Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques

Rating:
Summary: A beginner's guide
Review: I must say before I begin that John Clements is a very talented and knowledgeable martial artist. His years of experience have made him reliable, and perfectly authorized to write this text.

However, this book is, as he says, nowhere near being the only source for any researcher of medieval swords. In fact, it is more of an introduction for beginners to start their studies upon. It offers many fundamental concepts essential to Western Swordsmanship, and gives readers a starting point in learning European martial arts. Many of the points he makes, especially regarding bodily movement, balance, and the like, are self-evident to somebody already involved in martial arts, especially in Western Martial Arts.

The only drawback to this book was that, in an effort to rid the world of common myths, and to dispel many misconceptions about WMA, Clements was very redundant. However (and this can be good or bad) he sprinkled different facts all through the book, so a reader cannot skim over parts without fear of missing something.

Overall, I'd say that this book is worth a look for anybody interested in WMA, but a beginner would definitely find it much more useful than would a veteran. It does provide a good reference for certain tidbits; the name of a guard, or the execution of a strike. As always, a book is no substitute for a bona fide teacher, especially in the world of WMA, where our knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts adopted by our fencing forefathers is always changing and expanding.

Rating:
Summary: Start Exploring Historical European Martial Arts Here
Review: With this work, Clements has brought to the forefront the world of Historical European Martial Arts, particularly the sword and shield. In a way never done before, he brings the works of the historical masters to light and breaks through the misconceptions to present realistic techniques for not only the sword but also the combination of sword and shield. Long lost behind the proliferation of Asian styles and the showmanship of stage-fighting and fantasy role-playing, the effectiveness and brutality of Medieval swordsmanship is revealed as a constantly changing and evolving style that takes in many facets experienced throughout the constantly changing style of warfare in the Middle Ages.

The basics of western swordsmanship are well-defined and displayed, with effective and useful illustrations that show the techniques Clements is describing clearly. Guards, strikes, and techniques against not only other swords but also polearms and other weapons are all shown with clarity and can be quickly learned and understood.

Many criticize this book as spending too much time debunking myths and explaining the most recent findings in the world of medieval swordsmanship, but given the misunderstandings about the art this is not only understandable but necessary.

Rating:
Summary: Chock full of information
Review: This is a great book! Clements relates suprising, fascinating information on swords, their types, their construction, and, most especially, their *use*, the swordsmanship referred to in the title. That aspect should not be underrated for once you are finished with this book you will probably look, as I do, on swordfights on TV and in the movies with utter disdain (and perhaps a little anger!). The book is large and easy to read; the illustrations struck me as subtly clever, simple black-and-white images that convey difficult to describe manuevers with exceptional clarity. The most fascinating parts for me were reading the tidbits on swords vs. axes, pole-arms, and other non-sword weaponry. Medieval combat receives no romanticized treatment, but instead the sword is explained in all its stark, lethal power.

As some reviewers note, Clements does dwell, probably excessively, on faulty re-enactments. If he had kept to that theme in a chapter or special indexes that would be fine, but he keeps coming back to it on seemingly every other page. On the other hand, repetition of basic concepts helps ensure that you remember them, and this is an introductory book on the topic after all, so he seems to want to address as fully as he can the only exposure most people have had to "swordsmanship" (media, fairs, etc...). Moreover, if I practiced swordsmanship for twenty years and wrote a book, I'd probably be pretty miffed too at all the misinformation and misconceptions perpetuated by those *who should know better*...

I would give it four-and-a-half stars if I could.

Rating:
Summary: A Long Overdue and Welcome Title
Review: Midieval Swordsmanship presents to martial-arts students and instructors, historians, and anyone interested in European culture an overview of European armed combat techniques from appx. 1100 to 1500. It is a work of impressive scholarship and helps to fill the gap in knowledge which exists concerning Western fighting styles. Mr. Clements demonstrates how to use the midieval longsword and also presents the use of the sword and shield combination, spear useage, and the use of the shield as a weapon. As with his first book, Renaissance Swordsmanship, the author's excellent illustrations clearly demonstrate how to use these weapons. The illustrations are actually better than the photos which are used in most martial-arts books. In addition, the author also provides a historical background and setting for the weapons which are demonstrated. He also addresses the various types of midieval combat systems which are currently practiced by different groups around the world as well as describing the basics of evaluating a sword. All of these "extras" help to make this book a most worthwhile purchase. The author clearly takes this subject seriously and sets high standards for himself and for other practitioners of armed combat arts. This seriousness, and the demand for exacting historical accuracy which the author demands for those who wish to practice midieval combat, will probobly cause controversy. Mr. Clements is clearly willing to back up his historical claims, however, and also presents powerful arguments for his theories in the text of the book. This helps to make the book a valuable resource in and of itself. The reader will not only find a blueprint for studying midieval weaponry, but also solid historical research which shows how these weapons were used. The book is a welcome addition to the libraries of martial-arts practitioners worldwide. It is also one which is long overdue. Many myths and pseudo-histories exist as to the history of European martial-arts. Mr. Clements helps to dispel those myths and invites others to do so as well.

