._ " • -•
-ve %
mal" styles adopt exaggerated stances that draw their rear hands so
rt
\ ~ far back that the hands cease to be an immediate factor in a self-
'?
i defense situation.
~, The kicking foot (Illustration 41v) can be countered with
·i
1
forceful "hammer" blows, bludgeon blows, and with stabbing

counterattacks from blades and blade substitutes.
When countering a kick unarmed, scoop and seize the attack
ing leg and run with it, pulling the kicker off balance. During close-
in grappling, stomp onto an opponent's foot to distract him and
y
damage the foot, thus impeding his mobility.

The knee of a kicker (Illustration 41vi) can be countered with
forceful bludgeon blows and with stabs from knives and knife sub
stitutes. The knee can also be locked out or broken in the same
manner as locking out an elbow.
•
The groin (Illustration 41vii) can be counterattacked each time

an attacker raises his leg to kick. Note: Janna fighters seldom kick
above the waist in order to prevent exposing their groin and sup
Porting leg to counterattack.
The support leg of a kicker (Illustration 41viii} can be attacked,
especially after the kicker has thrown a high kick. Attack an oppo
nent's support leg with sweeping-in kicks and stomps.
The face of an attacker (Illustration 41ix) can be butted during
close-in grappling. Note: Any motion (hand feint, object thrown)
„
toward an opponent's face elicits an instinctive flinch reaction that
Can work to your advantage.
lllvstration 41
z5
147
532,
146
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assossins Janna Self-Defense Awareness
.z
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--2
kicking leg and dump the kicker. If necessary, sweep or stomp the
attacker's supporting leg out from under him (Illustration 42iv).
'
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7
DEFENSE AGAINST A GRAPPLING ATTACK

±
The same basic hand movements are used when you are
defending yourself unarmed as when you are armed. For example,
• the hammer-fist you administer to an attacking grappler's exposed
back is the same motion you use when plunging a knife down into
CD
his back.
In order to assure maximum pentration for knife striking, prac
tice as if each knife strike is actually an unarmed strike. This atti
tude will add extra stunning force to your initial knife strike in case
follow-up strikes are required.
DEFENSE AGAINST A "BUM'S RUSH"
~.-~-;::· As a grappler rushes in (Illustration 43i) head down, his intent

is to encircle either your waist or your leading leg. Avoid this by
stepping backward.
Immediately counter by striking down onto the attacker's
g
lllustratien 42
DEFENSE AGAINST A KICKER
An assailant may decide to attack you only with kicks. Here's

how to defeat him.
Countering the Kicker

As the attacker executes his kick (whether a side kick or a for
ward kick; Illustration 42i), immediately side-shift to the outside of
eg*st
the kicking leg. . · k-
As you shift to the outside, bring your
• leg and attack into the attacker's groin (Illustration 42ii) wit
ing h • h kn1fe or
either a forceful palm blow or a stabbing t rust wit a
knife substitute. to
As one hand attacks the opponent's groin, use your other
jam any potential counterstrike (Illustration 43iii) from your opp:
nent's lead hand. . . the
After striking the groin, use your striking hand to scoop lastration43
148 149
------
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Janna Self-Defense Awareness
exposed spine (Illustration 43ii} or base of the skull with punishing

hammer-hand blows or with a blade.
Strike up into the grappler's lowered face with rising knee ·-rr¡·
..
„a.2
f1 "E
strikes (Illustration 43iii), uppercut reverse hammer-hand blows, or

with a stabbing weapon.
Having closed with a grappler, slide back (Illustration 43iv],
pulling the grappler off balance while simultaneously pressing him
toward the ground.
\
DEFENSE AGAINST A FRONT BEAR HUG /,
I
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,
As the grappler rushes in (Illustration 44i} intending to encircle
'
2
your body, step back.

I
I
Use the momentum of the attacker to impale his groin

%
(Illustration 44ii} on your rising knee.

•
(
1
In lieu of a rising knee strike, strike up into the attacker's groin

T i
(Illustration 44iii) with reverse hammer-hand blows (using the

-..
;
thumb side of the hammer-hand).

Seizing your blade or blade substitute (concealed in the small
of your back, belt, etc.; Illustration 44iv) stab up into the attacker's
groin or lower abdomen.
Another option is as the grappler closes with you, grab a hand-
ful of his hair (Illustration 45v) and force his head back to expose •.
.
his throat (Illustration 45vi}. (For short-haired attackers, press your
hand under his nose to force his head back.)
Having used your grip on your attacker's hair to pull his head •
back and expose his throat, use your knife (Illustration 45vii) or
•
stabbing substitute to strike into your attacker's face, throat

••
(Illustration 45vi}, or upper chest. Note: In lieu of a knife or other

stabbing weapon, employ hammer-hand blows to crush your
attacker's larynx.
As you pull your attacker's head back, sweep his leg out from
under him (Illustration 45viii} by kicking back with your own leg.
DEFENSE AGAINST A REAR STRANGLE HOLD -.-.-

•
\
I
Prevent your attacker from fully encircling your throat by wedg

ing your hand (Illustration 46i) in between your throat and the
attacker's arms. At all costs, prevent the attacker's hands from lock
ing together. When possible, bite into the encircling arm to loosen it. llkstration 45
150 151
As soon as you realize your attacker is attempting to put a

strangle hold on you, squat (Illustration 46ii) and shift away from
his centerline and escape before the hold can be completed. If the
hold has already been completed, dig your chin into the encircling
I
arm and drop your weight to make it more difficult for your attack-
4 ••
er to control you (since he must bear all your weight).

