Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
Martial Arts Of The World - Webs Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
578 Swordsmanship, European Medieval systems, these were known as gryps. All were based on a handful of key actions: reaching out to grab the opponent’s hilt or arm; striking with the pommel or guard; slipping the blade against or between an opponent’s forearms; using the second hand to hold the blade while binding, striking, or slicing; and of course tripping and kicking. Wrestling or grappling moves were included, along with swordsmanship, in the curriculum of every master and school. Today, Hollywood theatrical sword fights and displays arranged by professional stunt-actors and stage-combat performers typically present a form of medieval swordsmanship that bears only superficial resemblance to the nature of the historical craft. The proper martial use of sword and shield or long-sword is all but absent in most movie and theatrical combat presentations and live-action performance shows, as well as in fantasy roleplaying societies. The subtle differences in style of use between handling wider flatter blades and thicker tapering ones are also rarely depicted with any accuracy in movies and film fights. Yet, historically the diverse forms of medieval European swords were skillfully employed with a deliberate methodology. Specific techniques were developed appropriate to the environment of the period. Sophisticated methods for the use of swords were perfected and practiced for centuries, and their martial legacy was influential and longlasting. Today, these arts consist of a collection of reconstructed techniques based on analysis of surviving historical manuscripts and fighting manuals, plus conjecture and analysis of historical arms, armor, art, and literature from the period. Today, the modern replication of weapon arts from the Middle Ages has its own distinct character. In many ways, modern replication and practice are still in their infancy. It is a martial art form that must be viewed within its own historical and cultural contexts. No historical schools of medieval fighting arts exist today to pass on their learning or tradition, and enthusiasts have had to rediscover these skills on their own. The chief tools for this are examination of historical arms and armor; extensive training and test-cutting with historically accurate replica weapons; research in the surviving historical manuals and texts; and earnest, realistic contact sparring with safe simulated weapons. Through physical exercises, academic research, and pure supposition, many dedicated individuals and groups are working to rebuild these lost skills and reclaim our Western martial heritage. John Clements See also Dueling; Europe; Knights; Masters of Defence; Wrestling and Grappling: Europe References Castle, Egerton. 1969. Schools and Masters of Fence: From the Middle Ages
to the Eighteenth Century. 1885. Reprint, London: Arms and Armour Press. Clements, John. 1998. Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Techniques and Methods. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ———. 1997. Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use of Rapiers and Cut and Thrust Swords. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. Edge, David, and John Miles. 1988. Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight. London: Crescent Books. Galas, S. Matthew. 1996. “The Flower of Battle: An Introduction to Fiore dei Liberi’s Sword Techniques.” Hammerterz Forum 2: 18–20. ———. 1997. “Kindred Spirits: The Art of Sword in Germany and Japan.” Journal of Asian Martial Arts 6: 20–47. Hutton, Alfred. 1892. Old Swordplay. The System of Fence in Vogue during the XVIth, XVIIth, and XVIIIth Centuries, with Lessons Arranged from the Works of Various Ancient Masters. London: H. Grevel and Co. ———. 1980. The Sword and the Centuries: or, Old Sword Days and Old Sword Ways. 1901. Reprint, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle. Oakeshott, R. Ewart. 1960. The Archaeology of Weapons. London: Boydell Press. ———. 1964. The Sword in the Age of Chivalry. London: Boydell Press. Rapisardi, Giovanni. 1998. Fiore de’ Liberi Flos Duellatorum—in armis, sine armis, equester et pedester. 