Martin J Dougherty is a freelance author specialising in military and historical subjects. His works include A Dark History of the Vikings, Fight to Win and Cut & Thrust: European Swords and Swordsmanship. He has also worked on game lines including Traveller, Call of Cthulhu and Armageddon 2089 and has published several SF and Fantasy novels Martin is Chief Assessor to the British Federation for Historical Swordplay, teaching smallsword and military sabre at events such as SWASH and Smallsword Symposium. He is active on the tournament circuit and has won medals for military sabre, smallsword and rapier.As a martial artist, Martin holds black belts in four combat systems including Combat Ju-Jutsu and Modern Street Combat. He is a Master Level Instructor/Senior Assessor with the Self-Defence Federation and head of coaching to the All-Styles Martial Arts Association.Television work includes shows such as Triggers: Weapons that Changed the World and Ultimate Soldier Challenge. Martin’s role encompasses both sides of the camera, acting as a technical consultant and an on-camera weapons expert. Martin lives in northeast England and is excessively fond of single malt scotch whisky. This may explain a recent incident involving an outdoor sword fight in the dark with everyone involved wearing top hats, though the official version is: ‘research.’