To otherwise loosen his grip, stomp on the attacker's foot
•
(Illustration 46iii); head-butt back into his face (Illustration 46iv;
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G î strike into his sides, abdomen, and solar plexus with backward
elbow strikes (Illustration 46v); and strike back into his groin with
hammer-hand blows and wrenching grabs (Illustration 46vi).
.. J~,:
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, Having loosened the attacker's choke hold, coordinate kicking

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~
back whichever of your feet is closest to the attacker's centerline

'
(Illustration 46vii) while twisting forward and away from his cen-
-3
• terline. As you twist, thrust your hip back simultaneously and

!;~ dump your attacker to the ground.
4
A variation: position your foot behind the attacker's outside

°
foot (Illustration 46viii) and kick forward, dumping him backward
Illustration 46 onto the ground.
.
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DEFENSE AGAINST A HEADLOCK

l,
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your weight by squatting slightly.
•%If you are armed with a knife (concealed in your belt or the
.~~: small of your back), retrieve the blade with your free rear hand
,cl •
,1., (Illustration 47ii) and stab into the attacker's lower back (target
m
ing the spine and kidneys). If you are unarmed, circle your rear
. hand (Illustration 47ii} up behind the attacker's back to grasp a
0 handful of his hair and pull his head back. (Against a short-haired
(
attacker, lever force against his face-under the nose-and push
his head back.)
k If you are armed with a knife (concealed in your sock or boot),
stab up into the groin, bladder, and lower abdomen of the attack-
• er. If you are unarmed, strike into the attacker's groin (Illustration
.•
47iii} with punishing left hand blows and wrenching grabs. From
this position, you can also attack the groin from behind.
"t~ Sweeping your left hand down and back, sweep the attacker's
„ leg (Illustration 47iv) out from under him, toppling him forward.
A variation: coordinate sweeping your left hand up behind
lllstration 47
152 153
ASSASSIN!: The Dendly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Janna Self-Defense Awareness
your attacker's knee (Illustration 47v} at the same time you lever
his head back (Illustration 47ii). These combined actions will top-
ple your attacker backward.
DEFENSE AGAINST KNIFE ATTACKS
Not knowing how to defend against a knife attack will get you
dead in record time. Knowing the basics is the best beginning.
The Basics of Knife Defense

The same janna blocks used to block unarmed attacks can be
used to block knife attacks. Don't let the fact that an attacker is
armed with a knife intimidate you: if an attacker can't hit you with
a punch, he probably can't hit you with a knife. If you have prac
ticed your unarmed blocking techniques, you have nothing to fear • lluslration 48
from a knife attacker. All too often, it is the fear of the knife rather
than the knife itself that kills people.
Three unbreakable rules must be observed when you find Attackers drawing weapons high and back (Illustration 48ii} in
yourself confronted by a knife attacker: an exaggerated arc can easily be jammed at the elbow and forearm.
Defense Against the Forward Stab: Technique 1

Rule One
Keep as much distance as possible between you and your As the attacker commits to a mid-level knife thrust, shift to the
outside of his thrusting arm (Illustration 49i).
assailant.
As you shift to the outside, counterattack into the elbow
{Illustration 49ii) of his thrusting arm with a forceful palm
Rule Two
Always get behind an obstacle or pick up a blocker when con- blow/block.
fronted with a knife. Coordinate counterattacking into the attacker's elbow by
bringing your forward hand up and around (Illustration 49iii) the
inside of the thrusting arm.
Rule Three
Always fill your hand with a weapon-any weapon-when Pulling on the attacker's thrusting arm (forearm or wrist) while
confronting a knife. Untrained knife wielders make exaggerated pushing the attacking arm's elbow (Illustration 50iv), force the
swings that either close off or overly expose their centerlines. attacker to the ground. Note: This technique also works when pres
These wild swings restrict their follow-up actions. sure is applied at the attacker's shoulder.
If the attacker resists the takedown, sweep his lead foot
3
The Untrained (Illustration 50v] out from under him by kicking backwards with
Untrained attackers slashing along a horizontal plane ·J! your foot closest to the attacker. Attention: Never try to hold an
i attacker, no matter how good of an arm-bar elbow lock or wrist
¡ lock you have on him. When applying an arm hold or lock to a vio
(Illustration 48i} swing wide outward, exposing their centerline to
counterattack, and swing too far inwards, closing off their center
.1;• lent attacker, break his arm.
line and making it easy to immobilize their attacking arm by pin
ning it against their body as they swing inward.
154 155
Technique #2
As a knife-wielding attacker grips your arm, intent on pulling
you into his poised blade, immediately lower your weight back and
down (straightening the attacker's gripping arm; Illustration 51i).
Coordinate pulling your weight back and down while rotating
your wrist toward the gripping hand's thumb (Illustration 51ii) and
.• apply a countergrip on the attacker's gripping arm.
As the attacker thrusts, shift to the outside (diagonally forward;
Illustration 52iii) of the attacker's thrusting arm, all the while
retaining your grip on the attacker's other arm.
Coordinate your shifting diagonally forward with drawing the
attacker's gripping/gripped arm under his thrusting arm
(Illustration 52iv).
Having closed off the attacker's centerline by crossing his
arms, counterattack to the back of the attacker's head (Illustration
52v) with an elbow strike. Note: Levering pressure against the back
lllostration 49
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Illustration 50 lllstration 51
156 157
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of the attacker's neck (while retaining your grip on his arms) will
force him to the ground.
For resisting attackers, kick the attacker's leading leg out from
under him (Illustration 52vi), dumping him to the ground. ,.
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Defense Against a Rising Knife Attack

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Having deflected/blocked the attacker's vertical rising knife

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strike (Illustration 53i) using a rising half-moon block or an X