Rating:
Summary: European Swordsmanship as a living martial art.
Review: As a student of Japanese martial arts focusing on battlefield methodologies and armored fighting principles, I found John Clements' book was not only a refreshing distillation of historical methods reconstructed from period texts but also demonstrated a clear understanding of effective martial systems.

The purpose of "Medieval Swordsmanship" is to introduce the reader to Historical European Swordsmanship as a martial art. This, however, is an uphill battle in of itself, as most of Western swordsmanship today includes sport fencing, stage combat, theatrical fighting, etc. Furthermore, Western society has found little application for swordplay outside of creating dramatic value for stage or screen.

However, the writer indeed succeeds in defining Historical European Swordsmanship as a valid martial art for today that can be studied for the purposes and principles of effective warfare.

The methodologies illustrated by this book range from sword & shield to the use of longsword while in plate armor. Clements unambiguously presents these techniques - which derived from period manuals written by historical Masters of Defense - in intuitive graphics for the modern reader.

The book will benefit anyone ranging from the complete beginner to the advanced theatrical combatant in the entertianment industry - without requiring the academic experience in historical documentation to fathom the material in the book.

If you are seeking to study Historical European Swordsmanship as a martial art and as something that is part of your Western heritage, I cannot more highly recommend this book.

Adrian Ko President Sword Forum International (SwordForum.Com) http://swordforum.com/

For a more extensive review, see: http://swordforum.com/summer99/medsw-book.html

Rating:
Summary: A great reference.
Review: Amazing attention to detail. Provides useful data on materials, dimensions and techniques applied to many varieties of Medieval swords, even going into estimated carbon content of various early steels. Similar attention to authenticity and detail in describing techniques and styles of swordsmanship. The drawings used are very easy to follow, better than trying to decipher photographs, and clearly demonstrate the movements and techniques detailed in the text.
The author is occasionally rabid in his disregard for fantasy and sport enthusiasts, but that is understandable, considering the culturally-ingrained stereotypes he has to overcome before he can even begin to teach.
Sadly, few of us will ever be in a position to train in the way the author recommends. I agree with the author that banging away with sticks is a poor reflection of actual medieval sword techniques; unfortunately, that's as close as most of us can realistically come.
An outstanding reference for anyone interested in Medieval swords and the way they were actually used.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, Practical Insight to Medieval Sword Combat
Review: This reference contains far more than is implied by the title. Topics covered in addition to the expected use of one-handed sword and shield, and hand-and-a-half swords, are fairly in-depth treatments of shield construction, techniques used against spear, halberd, and flail. Extended treatises provided on the nature of medieval combat, modern re-creations of medieval martial arts, and comparisons with Japanese style sword arts, and fantasy-like re-creationists as well, ie, ones who play "sword tag". The reference is heavily illustrated and presented in a straightforward, pragmatic manner. I very highly recommend this book, as the single most useful reference on what is in fact a much more complex topic than "conventional wisdom" suggests - a flawed depiction which portrays medieval swordsmanship as nothing more than savage hacking and beating.

Rating:
Summary: good, bad and indifferent...
Review: I bet he wishes he could re-write this without the bitching and winging. Some good work ruined by lack of focus and opinionated ideas. Re-worked, this could make a pretty good starters book. Tobler's book is much better I'm afraid. (Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship)

Rating:
Summary: A little lighter on the diatribes please..
Review: A good introductory text for the field, which until very recently lacked any sort of instructional manuels. Since the time of its publication, and as research in the field has expanded, some of the information appears a bit dated and inadequate. A (further) revised edition would probably be in order.

My greatest complaint, however, is the amount of ink wasted lambasting "certain rattan-fencing groups." Well, by that he means the SCA, which is fine, their fencing is decidedly not historically accurate, but the paper spent criticising them could have been better spent on useful, instructional material. In places Clements' vitriol sounds like George Silver foaming at the mouth about Italian rapiers.

I'd love to see a new, updated edition, removing the diatribes about the SCA (which, to me, read like a defense or justification for this book...) and replacing that with solid, up-to-date, instructional materials.

Rating:
Summary: Historical and Martial Survival---
Review: This wonderful book brings to LIFE the various surviving manuals [Fechtbuchs] on "Medieval Swordsmanship". It really IS "Illustrated Methods and Techniques" of "Medieval Swordsmanship" At once it is a rich resource of the strategy AND tactics of a wide variety of the vast field of "Medieval Swordsmanship". I especially appreciated the relatively large section on the Medieval Long-Sword--that being my long-term Inspiration. A very good complement to "Renaissance Swordsmanship"---