With the popularity of medieval fighting techniques growing at a rapid pace. Surviving examples typically have a blade about 40 long, and a grip of about 10, and weigh around 35. Medieval sword fighting styles were brutal and far less elegant than those associated with the renaissance. A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat by hans talhoffer isbn. John clements has practiced cutandthrust swordsmanship for almost 20 years and trains regularly in longsword, sword and shield, sword and buckler, sword and dagger, medieval spear, and rapier and dagger methods. In earths historical reality, the european onehanded arming sword has become a wellknown and predictable symbol. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Medieval, renaissance, oriental and medieval music books here you will find books on sword fighting, medieval combat, records of medieval swords, knift and tomahawk book, medieval furniture, songs for bagpipes to medieval dance music books. The terms knights sword or knightly sword are modern retronyms to specify the sword of the high medieval period. An introduction to medieval and renaissance combat. Recommended list association for renaissance martial arts. This book traces the origin of the medieval sword from celtic, roman and greek weapons and briefly examines the progression of the medieval sword into renaissance swords. Swordsmanship is the art of killing an opponent with a sword and throughout the centuries, a large number of techniques and styles have emerged, developed, and perfected.
When we try to understand medieval swords we should start serious research and then unexpectedly we will meet a lot of unknowns. Im looking for good books on medieval swordfighting for someone turning whos into medieval reenactments. He lectures on historical weaponry and is an ardent promoter of contactweapon sparring with historical replica swords. Our medieval sword books and videos are very helpful in learning skills like how to make a knife as well as teaching tools for hand to hand combat and sword fighting. Spanish rapier books page always wanted to try this. I had my eye on jon clemonts medieval swordsmanship but that is out of print and therefore expensive. The most important work on historical fencing and european martial arts in. Ewart oakeshotts books on medieval swords have yet to be surpassed, but it is really time that they are. The majority of surviving german manuscripts at least reference the kunst des fechtens. Medieval combat a fifteenthcentury illustrated manual. Arming sword in late medieval usage specifically refers to the estoc when worn as a sidearm, but as a modern term it may also refer to any singlehanded sword in a late medieval context. But in popular medieval fantasy, whether it be in video games, books, movies or comics, the european sword has become a target for unpredictable creative reinvention. Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills of a swordsman, a person versed in the art of the sword. This book was written by a medieval military instructor, hans talhoffer.
Medieval combat, a 15th c illustrated manual of sword fighting and close quarter combat hans talhoffer. These works have both tremendous artistic merit and incalculable historical value. The medieval longsword mastering the art of arms book 2 guy windsor. There are primary sources of medieval fighting techniques. This catalogue page offers books about sword fighting, sword combat, fencing, the medieval longsword, rapiers, and medieval swordsmanship. A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat.
Crusader knight, fighting poses, armadura medieval, knight art, medieval weapons, arm armor, military history, middle ages. The fighting style was passed on from italian and german training disciplines and encouraged blocking, increased attention to footwork, better. Granted that formal training in the fighting arts were reserved for those classes of people who were selected to uphold the law and maintain peace, as well as those in the military. Mr clements really does know his stuff when it comes to the historical, technological and technical history of medieval sword. Home books books on sword fighting and swords medieval weapon art in this section we have the sword and the centuries, medieval combat, italian rapier combat, stones classic work on arms and armor and records of the medieval swords. However, it was the first time in european history that a combat technique employed the art of self defence. Museums collection books such as this provide an invaluable record of the colorful. Has it been enough to spoil all the fight scenes in the very movies and tv shows that got me interested in sword fighting in the first place. The books is written in series of verses and detail forms of fighting such as fighting with the longsword both in and out of armour, falchion, sword and buckler, and dagger, as well as unarmed combat and fighting from horseback. Rather, medieval and renaissance sword fighting was a hell of a lot more violent, brutal, ferocious, and astonishingly effective.
It went on to become a key weapon on the battlefields of late medieval europe, creating a new system of sword fighting. Richard marsden, historical european martial arts in its context. Jousts were, from the th to 16th century ce, a popular part of the european medieval tournament where knights showed off their martial skills by riding against one another with wooden lances in a designated area known as the lists. From ancient rome to the trenches of the first world war, our expanding list includes novels that evoke an array of different historical eras, sure. Medieval swords reconstructions, replicas, special design and custom commissions. The way in which these swords were held, the way they can be maneuvered, and the postures and motions involved, differ substantially from common presumptions and modernera fencing styles. The classic guide to strategy by miyamoto musashi, a court of wings and ruin by sarah j. Since 1966, the society for creative anachronism has been developing a sport that attempts to simulate medieval. This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and ruthlessness. It is highly recommended with others making a set that covers the end of the roman empire in the west through to the beginnings of the rennaisance.