block, seize a firm grip on his attacking arm and lever it, first in
towards his centerline and then suddenly out and up, away from
his centerline.
Coordinate raising the attacker's arm up and out with your
ducking under the attacker's trapped arm (Illustration 53ii).
Simultaneously with ducking under attacker's trapped arm,
pivot to the outside of the attacker's leading foot (Illustration 53iii).
Having pivoted under the attacker's trapped arm and having
lkstration53
positioned yourself on the outside of the attacker while retaining
158 159
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e llustration 55
your grip on his arm, bring the gripped arm down sharply on your
shoulder (Illustration 54iv), disarming the attacker and breaking
his arm at the elbow.
Sweep the attacker's lead leg out from under him by kicking
• forward or backward (Illustration 54v), dumping him to the ground.
Retaining your grip on his broken arm, finish the downed
attacker with stomps to his head and body.
G Defense Against an Overhead Knife Attack
As the attacker draws his knife up and back (in preparation
t· for a downward vertical stab; Illustration 55i), jam his arm at
f
his upturned elbow, forcing his elbow farther up and back and
opening him to counterattack. Note: As the attacker's elbow is
forced farther up and back, attack his legs with sweeps to top
.
SJ ple him backward.
If you are unable to jam the overhead attack before the attack-
E er initiates his downward stroke, strike up into the elbow
g (Illustration 55ii) with a rising forearm block. Note: Remember
Illustration 54
160 161
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Janna Self-Defense Awareness
that every block is also a strike. Perform every block with the
intent to do as much damage to the attacking limb as possible.
Block an overhead stabbing attack using a forearm X block
(Illustration 56iii). Once contact has been made, deflect or trap the
attacker's arm by turning your block to the side.
Block an overhand stabbing attack by using a rising half-moon
block (Illustration 57iv) designed to sweep the attacking hand aside
and in toward the attacker's centerline.
'i Having blocked a downward stab, use your blocking hand to
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seize a grip on the attacking arm's wrist (Illustration 57v} while
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i depleting the strength of the arm. Having greatly weakened the
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arm and retaining your grip on the attacking arm's wrist, with your
,t,
other hand in the crook of the attacking arm's elbow, press in with
~f.t_ your elbow to lever the attacking arm back (Illustration 57vi), forc-
8
27
ing the attacker to the ground. Note: Augment this technique with
• a leg sweep.
~ A variation: As your half-moon block deflects the attacker's
arm in toward his centerline, grip the attacking arm's wrist, and
using the attacker's momentum, direct the descending arc of the
2.:
Illustration 56
il knife into the attacker's abdomen (Illustration 57vii), in effect mak
ing him stab himself. Note: This technique is aided by your step
ping past the attacker on the outside of his leading leg as his
momentum impales him on his own knife.
G
Defense Against A Knife To The Throat (From The Rear)
As the attacker encircles your neck, intent on pressing the knife
to your throat or slicing your throat (Ilustration 58i), duck down and
..' shift to the outside (toward the elbow of the encircling arm) .
As you shift to the outside, position your inside foot behind
your attacker's outside foot (Illustration 58ii).
When necessary, liberally apply softening-up strikes (instep
A
stomps, groin strikes and grabs, and backwards elbow strikes to the
e solar plexus) to loosen the attacker's grip (Illustration 58iii).
Having ducked out from under the encircling arm, grip the knife
8 wielding arm (Illustration 59iv} and push it toward the attacker.
I
!
Coordinate the pushing of the knife toward your attacker

(Illustration 59v) with pulling your other arm (still gripped by the
attacker) forward and down. This move turns the attacker into the
path of the blade.
Illustration 57 ..-·
162 163
Sweep the attacker's leg out from under him by kicking for
ward with the leg you previously positioned behind his leg
(Illustration 59vi).
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DEFENSE AGAINST BLUDGEONS

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AND FLEXIBLE WEAPONS
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i weapons (chains, nunchakus, etc.), the same rules and tactics apply
:. as when dealing with a knife: keep distance between you and your
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t use exaggerated inward swings that close off their centerlines
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(tying up the bludgeon wielder's arms) or wide, outward swings
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Illustration 58
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164 165
hand behind the attacker's head (Illustration 62v) to complete a

half strangle hold that traps the attacker's weapons hand.
Coordinate linking your hands behind the attacker's head and
kicking back with your leg closest to the attacker (Illustration 62vi),
sweeping him to the ground.
Flexible Weapon Defenses

Flexible weapons are any weapon that can be spun, whipped
© around, or snapped forward (like a wet towel). Traditional occi
dental flexible weapons include the medieval chained mace and
the combat flail. Flexible weapons in the orient include the nun
chakus ("numb-chucks") and the manrikigusari (fighting chain).
Makeshift flexible weapons include such things as a can of beer
tied into a sock, a motorcycle chain, or a heavy electrical cord.
The rules for defending against flexible weapons are the same
Illustration 60
Bludgeon Defense (
Allow the attacker to swing his bludgeon along its exaggerated
arc (Illustration 60i) outward or inward. When he swings outward,
wait till the bludgeon reaches its farthest outward point, then close
and counterattack into his exposed centerline. When the attacker
swings his bludgeon inward, close and pin his bludgeon arm after
the bludgeon has swung in across his centerline.
Having jammed the bludgeon from returning outward, coun
terattack into his exposed groin (Illustration 60ii} or face.
When an attacker thrusts his weapon (or fist) forward, duck
under the thrusting arm and come up on the outside of the attack
ing thrusting arm (Ilustration 61iii).
Coordinate ducking to the outside of the attacking arm with
counterattacking into your attacker's throat or face (Illustration 61iv}.
After striking the attacker's face or throat, your inside hand
proceeds past the attacker's head and links up with your outside
Illustration 61
166 167
for all weapons: keep your distance and find a shield and a weapon
• ; to turn the odds in your favor. The key to defending against flexi
ii-; ble weapons is to interrupt their swings, either by putting an object
, i the path of their swing or by waiting until the flexible weapon
· r. has reached its furthest point outward or inward.
s
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either snapped forward like a wet "rat-tail" towel or swung in one

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of three ways: over the head, at the side, or in a figure 8.
Many untrained flexible weapons users swing their
weapons over their heads (Illustration 63i) in order to intimi-
~ date their victims. As flexible weapons technique goes, swing-
•
;::· ing a flexible weapon over your head is least effective as it

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~ exposes you to counterattack.

