Finding the best medieval swordsmanship suitable for your needs isnt easy. With hundreds of choices can distract you. Knowing whats bad and whats good can be something of a minefield. In this article, weve done the hard work for you.
Reviews
1. The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship: A Facsimile & Translation of Europe's Oldest Personal Combat Treatise, Royal Armouries MS I.33 (Royal Armouries Monograph)
Description
Jointly Published with the British Royal ArmouriesMedieval fighting has long been thought to be rough and untutored. Visiions of men madly slashing to and fro and hoping for the best still dominate not only popular culture but modern histories of fencing as well.In recent years, the survival of more than 175 fighting treatises from the Middle Ages and Renaissance has provided a whole generation of enthusiasts, scholars, reenactors and stage choreographers with a wealth of new information. This text represents the earliest known text on swordsmanship anywhere in the world. Royal Armouries MS I.33 presents a system of combat that is sophisticated and demonstrates the diffusion of fighting arts beyond the military classes. Within the manuscripts richly illustrated full-color illustrations lie still-potent demonstrates of sword techniques, surprisingly shown by a Priest and Scholar. Most surprisingly, however, is the presence of a woman practcing in the text, the only one illustrated in any European fighting treatise. This full color facsimile & translation has been long-awaited and promises to become an important resource for years to come.2. Advanced Longsword: Form and Function
Feature
Advanced Longsword Form and FunctionDescription
This book builds on the foundation laid in The Medieval Longsword, and teaches you how to train Fiore dei Liberi's Art of Arms, as shown in his 1410 manuscript ll Fior di Battaglia. Renowned swordsman and author Guy Windsor explains three of the longsword forms that are used every day in The School of European Swordsmanship: The Cutting Drill The Farfalla di Ferro THe Longsword Syllabus Form. Each form is explained step by step and application by application, with abundant photographs and images from Fiore's manuscript. Guy takes you through each step first as a pair drill, then as part of the form, then as a starting point for further training, or for further research into Il Fior di Battaglia. Within these pages you will find in-depth instructions and analysis, dozens of tips for how to improve your skills, and enough material for years of study. Guy Windsor has been training martial arts for 30 years, and teaching professionally since he founded The School of European Swordsmanship in 2001. The School has branches and study groups all over the world. Guy's other books include The Swordsman's Companion, The Duellist's Companion, Veni Vadi Vici, Mastering the Art of Arms volume 1: The Medieval Dagger, and Mastering the Art of Arms volume 2: The Medieval Longsword. You can find him online at guywindsor.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.3. Mastering the Art of Arms, Vol. 2: The Medieval Longsword
Feature
Mastering the Art of Arms Volume 2 The Medieval LongswordDescription
Do you like swords? Do you want to know how to use them? Then this book is for you. Featuring an introduction by novelist Christian Cameron, in this book renowned swordsman and author Guy Windsor will take you through the principles and practice of medieval knightly combat with the longsword. The tactics and techniques come from Il Fior di Battaglia, written in 1410 by Fiore dei Liberi, one of the greatest trainers of knights in the Middle Ages. In this book Guy covers everything you need to get started, including principles of swordsmanship, training mindset, and choosing equipment; as well as a complete system of physical practice, from basic footwork all the way up through sword handling and pair drills to free fencing. Beginners will find this a complete and approachable guide to taking up the Art of Arms; experienced swordsmen will also find many tips and tricks for developing their skills. Guy Windsor has been training martial arts for almost 30 years, and teaching professionally since 2001, when he founded The School of European Swordsmanship. The School now has branches and study groups on all over the world. Guy's other books include The Swordsman's Companion, The Duellist's Companion, Veni Vadi Vici, and Mastering the Art of Arms vol 1: The Medieval Dagger.4. The Swordsman's Companion
Feature
Used Book in Good ConditionDescription
A complete beginner's guide to training in medieval Italian longsword. This book covers everything from choosing a sword, to warming up, to fencing. Full of set drills and clear descriptions, this book has been the standard work on the subject since it first came out in 2004. As a technical manual it has been largely superceded byThe Medieval Longsword, which came out in 2014, but it is unsurpassed as a general guide to how and why you should train swordsmanship.
5. Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship: Sigmund Ringeck's Commentaries on Master Liechtenauer's Verse
Description
Medieval Fighting with the German MastersChristian Henry Tobler presents a beautifully interpreted study of fighting techniques recorded in the mnemonic verse of the legendary German swordmaster, Johannes Liechtenauer. Johannes Liechtenauer was a 14th century German fencing master born in the mid 1300s. Some of Liechtenauer's teachings were preserved in rhyming couplets, possibly done so to prevent the uninitiated from learning the techniques he presented. Christian presents his interpretation in a style that is readable, translating the original and then providing a practical interpretation of each technique. At once bold and martially efficient, these classic techniques of swordsmanship have proven their enduring allure. In this second reissue of a classic work, Chivalry Bookshelf offers students of martial arts, of martial culture during the middle ages, fencing historians, reenactors and students of medieval history.6. Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods And Techniques
Description
From the author of Renaissance Swordsmanship comes the most comprehensive and historically accurate view ever of the lost fighting arts of Medieval knights, warriors and men-at-arms. Based on years of extensive training and research in the use of European swords, it contains highly effective fighting techniques for the sword, sword & shield, long-sword, great-sword, pole-arm and more. And with more than 200 illustrations and rare historical documents, it is a scholarly reference as well as a hands-on training guide for martial artists of all levels.7. Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters
Feature
Expert Sword-Man's Companion by Donald McBaneNew Methods of Fencing by Sir William Hope
Description
The Scottish Highlander has been romanticized in poetry, song and legend; immortalized in the figures of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Rob Roy. His reputation as a fierce fighter and deadly swordsman was much more than a myth - a proud tradition of Scottish fencing masters taught the use of the backsword, smallsword, target and dirk from the 17th through the 19th centuries. These masters were as colorful and diverse as the Scottish people themselves, from the upper-class Anglicized, Sir William Hope, to the bawdy, soldier-turned-fencing master Donald McBane, who ran a fencing salon out of his wife's brothel. In this omnibus edition, Mark Rector presents two classic manuals of Scottish swordsmanship from the days of Culloden.8. The Art of Swordsmanship by Hans Leckchner (Armour and Weapons)
Description
Completed in 1482, Johannes Leckchner's Art of Combat with the "Langes Messer" (Messerfechtkunst) is among the most important documents on the combat arts of the Middle Ages. The Messer was a single-edged, one-handed utility sword peculiar to central Europe, but Leckchner's techniques apply to cut-and-thrust swords in general: not only is this treatise the single most substantial work on the use of one-handed swords to survive from this period, but it is the most detailed explanation of the two-handed sword techniques of the German "Liechtenauer" school dating back to the 1300s. Leckchner's lavish manuscript consists of over four hundred illustrations with explanatory text, in which the author, a parish priest, rings the changes on bladework, deceits, and grappling, with techniques ranging from life-or-death escapes from an armed assailant to slapstick moves designed to please the crowd in public fencing matches. This translation, complete with all illustrations from the manuscript, makes the treatise accessible for the first time since the author's untimely death less than a year after its completion left his major work to be lost for generations. An extensive introduction, notes, and glossary analyze and contextualize the work and clarify its technical content. Jeffrey L. Forgeng is curator of Arms and Armor and Medieval Art at the Worcester Art Museum, and teaches as Adjunct Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.9. Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Book Of Rapiers And Cut And Thrust Swords And Their Use
Description
This is the most thorough work ever about historical swordsmanship. It is both a general reference and an instructional guide for advanced and beginning sword enthusiasts, students of military history and martial artists. Includes rare historical info and 100 original drawings.10. Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods And Techniques by John Clements (1998-10-01)