New Book! "Historical Fighting Fundamentals: German Longsword

This book offers insight into the historical martial art attributed to the German fencing master, Johannes Liechtenauer. The key concepts and techniques belonging to this martial tradition are described in detail alongside high-quality, color photographs. Those interested in pursuing an understanding of fighting with the German longsword will find this book of considerable value."

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It's here!

Cutting with the Medieval Sword: Theory and Application

For centuries, masters of defense throughout the world jealously guarded their knowledge, sharing it only with their students and patrons. But it was not just their techniques that they wanted to keep hidden—their most closely guarded secret was not what to do with a sword, but how to do it. This book lays bare the principles of the use of the sword with unprecedented detail—principles that are universal across nearly all cultures and time periods, including our own. This information comes from centuries-old living lineage martial arts, medieval fencing treatises and decades of combined research, experimentation and application. It is accessible to anyone, from a complete beginner to a seasoned expert. The path to mastery consists of small steps, each easily understood and taken. There is no magic or mystery in the use of the sword. There is only the art, and it is an art created by and for human beings, utterly attainable and without artifice or embellishment. Using clear and concise explanations and highly detailed illustrations, this book takes you step by step through the body mechanics of the sword, from foundations to essential elements. It is divided into three modules: Theory, Practice and Calibration. The Theory module thoroughly explains all of the underlying concepts and principles and how they combine to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The Practice Module provides advice on choosing training equipment as well as a comprehensive array of drills and exercises designed to put everything you learned in the previous module into practice. Finally, the Calibration module gives you all of the information you need to put your skills to the test by cutting targets with a sharp sword, from advice on choosing a sword to how to purchase, prepare and set up tatami and other targets. Most importantly, it will teach you to interpret your results in a way that will inform your training and allow you to correct errors and improve your technique. Whether you are taking your first step or the latest of many, let this book be your guide.

This book sells out typically quickly then we have to wait or a year or so for another run. Dr. Forgeng is the one of the first people to bring HEMA to us via translating the texts, and teaching. Art of Combat: A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570 by Joachim Meyer Translated by Jeffrey L. Forgeng Hardcover

First published in 1570, Joachim Meyer's The Art of Combat is among the most important texts in the rich corpus of German martial arts treatises of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Meyer is unique in offering full recommendations on how to train for various weapons forms. He divides his book into five parts by weapon types: longsword; dusack (a practice weapon analogous to a sabre); rapier; dagger; and staff weapons. For each weapon, Meyer lays out the principles of its use and the vocabulary of techniques, and then describes a range of specific 'devices', attack combinations for use in combat. This rational approach, along with Meyer's famous and profuse woodcut illustrations, make this a crucial source for understanding the history and techniques of medieval and Renaissance martial arts. In the first ever English translation of this important work, Jeffrey Forgeng has sought to improve accessibility of the text. His Introduction is the first substantial account to be published in English of the German Fechtbuch corpus, and the Glossary likewise is the first of its kind to be published in English. Review "A fascination, too little-known, and vividly illustrated volume, Meyer's Art of Combat is especially remarkable in its attention to fighting with halberds, pikes, and quarterstaffs. Military and cultural historians as well as those interested in stage combat will find it invaluable." - Professor James Shapiro

Features

• First ever English translation of this classic 16th century combat treatise.

• Includes a substantial introduction to the medieval German martial arts tradition and a glossary of technical terms.

• With more than sixty beautiful woodcut illustrations.

There is a beautiful hardbound edition of this also for $89.95. Captain of the Guild - B&W Paperback Edition

Master Peter Falkner's Art of Knightly Defense

Price: $39.95

Item Number: FAP000015

Author(s): Christian Henry Tobler, Peter Falkner ISBN: 978-1-9374390-9-5 Dimensions: 6" x 9" B&W Paperback Pages: xiv + 337 pp. Published: Jan, 2013

NOW IN A ECONOMICAL BLACK & WHITE PAPERBACK EDITION!!! In the late 14th century, the German swordsman Johannes Liechtenauer developed and codified a system of armed combat with sword, spear, and dagger that spread through the Holy Roman Empire and dominated German martial arts for nearly 300 years. By the end of the 15th century, a fellowship of swordsmen in Frankfurt known as “the Brotherhood of Saint Mark,” or Marxbrüder, had been granted an imperial charter to train and test swordmasters. Peter Falkner was a long-time member and sometime captain of this famed fencing guild, and it was during this tenure that he set about creating an illustrated fight book of his own; colorful, painted figures and short captions depict combat with a wide variety of weapons: the longsword, dagger, staff, poleaxe, halberd, dueling shield and mounted combat. Where his work excels, however, is in its extensive treatment of the falchion-like messer, and the unique variations of core techniques of the Liechtenauer canon. In this first, printed edition of Falkner’s work, German martial arts teacher and scholar Christian Tobler includes a full translation, transcription, and analysis, combined with a photographic reproduction of the original manuscript. The end result is a lovingly rendered, English translation of a 500 year old picture-book that shows an adaptation of the Liechtenauer tradition, by a known master of its most prestigious school, as taught over a century after its foundation.

Worth every penny. In Service of the Duke

The 15th century fighting treatise of Paulus Kal

Price: $99.95

Item Number: CB000004

Author(s): Christian Henry Tobler, Paulus Kal ISBN: 978-1-891448-25-6 Dimensions: 15.6 x 13.2 x 1.2 inches Pages: 248 Published: 2006

Writing in the mid-15th century, Master Paulus Kal was the agent, confidante and fencing master to the powerful Duke of Ludwig IX of Bavaria-Landshut. In his fencing book, prepared for this ducal patron, he presented standard and variant techniques in the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer, in beautifully rendered and highly detailed illuminations of figures wielding the sword, sword and buckler, dagger, messer (falchion), spear, and poleaxe, plus mounted combat.  This English translation is presented in full-color, oversize leather edition, complete with a protective slipcase.

Sadly this book is only available as an ebook right now. Hopefully they will reprint it soon. I do not have a copy of this, :( eBook: In Saint George's Name (Kindle)

An Anthology of Medieval German Fighting Arts

Price: $15.95

Item Number: FAP000029

Author(s): Christian Henry Tobler ISBN: 978-1-783017-42-3 Pages: xiv + 210 pp. (Kindle format) Published: May, 2015

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.

Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship

Price: $42.95

Item Number: CB000003

Author(s): Christian Henry Tobler, Sigmund Ringeck, Johannes Liechtenauer ISBN: 978-1-891448-07-2 Dimensions: 8.5" x 11" Hardback Pages: 400 Published: 2002

n his first book, and the first of its kind, Christian 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. In this beautiful, lavishly photo-illustrated text, Christian presents a full translation and interpretation of the so-called Ringeck Fechtbuch, a mid-15th century compendium of teachings in the Liechtenauer tradition.  At once bold and martially efficient, these classic techniques of swordsmanship have proven their enduring allure.

Chritian Toblers "Fighting with the German Longsword" is now discounted to $31.95 at Freelance. You can also get a Kindle edition with colour pictures for $22.96, or a Hardbound colour edition with the Kindle version for $119.95.

An excellent source in general is Freelance Academy Press. Many of the books we all use are published here. One I hope to get soon is a new book on the Burgundian Pollaxe.