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Flexible weapons spun at the side (Illustration 63ii) usually strike

during the downward stroke. A notable exception is nunchakus.
s
~ The most efficient way to use a flexible weapon is to spin it in

ït. a figure-8 (Illustration 63iii), which allows it to build up momen-
sf
tum and therefore acquire more striking power, thus permitting

3 the wielder to attack inward toward a victim from both sides.
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168 169
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MISCELLANEOUS HISTORICAL
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ASSASSINATION METHODS
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During his life, the prophet Muhammad not only survived
®
numerous pitched battles, but he also survived attempts on his life
from bludgeons, strangulation, and even poison. During those
I
times, the conventional dagger to the heart was not an option, so

assassins were trained to improvise and find alternative means for
disposing of enemies. In the end, it didn't matter what method of
murder an assassin used, so long as the job got done.
Death is death no matter what direction it comes from.
Bludgeons
A man once tried to kill Muhammad by hitting him with a
''-; huge stone while the prophet was praying. In 750 C.E., 80 ruling
Ommayy ad Arab princes were invited to a banquet where they
,- were then trapped and clubbed to death by rival Abbasids usurpers
staging a coup.
For medieval assassins, the use of bludgeons included any club
that could bash a person's brains in, any heavy object that could
be dropped on a person, or the dropping of the person himself
from a high position. Mastery of the use of bludgeons included
pushing an enemy target off a high balcony or in front of an
• oncoming wagon. (A modem translation of this would be shoving
lllustration63 an enemy in front of an oncoming truck, auto, or subway train,
170
171
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins The Old Ways
onto a sharp object, or into a live electrical device or wire that

would electrocute him, all of which are methods commonly used
by today's Assassins.) Care would be taken when choosing ablud
geon, avoiding a top-heavy bludgeon that would throw the
Assassin off balance.
When striking with a bludgeon, Assassins used a chopping
motion, (rather than that extended follow-through technique your
Little League coach taught you, as this would open the Assassin
to counterattack).
Strangulation
Members of the Quraysh tribe once tried to strangle
Muhammad but were prevented from doing so by Abu-Bakr. After
the fall of Alamut and the scattering of the Persian branch of the
Assassins, many assassins settling in India abandoned the assas - -
sin's trademark dagger for the equally effective strangulation art of
the Kali cult of Thuggee. Despite the Thuggee raising strangulation
to an art form, there remains only two basic types of strangulation:
manual strangulation and strangulation by a weapon. Illustration 65
Manual and Weapon Strangulation Techniques

Having approached his victim from behind, the Assassin
would slide his arm around the victim's throat (Illustration 64i)
s and strike back forcefully into the victim's larynx with the "blade"
of his forearm.
••
Seating the victim's throat in the crook of his elbow

(Illustration 64ii), he would drop his other arm behind the victim's
head, locking his hand onto the bicep of the forward arm.
The Assassin would then complete his strangle lock by drop
ping his weight down (Illustration 64iii] as he pulled the victim
down and back, forcing his head forward.
Note: Performed quickly and forcefully, this "yoke" strangula
tion technique crushed the victim's larynx or broke his neck.
In lieu of a manual strangulation, any stout stick or similar
object (Illustration 65iv) could be used to crush a victim's larynx or
e
strangle the life out of him.

"
Note: For those interested in an in-depth study of the ancient

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i and modern art of strangulation, as well as a history of the Kali-

s.
Thuggee cult of India, read The Ancient Art of Strangulation by Dr.

Haha Lung (available from Paladin Press).
Illustration 64
172 173
ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins The Old Ways
Poison the gift." A targeted individua] might receive-via a third party-a