1410. Reprint, Padua, Italy: Gladitoria. Swordsmanship, European Renaissance Beginning in the 1490s and early 1500s there arose across Western Europe a distinction between those swords intended for war and those for personal self-defense. Changing social and technological forces allowed commoners to be able to afford and legally own swords, and to wear them in the expanding and newly crowded cities. The transformation of warfare by firearms and the breakdown of the old feudal order limited the avenues both for redress of personal grievance and for exhibition of martial skill. The result was an explosion in the popularity of dueling. This in turn caused a renewed interest in the personal Arte of Defence, to use the spelling of the English Renaissance, and the civilian use of the sword. Combined with the new sciences then coming into vogue, a systematic approach to studying swordsmanship swept Western Europe. The swords of the Renaissance then developed methodical styles in an age when swordsmanship on the battlefield had begun to lose its relevance and dominant role. This was to climax later in the methods of the military cut-and-thrust sword and the development of its innovative cousin, the slender thrusting rapier with its unique manner of fighting. But there were many types of Renaissance military swords, including assorted cage- and basket-hilted riding swords, the cleaverlike medieval falchion, the single-edged backsword, the Italian schiavona cutlass, the machete-like German messer, and the “s”-hilted Swiss katzbalger short-sword. Swordsmanship, European Renaissance 579
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to the Eighteenth Century. 1885. Reprint, London: Arms and Armour<br />
Press.<br />
Clements, John. 1998. Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Techniques and<br />
Methods. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press.<br />
———. 1997. Renaissance Swordsmanship: <strong>The</strong> Illustrated Use of Rapiers<br />
and Cut and Thrust Swords. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press.<br />
Edge, David, and John Miles. 1988. Arms and Armor of the Medieval<br />
Knight. London: Crescent Books.<br />
Galas, S. Matthew. 1996. “<strong>The</strong> Flower of Battle: An Introduction to Fiore<br />
dei Liberi’s Sword Techniques.” Hammerterz Forum 2: 18–20.<br />
———. 1997. “Kindred Spirits: <strong>The</strong> Art of Sword in Germany and Japan.”<br />
Journal of Asian <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> 6: 20–47.<br />
Hutton, Alfred. 1892. Old Swordplay. <strong>The</strong> System of Fence in Vogue during<br />
the XVIth, XVIIth, and XVIIIth Centuries, with Lessons Arranged from<br />
the Works of Various Ancient Masters. London: H. Grevel and Co.<br />
———. 1980. <strong>The</strong> Sword and the Centuries: or, Old Sword Days and Old<br />
Sword Ways. 1901. Reprint, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle.<br />
Oakeshott, R. Ewart. 1960. <strong>The</strong> Archaeology of Weapons. London: Boydell<br />
Press.<br />
———. 1964. <strong>The</strong> Sword in the Age of Chivalry. London: Boydell Press.<br />
Rapisardi, Giovanni. 1998. Fiore de’ Liberi Flos Duellatorum—in armis,<br />
sine armis, equester et pedester. 1410. Reprint, Padua, Italy: Gladitoria.<br />
Swordsmanship, European Renaissance<br />
Beginning in the 1490s and early 1500s there arose across Western Europe<br />
a distinction between those swords intended for war and those for personal<br />
self-defense. Changing social and technological forces allowed commoners<br />
to be able to afford and legally own swords, and to wear them in the expanding<br />
and newly crowded cities. <strong>The</strong> transformation of warfare by<br />
firearms and the breakdown of the old feudal order limited the avenues<br />
both for redress of personal grievance and for exhibition of martial skill.<br />
<strong>The</strong> result was an explosion in the popularity of dueling. This in turn<br />
caused a renewed interest in the personal Arte of Defence, to use the<br />
spelling of the English Renaissance, and the civilian use of the sword. Combined<br />
with the new sciences then coming into vogue, a systematic approach<br />
to studying swordsmanship swept Western Europe. <strong>The</strong> swords of the Renaissance<br />
then developed methodical styles in an age when swordsmanship<br />
on the battlefield had begun to lose its relevance and dominant role. This<br />
was to climax later in the methods of the military cut-and-thrust sword and<br />
the development of its innovative cousin, the slender thrusting rapier with<br />
its unique manner of fighting. But there were many types of Renaissance<br />
military swords, including assorted cage- and basket-hilted riding swords,<br />
the cleaverlike medieval falchion, the single-edged backsword, the Italian<br />
schiavona cutlass, the machete-like German messer, and the “s”-hilted<br />
Swiss katzbalger short-sword.<br />
Swordsmanship, European Renaissance 579
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