Rating: 
Summary: A patchy review of Renissance swordsmanship
Review: A book that could have benifited from a good editor. Clements provides good drawings and some training methods which make the reader want to pickup a sword. Unfortunetly Clements literature review and disconected discussions also leave the reader with a bit of a headache. The bibliography provides a good starting point for further independant research.
Rating: 
Summary: Piercing through nonsense and fantasy
Review: A splendidly detailed and ilustrated work of great detail. It provided vast informative knowledge that wil benefit any serious martial artist or fencer intersted in the real ways of european fighting in the renaissance. Not just another stage combat view on dressing up and acting out your fanatsies. This is a impressive book for real swordsmen not would be-Zorro's and musketeers. The weapon details were the most enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: An exellently applicable guide
Review: As a long time fencer with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), I found this book to be very insightful and instructive for the new student of Renaissance arms. Additionally, some of the more advanced techniques go far to improve the fighting repetoire of seasoned fighters. Masters of the fencing arts will also find worth in this book because of its excellent treatment of historical modifications of swordplay through the Renaissance period.
Rating:
Summary: Idiosyncratic but worth listening to!
Review: Clements is prone to hyperbole, and certainly has a bone to pick with certain sport fencers and dramatic fight choreographers, but even though he beats his drum stridently at times his underlying reasons are all sound and, as perhaps the premier swordsman-as-martial-artist, his viewpoint is worth listening to.
Rating: 
Summary: Bah.
Review: Don't bother. It tried to fill what was a bit of what was a whole in our scholarly reconstruction of martial arts for a while, but it failed... and there are better things available now anyway. Check out the offerings at Chivalry Bookshelf instead.
Rating:
Summary: Digest this information with a large bag of salt
Review: First, let me say I appreciate the efforts of all who do the research and record their findings on the Western Martial Arts. I know that few of us have the resources or time to do this, so every little bit helps.That said, I feel John Clements does almost as much damage as he does good. While his techniques can be of value and his explainations are fairly thorough, the prevailing attitude within this book is one of superiority. It is as if Mr. Clements believes his assertions are the only ones worth following. Having had the pleasure of attending workshops by various other Western Martial artists and scholars, I am always impressed with their openess that this is a continually expanding and growing rediscovery of the "lost" arts. Some of them freely admit that what they write today may be reinterpreted by them tomorrow, and that others may have different views. I finished off Mr. Clements book feeling that you were either with him or against him. Unfortunately, because I also partake in stage combat and reenactments, I felt that I was automatically in the "against him" camp. He seemed to feel his was the best or only take on these techniques. Those interested in pursuing the Western Martial Arts can certainly take some useful information from here, but read it carefully. Note what some of the other reviewers have said about innaccuracies. Read works by other authors. And best of all, attend some of the WMA symposiums and conferences which take place through the country
Rating:
Summary: An Exceptional Resource for Sword Enthusiasts
Review: For all those who have found the martial spirit of sport fencing or staged performances disappointing and have searched in vain for reliable material on historical sword fighting arts of the Renaissance this no-nonsense book is for you. It is not concerned in the least with the near irrelevance of modern sport fencing practices or theories of Hollywood choreography. It deals directly with historical renaissance fighting manuals and the use of real weapons as legitimate Western martial arts.
Rating:
Summary: Thank You, Sir!
Review: For all those who've ever felt dismay at the silliness by which European fencing has been presented at renaissance fairs and movies, this book finally sets you on the martial path! For all those who've despaired at the way Western swordplay is denigrated, this book is a the answer. A incredibly rich offering of practical sword knowledge by an expert swordsman. It shatters the illusions of the modern sporting forms and the role-playing fantasies of role-players by describing the use of real weapons from the real historical sources. For me, this book does what Tao of Jeet Kune Do did for Asian martial arts styles.
Rating:
Summary: Bah.
Review: For the person just getting started in Renaissance combat, or for anyone who has an interest in the Western martial arts traditions, this book is a must have. The author presents the basics of rapier combat quite clearly. It is obvious that he has a large amount of experiance in the subject, and speaks with great authority. There is a wealth of informtion and insights to be found in this book for the novice and skilled alike. The techniques are illustrated clearly for the most part. However, this book does have it's drawbacks. It would have helpfull to the serious student if Mr. Clements had included a detailed Source list, as well as bibliographic citations throughout the book. Also, I must say that Mr Clements spends far too much time needlessly bashing Sport Fencers, Fight Choreographers, Medieval/Renaissance Re-creationists, and just about every other group that he disapproves of. Since I am myself a Fight Choreographer, former Sport Fencer, and some-time Medieval/Renaissance Re-ceationist, I was somewhat dismayed, but in no way surprised, by the author's attitude. However this does not in anyway detract from the importance of the book or the validity of the Renaissance combat information contained there-in. It simply means that the first time reader needs to take into account the authors rather obvious and mis-placed bias.
Rating:
Summary: Almost Perfect
Review: For the person just getting started in Renaissance combat, or for anyone who has an interest in the Western martial arts traditions, this book is a must have. The author presents the basics of rapier combat quite clearly. It is obvious that he has a large amount of experiance in the subject, and speaks with great authority. There is a wealth of informtion and insights to be found in this book for the novice and skilled alike. The techniques are illustrated clearly for the most part. However, this book does have it's drawbacks. It would have helpfull to the serious student if Mr. Clements had included a detailed Source list, as well as bibliographic citations throughout the book. Also, I must say that Mr Clements spends far too much time needlessly bashing Sport Fencers, Fight Choreographers, Medieval/Renaissance Re-creationists, and just about every other group that he disapproves of. Since I am myself a Fight Choreographer, former Sport Fencer, and some-time Medieval/Renaissance Re-ceationist, I was somewhat dismayed, but in no way surprised, by the author's attitude. However this does not in anyway detract from the importance of the book or the validity of the Renaissance combat information contained there-in. It simply means that the first time reader needs to take into account the authors rather obvious and mis-placed bias.
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