The Arab historic use of poison chronicler Al-Jami-us-Sahih gift of a unique perfume. Harmless in and of itself, when the
relates how a woman once tried to kill Muhammad by poisoning innocuous fragrance was mixed with another equally innocent per
his meat. Poisoning your enemies remains a time-honored Middle fume, the two created deadly fumes. Note: Unique perfumes were
Eastern tradition. In fact, Ali, patron of the Shiite branch of Islam often used as recognition signals between undercover Assassin
from which the Order of Assassins descended, was murdered by a agents and their contacts.
poisoned sword. In the 7th century, what the troops of Utbah (a Deadly perfumes were distilled from common weeds and flow
lieutenant of Caliph Omar) thought was poisoned food set as a trap ers. For example, lilly of the valley, when correctly fermented, pro
by their foes turned out to be harmless rice (which the Arabs had duces a deadly nerve toxin. Other Assassin poisons came from
never seen before). While somewhat humorous, this story illus such mundane sources as rhubarb leaves, mushrooms, and fruits
trates that poisoning-or at least the fear of poisoning-was com such as apricots, plums, and almonds. Still other Assassin poisons
mon practice in Middle East at the time. were extracted from such creatures as snakes and scorpions. In
References to poisoning (individual and large scale) as an some cases, the creatures themselves-strategically placed
accepted tactic in warfare are numerous in Middle Eastern history. became the weapon. Yet another Assassin gift of poison, believed
During the Second Arab War (722-737 C.E.), conquering Arabs poi imported from the Far East, was to send the targeted person ornate
soned the entire water supply of the city of Bab al Abwab on the garments woven from the silk of worms fed on the beans of the
Caspian Sea in an effort to bring the fierce Khazar tribes of the castor plant. (Ricin, considered one of the five most toxic sub-
Caucasus under control. The Assassin use of poisons ran the gamut stances in the world, is derived from the beans of the castor plant.)
from a toxic powder used to blind an enemy during one-on-one Over time, the poison in garments woven from these deadly
combat to sending poisoned gifts to enemy officials. .J silk threads would first make the person ill and eventually kill
Assassin sappers always poisoned their blades, and given their f them. Rings and other gifts of jewelry were also impregnated with
J
mastery of poisons, dying instantly from a straight thrust to the poison hidden under a thin gold or silver veneer, which was
heart was much preferable to the lingering agony a victim could designed to wear off or dissolve after the jewelry was warmed by
expect from just a scratch from an Assassin blade. When Prince the wearer's skin, releasing the poison beneath.
Edward of England (1239-1307] was wounded by an Assassin . :· Medieval royalty, paranoid of poisoning, employed food tasters
J
wielding a poisoned blade, only his wife's quick action of sucking to sample food and drink before meals to insure that the food and
the poison from her husband's wound saved his life. Though in drink was safe. Assassin agents, planted in these rival courts as
agony for weeks, the prince survived to become King Edward I. food tasters, would often have to eat poisoned food and drink poi
Poisons were useful when more subtlety and subterfuge was soned wine in order to allay suspicions of the targeted king or
called for. Many influential figures in Middle Eastern (and prince. Sometimes these agents would have an antidote, but other
European) politics in the Middle Ages died of "dysentery" or times they willingly consumed slow-acting poison, knowing they
"fevers," often fortuitously on the eve of a great battle or just would die but remaining willing to sacrifice themselves in order to
before signing a pivota] treaty. Given the subtlety of poison use, we entice the targeted official to eat or drink the substance. Often a
will never know how many medieval notables who died of "natur „ targeted official would be fed an initially harmless poison that was
al causes" actually succumbed to poison. However, you will recall activated only after the victim ate a second ingredient. One
the fact that in 1277 Mameluke warlord (de facto Assassin grand Assassin extortion ploy called for poisoning an official and then
master] Rukn Baibars got his cups mixed up and accidently pol offering to sell him the antidote in return for money or coopera
soned himself while trying to poison a rival, which testifies to the tion. Given the terror mere mention of the Assassins evoked, just
widespread use of poison as a viable political tool at the time. j telling a frightened official he had been poisoned, in lieu of actu-
Assassin grand masters referred to the use of poison as "giving ally poisoning him, was often enough to elicit cooperation or a
174 175
The Old Ways
healthy contribution to the Assassin cause. Kings and courtiers the victim to bleed to death internally. Other ninja methods were
reluctant to assist the Assassin cause were often secretly given actually "one-eyed snake" ploys, which were killing methods (such
enough poison to make them terribly ill, but not enough to kill as poisons) designed to mimic killing techniques in the same vein
them. The grand master could then generously send his "personal as dim-mak.
physician" (in reality another Assassin agent) to "cure" the stricken Eastern religious proscriptions against autopsies prevented the
king. Grateful, the cured king would then aid the Assassin cause. discovery of foul play by poison (or other internal methods) as
A variation of this ploy helped Assassin agents posing as physicians they did in Europe. "
(who just happened to have the exact cure a stricken official need The Crusades and their aftermath opened Europe to many
Middle Eastern ideas and goods. Coffee (from the Arabic word
ed) to get posted to a rival official's court.
Assassins made a practice of ingesting small amounts of poison qahwa) was introduced into Europe by returning Crusaders, as
(sometimes over a period of years) to build up their immunity to were other formerly unknown Middle Eastern foods and spices.
the poisons, especially those they used regularly. Evidently, it was Heretofore unknown medicines and knowledge of human anatomy
considered bad form to die from accidentally scratching yourself were also introduced into Europe by the Crusades.
with your own poisoned blade! In Europe, as in the Orient, religious restrictions against
This slow process of creating immunity against poison by human dissection meant there was no way to detect the presence
administering small quantities of a toxin or virus until sufficient of poisons in a dead body unti] the Vatican authorized autopsies in
antibodies have been built up is known as mithridatizing, a word the 15th century. Machiavellian individuals and families-the 14th-
deriving from an ancient king of Asia Minor, Mithridates VI (120- 15th century Medici and Borgias, for example-are infamous for
63 B.C.E.}. Paranoid about assassination, over the years Mithridates taking advantage of this murderous loophole.
ingested regular small doses of poison in order to build up his As in the Middle East, there is no way of telling how many roy
immunity. Ironically, after his final defeat at Nicopolis, Mithridates als and notables of medieval Europe, listed as having died of nat
tried to kill himself with poison but failed because of the immuni ural causes, actually drank from the Assassin's bitter cup. Indeed,
in
ty he had built up over the years. He finally had to order one of his while we will never know the extent of the practice of poison craft
mercenaries to kill him with a sword. medieval Europe, we do know that paranoia over poisoning was
The Assassins' masterful use of poisons inevitably led to tales widespread as Europe entered the Renaissance, as evidenced by
that the cult possessed the secret of killing with just a touch, a the fact that poison plays a pivotal role in Shakespeare's Romeo and
look, or the curse of a magic spell. Such fantastic tales, encouraged Juliet (1594) and again in Hamlet (1600).
by the grand master's propaganda machine, are similar to tales of
the infamous dim-mak ("death touch"} of ancient China. (Note: The Modern Poison Threat
Paladin Press has the most extensive library of dim-mak manuals There is a widespread fear that, sooner or later, some fanatical
available, all written by acclaimed-and very dangerous-instruc- terrorist group will get their hands on a nuclear weapon. The break
up of the Soviet Union has made this grim scenario even more like
tor Erle Montaigue.)
Many in the Orient believed ninja possessed the power to ly, but while attention has been focused on moves intended to
restrict the spread of materials and technology needed to build
strike an enemy in a way that would interrupt the natural flow of
t. nuclear weapons, trans-Islamic terrorists and their supporter states
his ki (vital energy), causing the victim to drop dead at a later
time, a time chosen by the ninja. Science dismisses such mysti # are concentrating their efforts in other directions.
cism but does concede that an accomplished martial artist-one Author and Middle East expert Laurie Mylroie, who investi-
3
knowledgable in anatomy-could strike a victim and create a gated the World Trade Center bombing, warns that Iraqi sleeper
blood clot that in turn could cause a heart attack or stroke at a agents connected with Abdel-Rahman's Jihad organization are still
later time. Such blows could also rupture internal organs, causing operating in the United States. What is most alarming is that one
176 177
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assossins The Old Woys
of these agents is reportedly an Iraqi scientist living in New York Or consider this: The African ebola virus has a 77 percent
City, active in the field of genetic engineering. What if such a sci fatality rate. What if a Middle Eastern terrorist purposely infected
entist-one with trans-Islamic sympathies or one whose family himself with the virus (or a similar deadly virus) 24 hours prior to
was being held hostage by a terrorist state-decided to help trans boarding a plane for La Guardia or JFK? How long would it take
Islamic terrorists acquire not a nuclear bomb, but equally deadly just one infected terrorist riding a New York subway to infect thou-
chemical or biological weapons? What if a fanatical religious fun sands, and each of those thousands to, in tum, infect a thousand
damentalist group decided to use a chemical or biological weapon others? And let's not forget the hundreds of travelers the terrorist
in an indiscriminate attack on civilians similar to the World Trade deliberately brushes up against, sneezes on, and kindly helps with
Center bombing? their bags while passing through the airport terminal, hundreds
It has already happened. On March 20, 1995, the fanatical boarding scores of planes bound for dozens of other major cities in
Japanese religious cult Aum Shinri Kyo unleashed a deadly sarin the United States.
nerve gas attack on a crowded Tokyo subway, killing 12 and injur A farfetched scenario? Remember that we are talking about the
ing thousands. The cult had manufactured the gas themselves. same fanatics who think nothing of strapping bombs to their bod
In a related and grossly underreported incident, two members ies before boarding buses filled with children. And never forget
of the cult were arrested entering the United States, carrying blue that we are talking about killers who take pride in tracing them
prints and formulas for the manufacture of sarin. Their travel selves back through the most murderous of lineages to the Old
plans included a stop at Disneyland. Man of the Mountain.
During the Iran-Iraq War, Saddam Hussein used nerve gas
against rebel Muslim Kurds and against rival Muslim Iranians. If a
Muslim leader like Saddam Hussein thinks nothing of unleashing
nerve gas on his brother Muslims, how can we expect him to treat
infidels in the West who oppose him?
In March of 1996 the CIA revealed that Libya was (and still is)
busy building "the world's largest underground chemical-weapons
plant" designed to manufacture mustard gas and nerve agents.
According to experts, "Unless destroyed. . .the new factory could
keep Qaddafi's favorite terrorists well stocked with chemical poi
sons for decades." Given Qaddafi's track record and his dedication
to trans-Islamicism, is there any doubt that, sooner or later, a small
canister of one of these deadly chemicals will find its way onto a
commercial jetliner departing North Africa, bound for Europe or
the United States?
What about poisoning an enemy with a biological weapon?
How hard would it be for a Middle Eastern terrorist group to
unleash a modem-day plague on the West?
Consider this troubling news bit: On May 11, 1995, authorities
raided the home of a self-styled microbiologist in Lancaster, Ohio,
where it was discovered that the man was holding bubonic plague
(Yersinia pestis) bacteria that he purchased through the mail from a
Maryland laboratory supplier.
178 179
i
Glossary
Alamutines: Synonym for the Order of Assassins