But why do they belong there, and not in real life. Sword fighting techniques have been practiced throughout history to allow the wielder of swords to adequately execute various moves perfectly. The codex wallerstein is one of the best known of the late medieval fencing treatises still in existence. A journal of working in denmark for the national geographic channel program, medieval fight book, produced by wild dream films by john clements in october 2010, i was asked by the production company wild dream films to write a short blog about some of my experiences as fight master and historical consultant for their program on the 1459 edition of hans talhoffers. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword. An excellent book by ewart oakshott, i purchased this book as an adjunct to the medieval swords by oakshott. So, my favorite thing to read is probably medieval historical fiction. Battlefield guides, accounts of decisive battles and sieges, critical biographies of key commanders, and reissues of classic works of the medieval scholarship all feature in our list. 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 menatarms. In the beginners guide to the long sword, steaphen fick, founder of the davenriche european martial arts school, will show you how to hold a sword, parry, block, practice sword drills with friends, dominate a fight, and recognize swordfighting techniques in movies and games.
A set of medieval figures based on real techniques from the middle ages would be far more wonderful than the swordclubbing lumps based on pure fiction. It is a controversial book, with stick figure illustrations and somewhat lightweight at only 80 pages. Military history books to look out for medieval sword. Historical fiction that is somehow also star trek would be the best, but that would involve time travel and might fuck with the spacetime continuum and then youd get the department of temporal investigation involved, and those guys are cranky. It reads almost like a manual, despite the lack of explanations and clarifications. Highlander sword found in a garage is sold for a fortune. The theory and practice of historical martial arts guy windsor. From sword and buckler to sword and dagger, sword alone to twohanded sword, from polearms to wrestling though absent in manciolino, early 16thcentury italian fencing reflects the versatility that a martial artist of the time was supposed to achieve. Historical european martial arts hema refers to martial arts of european origin, particularly.
Talhoffer reveals the techniques for wrestling, unarmored fighting with the long sword, poleax, dagger, sword and buckler, and mounted combat. Nothing is known about how it came to be in the garage, nor its history. Drawing together period sources, modern technical analysis and his own experiences with the longsword, neil grant explores the origins, manufacture and evolving use of this iconic latemedieval edged weapon. A fresh appraisal of the great clash at the catalaunian fields in 451 offers new insights into the mechanics of the fighting and shows that it was a true battle of nations which decided nothing less than the fate of. Medieval combat a fifteenthcentury illustrated manual by hans talhoffer. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. My hope is that it serves to help the emerging western martial arts community in their study of european swordsmanship, and that students and scholars and just plain folks who are interested in the history and art of the middle ages look to. They are called fechtbuchs german for fight book by aficionados of the art.
Talhoffer reveals the techniques for wrestling, unarmoured fighting with the long sword, poleaxe, dagger, sword and buckler, and mounted combat. The central figure of late medieval martial arts, at least in germany. These medieval books and videos are great for that medieval person who would like to learn more about the medieval times. Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills of a swordsman, a person versed in the art. I have about half a decade of late medieval martial arts practice under my belt. Codex wallerstein a medieval fighting book from the fifteenth century on the. Medieval combat, a 15th c illustrated manual of sword. What is the best way to learn medieval sword fighting.
And the reality of sword fighting is far richer and far more fascinating than our much beloved modern fantasy imagines. Best sword lessons books for hema in 2020 top 11 fencing. Pen and sword fiction is dedicated exclusively to the publication of wellresearched historical fiction books. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The remarkable artifact was found by a man when he was cleaning out the garage of his dead father. The first book about the fighting arts, epitoma rei militaris was written into latin.
Loaded with pictures and diagrams showing the oakshott sword classification. We offer a wide selection of medieval sword and knife books and videos. A medieval fighting book from the fifteenth century on the longsword, falchion, dagger, and wrestling zabinski, grzegorz, walczak, bartlomiej on. A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat is a good book you can read. History is often about the big picture but ultimately insight into it comes down to knowing what individuals did. For much of the early medieval period, the sword continued to remain a symbol of.