Fighting with the German Longsword


Book Description

Recorded over six centuries ago, the teachings of the 14th-century Master-at-Arms Johannes Liechtenauer have been given new life by a world-wide community of modern swordsmen and women, fascinated by the elegance, efficiency and depth of his unique martial art. Christian Henry Tobler was one of the pioneers in reviving the medieval Master's art, creating the first, published syllabus for training with the two-handed longsword back in 2004. This fully rewritten, revised and expanded edition brings to bear a decade of refinement, creating a definitive, "how to" guide for students. Beginning with a short historical overview of the art, Mr. Tobler teaches stance, footwork, methods for gripping the sword, and step-by-step instructions for executing the core techniques of the Liechtenauer tradition. Additional chapters introduce students to wrestling, spear and armoured combat; demonstrating the art's depth and breadth. Heavily photo-illustrated, the book also makes use of decision-trees and training drills to aid in learning. Used as a complete, self-contained course, or a primer for studying the original medieval works themselves, this unique book will be invaluable to martial artists, reenactors, medieval historians, or anyone who has ever wondered "how did knights fight?"







The Art of Sword Combat


Book Description

This sixteenth-century German guide to sword fighting and combat training is a crucial source for understanding medieval swordplay techniques. Following his translation of Joachim Meyer’s The Art of Combat, Jeffrey L. Forgeng was alerted to an earlier version of Meyer’s text, discovered in Lund University Library in Sweden. The manuscript, produced in Strasbourg around 1568, is illustrated with thirty watercolor images and seven ink diagrams. The text covers combat with the longsword (hand-and-a-half sword), dusack (a one-handed practice weapon comparable to a sabre), and rapier. The manuscript’s theoretical discussion of guards sheds significant light on this key feature of the historical practice, not just in relation to Meyer but in relation to medieval combat systems in general. The Art of Sword Combat also offers an extensive repertoire of training drills for both the dusack and the rapier, a feature largely lacking in treatises of the period and critical to modern reconstructions of the practice. Forgeng’s translation also includes a biography of Meyer, much of which has only recently come to light, as well as technical terminology and other essential information for understanding and contextualizing the work.




In Saint George's Name


Book Description

The medieval knight was a well-trained fighting man, expert in the use of sword, lance, spear and dagger, and member of a warrior aristocracy whose values, virtues and vices helped shape European society for over 500 years. As a window into the knight and his craft, In Saint George's Name: An Anthology of Medieval German Fighting Arts brings readers a treasure trove of historic combat treatises, musings on the culture and context of the martial arts in the late Middle Ages, and hands-on training exercises for wrestling, dagger, falchion, and poleaxe. Join medieval combat expert Christian Henry Tobler on an expansive journey into the lost world of chivalric fighting arts, certain to thrill martial artists, arms and armour enthusiasts, and lovers of history alike.




The Flower of Battle


Book Description

The Flower of Battle is Colin Hatcher's translation of Fiore dei Liberi's art of combat from the early 15th century. The work included high-resolution images and English text laid out in the manner of the original.




Sword Fighting


Book Description

A comprehensive introduction to the subject of sword fighting: Herbert Schmidt explains the fundamentals of fighting with the long sword, the guards, cuts and Master Cuts, as well as advanced techniques and tactics for practical fighting. These also include wrestling at the sword. Typical combat sequences, equipment tips, cutting tests, training and free fighting, plus an extensive glossary round out this new standard work. Its modern approach and numerous photos make this book a valuable textbook and reference work. Herbert Schmidt is the leader of Ars Gladii, the Austrian swordfighting club, and is part of an international research community that is reconstructing historical European swordfighting and awakening it to new life. He is acknowledged as an expert far beyond the borders of Austria.




Knightly Weaponry Play


Book Description

First published under the title Ritterliche Waffenspiele in interwar Germany, Knightly Weaponry Play is a youth-accessible instructional manual for the basic wielding of longswords, single sticks, bow and arrows, and crossbows. Written by patriotic forester, naturalist, and scouting leader Herr-Doktor Wilhelm Fabricius, this book was intended to inspire activity and strength in young boys participating in environmental-survival fellowships. Illustrated and described within are swordplay techniques that clearly interpret moves of the Kunst des Fechtens - the art of fencing - as illustrated centuries earlier by venerable Fechtmeisters circa 1450-1600. Highly popular when it was originally released, this book was used as a play and practice aid by interwar German brotherhoods such as the Adler und Falken, Deutsches Jungvolk, and Pfadfinders. Antelope Hill is proud to present Herr-Doktor Wihelm Fabricius's Knightly Weaponry Play, translated into English for the first time ever by Jeffrey Hull. This unique work is sure to develop martial prowess in a new generation of young men as well as historical curiosity in a wholesome and fun way!




The Academy of the Sword


Book Description

"The Academy of the Sword centers on an assemblage of rare illustrated books devoted to the subject of fencing and dueling, drawn (with one exception) from the library of the Arms and Armor Department of The Metropolitan Museum of Art ... Accompanying the books and giving vivid impact to their illustrations are a selection of swords, rapiers, parrying daggers, bucklers, and other accoutrements, which follow the chronology of, and changes in, fighting styles depicted in the books"--Introduction, page 3




Medieval Combat


Book Description

Originally published in Great Britain in 2000 by Greenhill Books; reprinted in this format in 2014 by Frontline Books.