-
..:
Allah: Pre-Islamic lunar war god; god of Islam
al-jebr: Calculation; used by the Order of Assassins as a synonym

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for strategic and tactical planning.
al-najash: Trick; Assassin strategy.

;.
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%asas: Foundation. Possible source of English word assassin.
a
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21
assassin: Members of the Nizari Isma'ili sect. May be a corruption

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of hashishin, meaning "those who use hashish."
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·:;!~ balam: "Grabbing the ox by the horns." An Assassin grappling

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technique.
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batsh: Grasp; Assassin grappling technique.

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betyls: Sacred stones.
•
burnus: Hooded cloak worn by Assassins.
• dabb: Lizard; Assassin breaking & entering/stealth technique.
181
,
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Glossary
daughters of Allah: Manat, al-Uzza, and al-Lat, also known as the haram: Forbidden, taboo. In English, harem.
high flying cranes. Pre-Islamic goddesses.
harba: A short spear.
dayes: Missionaries. Highest level of four major operations sec
tions within the Order of Assassins. harj: Killing.
Effrengi: A Frank. A generic term used by Muslims for Europeans Hashimite: A Muslim sharing common ancenstry with
that was based upon the erroneous belief that all crusaders Muhammed. Possible source of the English word assassin, cor
were French. rupted from hashishin.
fedayeen: Men of sacrifice; Muslim warriors. hashishin: English synonym for Assassins based upon the erro
neous belief that Assassins used hashish.
fidavis: Devoted ones. Third level of four major operations sections
with the Order of Assassins. Hubal: Pre-Islamic god of the Quraysh tribe.
Five Noxious Ones, the: Variations of Assassin anna (unarmed Hums: Puritanical Islamic confederation sect fiercely devoted
combat}. Taken from the five creatures pilgrims are allowed to to Mecca.
slay while on hajj: crows, kites, scorpions, rats, and biting dogs.
lblis: Satan.
Franj: Generic name used by Muslims to denote crusaders. Also
based upon the erroneous belief that all crusaders were ifreet: A leader of Jinn.
French.
imam: A teacher. In Shiite belief, a divinely inspired prophet.
ghazi: A Muslim warrior who has participated in jihad.
janna: To hide; the Assassin art of stealth and unarmed combat.
ghira: A feeling of anger felt when one's honor is challenged.
Similar to the Asian concept of "face." jihad: Striving; holy war against evil.
hadith: Records of the sayings and acts of the prophet Muhammed jinn /also djinn}: Covered. In English, genie. In Arabic-Islamic
collected after his death. mythology, jinn are spirits, both good and evil, composed
of smokeless flame that have the power to influence
hajj: Pilgrimage. Specifically, obligatory pilgrimage to the Ka'Ba thoughts and actions in humans. Similar to the Christian
in Mecca. concept of demons.
halka: "Circle" or lodge; an organized cell of the Order of Assassisns. Ka'Ba (also Kaba and Cabala): The "Cube." Islam's most holy
shrine. Located in Mecca, it houses the sacred black stone,
hanif: A holy man; pure. holiest of Muslim relics.
hanifyya: Muslim religious practices believed derived from kadi {also qadi and qaadee): Judge.
Abraham.
182 183
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assossins Glossary
karaamaat: Supernatural or quasi-miraculous feats often per shirk: In Islam, the greatest of sins, that of ascribing equals to
formed by Assassin grand masters to increase their prestige. Allah (such as the "daughters" of Allah).
karr wa farr: Charging and fleeing. Arabic method of warfare shvoye: Patience acquired through the practice of khilwat.
characterized by guerrilla-like strikes designed to strike an
enemy and then quickly retreat. Silver Band, the: Name by which the Assassins referred to them
selves in English; derived from the silver band said to hold the
kefiyas: Arab face and head wrap. three pieces of the black stone of the Ka'Ba together.
khilwat: Silence; meditation methods used by Arabic mystics. Sufism: Islamic mystical movement originating in the 8th century.
Koran (also Qur'an and Quran): Muslim holy book. Allah's rev- Sunna (also Sunnite): One of two main branches of Islam; fol
elations to Muhammed collected and codified after the lowers of the Caliph line established after Muhammed's death.
prophet's death.
taqiyah: Shiite practice of denying their faith in times of danger;
laziks: First level of four major operations sections within the Assassin art of disguise.
Order of Assassins.
tarahhub: Ascetic practices used by Assassins both for purifying
qisas: Retribution; making a thing equal with another, as in mak and strengthening the mind and body.
ing the punishment fit the crime.
Quraysh: Tribe into which Muhammed was born; dominant tribe

in Arabia at the time of Muhammed; traditional guardians of
the Ka'Ba.
rafig: Friends; second level of four major operations sections with

in the Order of Assassins.
rukn: Stone.
Saracen: Generic name used by European crusaders to denote al]

