The Swordsman's Companion

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 As a technical manual it has been largely superceded by The Medieval Longsword, which came out in 2014, but it is unsurpassed as a general guide to how and why you should train swordsmanship.

Sports & Outdoors

Windsor, Guy

Individual Sports

Swordschool Ltd

A complete training guide to 17th century Italian rapier fencing, and a thorough interpretation of the style of legendary swordsman Ridolfo Capoferro, author of the most famous fencing book in history, his Gran Simulacro, published in 1610. First published in 2006, this guide is the standard work on the subject.

The Duellist's Companion: A training manual for 17th century Italian rapier

“Useful, helpful, absorbing, entertaining. Whether you are interested in weaponry or, like me, researching details for a novel, this is the book for you.” Helen Hollick, Amazon customer. Your search for a book that will feed your passion for and deepen your knowledge of swordsmanship ends here. Guy Windsor’s Swordfighting offers insight into this magnificent historical European martial art: you will find answers to your burning questions about swordsmanship, its theory and practice.  This carefully crafted book provides essential information on diverse topics with piercing clarity.  “Whether you are a writer or game-maker seeking the kind of information I sought while writing The Baroque Cycle, or just a general reader with an interest in the arts to which Guy Windsor has dedicated his career, you should find much that is rewarding in these pages.” From the foreword by Neal Stephenson, New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author. Made up of a selection of Guy’s essays and articles, with a great deal of brand new material, this engaging and revealing book makes this complex subject accessible, enabling you to deep-dive into —  Benefits of training Types of weapons Sword fighting principles Historical accuracy  If you are an actor, writer or games designer creating or writing fight scenes, this book provides cutting-edge research on our European martial arts heritage. You will also discover the dos and don’ts of producing a stunningly realistic sword fight.  Swordfighting is not a training manual. For technical instruction on specific swordsmanship styles, you should buy The Medieval Longsword and The Duellist's Companion.

Swordfighting, for Writers, Game Designers, and Martial Artists

Computers & Technology

Games & Strategy Guides

Mastering the Art of Arms, Vol. 2: The Medieval Longsword

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.

History

Guy Windsor

Europe

Do you like swords? Do you want to know how to use them? Then this book is for you. With a foreword by historical novelist Christian Cameron, author of The Ill Made Knight, the Tyrant series, etc. 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.

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. The second edition has been updated and revised.

Advanced Longsword: Form and Function

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.

This is a full-colour facsimile edition of Philippo Vadi's De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi, the art of swordsmanship. This book was written in the late 1400s for the Duke of Urbino, Guido Montefeltro, a famous condottiero. Please note: this book is written in Italian, and there is no translation or commentary included in this edition. This book replicates, as closely as possible with current print-on-demand technology, the experience of owning the original manuscript. The book begins with an introduction, followed by 16 chapters on the art and practice of swordsmanship, then continues with illustrated martial arts techniques. Swordfighting in armour, out of armour, techniques with a pollax, with a spear, and with and against a dagger. The whole of knightly combat on foot is covered.

De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi (Italian Edition)

Vadi, Philippo

Military

The manuscript of Il Fior di Battaglia is in the Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms Ludwig XV 13. It is dated to about 1410, and was written by Fiore dei Liberi. This book is a complete representation of the Art of Arms (armizare), on foot, on horseback, in armour, out of armour, wrestling, dagger, sword, spear and pollax. Even wrestling on horseback! The book is written in Italian, and there is no translation, introduction or commentary included in this edition. We have made one change to the current binding. It is obvious from the content that folio 38 should be bound between folia 14 and 15, so we have placed it there, but retained the folio numbers for the convenience of modern scholars accustomed to the current page order as bound. We have produced this facsimile from scans in the public domain, which you can find online at wiktenauer.com. It is as close to the size of the original manuscript as possible with current print-on-demand technology. Our intention in publishing it is to produce an affordable reproduction that duplicates as closely as possible the experience of handling and owning the original, but at a reasonable price. This is indispensible reading for any scholar of medieval history, swordsmanship, medieval and renaissance combat, or re-enactment.

Il Fior di Battaglia: Ms Ludwig XV 13 (Italian Edition)

Arts & Photography

Dei Liberi, Fiore

History & Criticism

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Books by Swordschool Ltd

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Swordschool Ltd publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Swordsman's Companion

The Duellist's Companion: A training manual for 17th century Italian rapier

Swordfighting, for Writers, Game Designers, and Martial Artists

Mastering the Art of Arms, Vol. 2: The Medieval Longsword

Swordfighting, for Writers, Game Designers, and Martial Artists

Mastering the Art of Arms, Vol. 2: The Medieval Longsword

The Swordsman's Companion

Advanced Longsword: Form and Function

De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi (Italian Edition)

Il Fior di Battaglia: Ms Ludwig XV 13 (Italian Edition)