training books

[Willrett]

I would like to get a list of books together for training. I know some have been posted before I just want to bring them all together and get info on them.

This was in this months SBG news letter. I like the price I might pick it up and see how it is.
http://www.amazon.com/MODERN-SWORDSMAN- ... 886&sr=1-1

[Greg]

J. Clement's Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques
http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Swordsma ... pd_sim_b_2

Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship: Sigmund Ringeck's Commentaries on Liechtenauer
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-German-Me ... d_sim_b_35

Sword in Two Hands: A Full-Color Modern Training Guide based on the Fior di Battaglia of Fiore dei Liberi
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Two-Hands-F ... d_sim_b_36

My personal Favorite, Talhoffer's Manual, Translated by Mark Rector
http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Combat-F ... 276&sr=1-1

Royal Armouries Ms. I.33 with translations
http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Art-Swor ... 323&sr=1-2

...and a modern, translated, and photographed look at I.33, Medieval Art of Sword & Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33
http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Art-Swor ... 323&sr=1-1

I'm currently working out of Mark Rector's translation of Talhoffer's Fetbuch, and the bare-bones translation of Ms. I.33. Look up ARMA videos for ideas on drills and such on youtube.

[Tim Hall]

Finally a topic I can help with! Hah
On top of the books mentioned by Greg I would also recommend the following(in no particular order):

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Combat-German ... 016&sr=8-1
Forgeng’s translation of Joachim Meyer’s 1570 fechtbuch – very descriptive, also contains illustrations/woodcuts(not sure what they were originally) of may techniques

http://www.youtube.com/user/MEMAG
a great group that provides clear walkthroughs of many plays from the Fechtbucher. (dagger, staff, and other weapons as well as swords)

http://www.freelanceacademypress.com/
an excellent source for new books on medieval combat
http://www.freelanceacademypress.com/in ... sname.aspx
A compilation of articles and translation of the so called “von Danzig” Fechtbuch

http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Renaissa ... 375&sr=8-1
An overview of different dagger and unarmed techniques found in the medieval fencing manuals

http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-German-L ... 896&sr=8-1
A great introduction to the German art of combat

I would recommend reading the Amazon reviews for "The Modern Swordsman" and "John Clement's Medieval Swordsmanship" as it seems there may be some issues with these two books.

Also something to note. While Rector's translation of Talhoffer is a great contribution to the WMA community it is more of an interpretive translation and can be difficult to follow if you do not already have experience in the German art of combat.

I hope my post helps!

- Tim

[E.MacKermak]

Christian Tobler's "Fighting with the German Longsword" is a good beginner work prior to "Secrets".

[Cleddyf]

this is really handy, i might see if any of these are at the library

[Tim Hall]

Here is a useful link to a bunch of book and videos dealing with WMA/HEMA:

http://woodenswords.com/WMA/bookpage.htm

-Tim

[R.D.Metcalf]

Fighting with the German longsword
-C.Tobler

Sigmund Ringecks knightly art of the longsword
-David Lindholm and Peter svard

Lessons on the English longsword
-Brandon Heslop and Benjamin Bradak


My 3 favorite volumes.

Also see Codex Wallerstein, knightley dueling both available from
paladin

[R.D.Metcalf]

I own rectors translation of Talhoffer and while it is useful for the mounted combat techniques I dont glean much from those plates
that Ringeck doesnt present more clearly in his interpetation of Master leictanauers verses. Christian Tobler points out sometimes the written word of the old masters is of more help in reconstruction than illustrations.

As to an order of learning I would argue that a progession from
ringen to longsword and so on, would be a wiser path for the beginner. in other words empty hand to sword to polearms for a well rounded fighter.

Toblers manual 'Fighting with the German longsword' is the best place to start IMHO another bit of advice to beginners before purchasing a library is to train *one* manual before cross training other interpetations. Build a firm foundation and hammer the basics.

[Eric C]

Does Tobler's manual deal with hand to hand combat? I'm very interested in training h-2-h and teaching my kids as well.

[R.D.Metcalf]

Tobler includes the ringen. It may seem sparse but alot of techniques stem from the wrestlings, some purely grappling others involve percussion according to the situation, IE, armoured or unarmoured combat. Ringen doesnt always get the press, but it is essential to learning medieval combatives.

[Beornmann]

Does Tobler's manual deal with hand to hand combat? I'm very interested in training h-2-h and teaching my kids as well.

Try this out:

Medieval Hand-to-hand CombatBy Keith P. Myers, ARMA DC. Privately published 2002.
Reviewed by Jason Vail.

also, Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Illustrated Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat, by Hans Talhoffer
(Author), Mark Rector (Author), John Clements (Foreword)

[Duathen]

Fabian von Auerswald also has an entire book on wrestling - pretty neat stuff.
http://www.klocktower.org/ringen/auerswald/

Personally I lean more towards Fiore's take on wrestling. He's less about out-and-out grappling and more into to doing harm to your opponent in order to take the advantage.
http://www.mercierarmory.com/nsg/Fiore/wrestling.html

[Beornmann]

Personally I lean more towards Fiore's take on wrestling. He's less about out-and-out grappling and more into to doing harm to your opponent in order to take the advantage.

Sort of like the diffrence between BJJ & Krav; one seeks the dominate position, the other, fast and brutal damage.

[R.D.Metcalf]

http://hemaalliance.com/discussion/inde ... 423af50811



http://lessonsontheenglishlongsword.blogspot.com/

[Duathen]

Sort of like the diffrence between BJJ & Krav; one seeks the dominate position, they other fast and brutal damage.

Not quite that extreme given BJJ's sportification with a system of rules in place. Fiore shows eye-gouging and smashing the bridge of the nose in a few of his plates. Integrating these elements into any kind of wrestling forces you to take the focus off just applying leverage to your opponent and forces you to defend yourself while gaining the advantage to throw, break, etc. I also just personally like his philosophy because it evens the playing field for a guy of my stature, giving me a fighting chance against bigger fellas.