Muslims. From the Greek Sarakenos, originally referring
specifically to nomadic Turks on the Syrian border.
Seveners: Name applied to the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam.
sharif: Honored title given to male descendants of Muhammed.
Shiite: One of the two main branches of Islam; followers of Ali.
184 185
Bibliography
Al-Ashmawy, Sai'd. "Islam's Real Agenda." Reader's Digest \January

1996}: 156-160.
Baghdadi, Ali. "Who is the Real Terrorist?" The Final Call (February
2, 1996): 13, 31.
Baily, Hester. The Spirit of Masonry.
Coil, Henry Wilson. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia.
Crompton, Paul. The Complete Martial Arts. Roxby Productions, Ltd.
Davis, James D. "Farrakhan's Remarks Ring True For Some." Ft.

Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (March 18, 1994).
Dobson, Christopher. Black September: Its Short, Violent History.

New York: Macmillan, 1973.
Dorressee, Jean. The Secret Books of the Egyptian Gnostics.

Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions Intl., Ltd., 1986.
Duke, Steven B. and Gross, Albert C. America's Longest War. New

York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1993.
187
ASSASSIN!: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins Bibliography
El-Amin, Mustafa. Freemasonry, Ancient Egypt & the Islamic Destiny. Persons, Places & Things. London: George Routledge & Sons,
New Jersey: New Mind Productions, 1988. Ltd., 1904.
Eerdmans' Handbook to the World's Religions. Michigan: William B. Liu, Melinda. "Meet me in Manhattan." Newsweek (October 2,
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982. 1995): 49.
Farah, C.E. Islam, Beliefs and Practices. 1970. Lung, Dr. Haha. The Ancient Art of Strangulation. Boulder: Paladin
Press, 1995.
Frankel, Bruce. "Terrorism Conspiracy Trial Goes to Jury." USA
Today (September 25, 1995): lA. Lung, Dr. Haha. Ninja Craft. Ohio: Alpha Publications. 1996.
Frankel, Bruce. "Sheik guilty in terror plot." USA Today (October 2, Mackey, Albert G. Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.
1995: lA.
McClintock, John and Strong, James. Encyclopedia of Biblical,
Franzius, Enno. History of the Order of Assassins. New York: Funk Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. Michigan: Baker Book
& Wagnalls, 1969. House, 1981 (Reprint Edition).
Ganley, Elaine. "Islamic Militants Recruit in Europe." Associated Morey, Robert. The Islamic Invasion: Confronting the World's Fastest
Press/Cleveland Plain Dealer (July 30, 1995): 13A. Growing Religion. Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1992.
Jonas, George. Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter Mylrorie, Laurie. "Saddam and Terrorism: The WTC Bombing."
Terrorist Team. 1985. Newsweek (October 17, 1994): 30.
Katz, Lee Michael. "Farrakhan's visits abroad denounced." USA New American Desk Encyclopedia. New York: Penguin Books, 1989.
Today (February 15, 1996): 6A.
Omar, Ralf Dean. Death on Your Doorstep: 101 Weapons in the
Khan, Dr. Muhammad Mushin. The Translation of the Meaning of Home. Ohio: Alpha Publications of Ohio, 1993.
Sahih Al-Bukhari. Pakistan: Kazi Publications, 1979.
Perry, Marvin. Unfinished Journey: A World History. Boston:
Khan, Dr. Muhammad Mushin. The Translation of the Meanings of Houghton Mifflin Co., 1980.
Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari. Riyadh: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
Publishing, 1994. Peters, F.E. The Hajj: The Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Roly
Places. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1994.
Knappert, Jan. African Mythology. London: Diamond Books, 1990.
Taymeeyah, Ibn (translated by Philips, Abu Ameenah Bilal). Essay
La Barre, Weston. The Ghost Dance. Dell Publishing, 1972. on the Jinn. Riyadh: International Islamic Publishing House,
1989.
Laqueur, Walter. Terrorism. Boston: Little, Brown & Little, 1977.
Pickthall, Muhammad (translator). The Glorious Qur'an. Libbya:
Latham, Edward. A Dictionary of Names, Nicknames & Surnames of Islamic Call Society.
188 189
Ravenscroft, Trevor. The Spear of Destiny. Maine: Samuel Weiser,

Inc., 1982.
Robinson, John J. Dungeon, Fire & Sword. The Knights Templars in

the Crusades. New York: M. Evans & Co., 1991. About the Author
Sadler, Barry. Casca #13: The Assassin. New York: Jove Books, 1988.
Skinner, Dirk. Street Ninja: Ancient Secrets for Today's Mean Streets.
New York: Barricade Books, 1995.
Dr. Haha Lung is the author of more than a dozen books deal
ing with the "darker side" of the martial arts, forbidden killing
techniques, and historical and modern secret societies. His previ
ous book from Paladin Press is The Ancient Art of Strangulation.
190 191
Lungs Bladder
a
While not immediately fatal, a preliminary knife strike to . Hand, foot, and knife strikes to the bladder (Illustration 16:xiii)
either lung (Illustration 16vii), coming up and under the solar g° Pe_""9! 4ne'!v sa, owto ne baa&er
plexus, makes it difficult for a victim to breathe and can cause .•. ~ can cause pain and unconsciousness (due to trauma). If you are
unconsciousness (due to trauma). Lung strikes are used as soften .• : una11ned, attack the bladder with low-level rising kicks and
ing-up blows designed to make the victim susceptible to the coup ~ _t stomps. With a blade, employ rising vertical stabs.
%
de grace.
Groin
s?
.
3
' Hand and foot strikes to the groin can cause distraction,
,:
Liver
\ t
A forceful hand blow to the liver (Illustration 16viii) area can ii pain, and unconsciousness. While not immediately fatal, knife
cause pain, internal bleeding and unconsciousness (due to trauma). :~-- strikes to the groin area cause pain, bleeding, and unconscious
/.:~, ness (due to fear and trauma). Blade attacks to the groin use ris-
i
A knife strike to the liver can cause unconsciousness and death.
ing vertical stabs.
Major (femoral) arteries run up both the inner thighs. Severing
;¡: one of these arteries causes major blood loss that can result in
Stomach
Stomach wounds (Illustration 19ix) are painful, but not imme
jf~ unconsciousness and, if left untreated, death due to blood loss.
y
diately fatal (though victims have died from trauma and shock).
For Assassins, the stomach is more of a softening-up strike. The
.,L;.,
stomach is attacked using straight-in stabs with rising vertical TARGETING THE MAJOR VESSELS
f . It has been said that an adventure is a result of incompetence.

slashes and horizontal cuts (see Illustration nine). 8°
Spleen :·-·:. This holds true for assassins. If an assassin has to struggle with an
to
Trauma (blows, stabs, and cuts) to the spleen (Illustration 19x) ~ tt opponent, something has gone wrong. Let's examine how this
{:a pplies knife fighting.
"ff°
causes pain, unconsciousness, and even death. Attack the spleen
with forceful hand blows and with straight-in jabs. Horizontal cuts $„.. feh?r cmn afford to wear an opponent dov by fens
can be employed after shifting to the victim's left side (see i, ing with him until the opponent drops from a loss of blood or until
few
authorities arrive to break up the fight.
Illustrations 14 and 15).
*wih exceptions, even striking into a major artery will not
Large Intestine instantly kill an opponent. Though you succeed in severing a major
While not immediately fatal, stabs and cuts to the large intes i{I artery, an opponent may still be able to kill you before he bleeds to
tine (Illustration 16xi) cause pain, unconscious, and sometimes ij. death. More often than not, in the heat of battle, a knife fighter will
f
death (due to blood loss and trauma). If unarmed, use forceful not even realize he has been seriously cut until after the excitement
hand and foot blows. Armed with a knife, target this organ with of the fight wanes. All too often, in a protracted knife fight, it's the
~y· .
straight-in stabs, rising vertical slashes, horizontal cuts, and low· man who bleeds slowest who wins!
level diagonal cuts. An assassin is not a fighter. Implicit in the nature of an assas
~ f~ Sm's_ business was the necessity of getting in and out as quickly as
Small Intestine {Pe5te The longer the assassin had to spend on enemy ground,
Long blades can stab into and through the small intestine ; .•. the higher the likelihood of his mission being compromised. In
(Ilustration 16xii) if the stab is deep enough and reaches into the {'Pther words, assassins didn't have time to waste in fencing with a
arteries and veins supplying blood to kidneys (see IIllustration 19). :( ~.lentry. Non~theless, assassins had to be prepared for any contin-
1
:_ Rency. If a single, telling cut could not be delivered, the assassin
•
110 111

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' 1 ,I JI , I >t I I I\ inu]

SECRETS OF THE WORLD S 1

DEADLIEST NIGHT FIGHTERS

Dr. Hoho Lung

The Ancient Art ofAssassination

The Black Science: Ancient and Modem Techniques ofNinja Mind

Kensington Publishing Corp. Part One

Cataloging data may be obtained from the Library of Congress

Opinions expressed in this book are those of the author. At no

This text contains many words translated from Arabic. To

Thanks to Peter Gilbert, Lenox Cramer, Frank "Black Mantis"

Opinions expressed in this book are those of the author. At no

This text contains many words translated from Arabic. To

More important still, is the Order of Assassins dead, or do their

"Assassins. One never knew when they would strike, and

STRATEGY AND STRONGHOLDS

-Ibn Taymeeyah CRAFT

"Hashish is the resin of the cannabis plant, which is Malik

eaten in food or sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana leaves

-Duke & Gross

The effects of hashish range from a feeling of lackadaisical Murid Emir

More important still, is the Order of Assassins dead, or do their

"Assassins. One never knew when they would strike, and

STRATEGY AND STRONGHOLDS

strongholds, striking down Seljuk targets and quickly withdrawing

Grand Masters and

"Although the Crusades were a military failure, western

-The New American Desk

and would-be warriors, high on the ideal of achieving glory

thousands of Jews in eastern Europe before being wiped out.

Grand Masters and Grand Schemes

beneath a large tree, an Assassin leaped from overhanging branch­

es, but was killed by Saladin's bodyguard. Again, Saladin escaped

vide Saladin's army with Assassin troops.

Jerusalem, he was aided by Assassin sapper-infiltrators.

30 er a flag of truce for the purpose of petitioning Hulagu's

Ploys and Powerl'lays

party were subsequently ambushed and killed by "e Po

The only Assassins to escape immediate aeath were theee reaives

In May 1121, Master Hasan ibn-Sabbah, in failing health,

In March of 1127, Sanjar's Grand Vizier was killed by two

was assassinated and the Persian hranch of the Order suppressed.

Also known as "Hasan the Mad," Hasan II removed Islamic ritual

Amalric demanded the Templars turn over the Templars responsi­

f amorality when it came to choosing strange bedfellows, the

"There is no good in much of their secret conferences. • "

treaties on a daily basis, as fit their self-interest or the needs of sur­

1129: Assassins conspired with Baldwin to betray Damascus.

Grand Masters and

"Although the Crusades were a military failure, western

-The New American Desk

banquet on July 1, 1277. Somehow the cups were accidentally (?)

The Evolution of the

kill enemies until the Mameluke dynasty was defeated by the I

IMPORTANT DATES, FACTS, AND EVENTS

ASSASSINI: The Deadly Art of the Cult of the Assassins

of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) mad dog,

than 1,000. (Had the plot succeeded as planned, tens of thousands

money into a Chicago-based pseudo-Islamic group known as El.

Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman-a Muslim cleric-and nine mem

"All warfare is based on deception."

"Allah's Messenger named War: Deceit."

beneath a large tree, an Assassin leaped from overhanging branch

Amalric demanded the Templars turn over the Templars responsi

treaties on a daily basis, as fit their self-interest or the needs of sur

Every major military since the dawn of warfare tens of thou

combat be£ore progressing to armed combat forms. This com

It is instinctual for humans to move back and away from dan

This allows you to move to the outside of an attacker's thrust