Rating: 
Summary: A must-have for the serious Martial Artist
Review: This book is the one many practitioners of European Martial Arts have been looking for so long. In a no-nonsense way, the author describes the use of two of the most formidable weapons of ancient European warriors: the sword and shield and the medieval longsword. This book dispels many of the Hollywood myths surrounding the use of these weapons.Referring to the ancient European fighting manuals, the author describes techniques step by step, using good, clear illustrations and lots of informative text. The book also features material on the medieval shield -- a subject often overlooked by many modern practitioners -- several good essays, advice on training and sparring and much more. Anyone who thinks that Swordsmanship in Medieval Europe was an unskilled "hack and slash" affair, where brute force was used instead of technique, should take a very close look at this book.
Rating:
Summary: The most authoritative book on the subject - bar none!
Review: John Clements does a magnificent job on this book, which is a follow-up to his previous title, _Renisance Swordsmanship_. He clearly discusses the various types of weapons used in the Middle Ages (roughly 1100's-1400's) as well as the training that went into becoming a master in their use. Drawing from many period sources that are hard, if not impossible, to find and translate he describes the actual fighting techniques used by the sword masters of Europe. Whether you are a re-enactor, Medieval historian, martial artist, sword collector, or just someone who wants to learn, this is THE book to own! Having read hundreds of books on the martial arts and swordplay, I truly believe that this book will become the standard to which all other books on the subject will be compared.
Rating:
Summary: No other book like it on the subject
Review: Three times the size of his earlier _Renaissance Swordsmanship_, this book is *packed* with information about sword types, shield types, the use of sword and shield in combat, types and use of the medieval longsword, and general information about the practice of medieval swordsmanship. There is no other book on the market today that covers this material. If you have an interest in swords and swordplay of the Middle Ages, this book is a must-have.
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Summary: Exciting new book on medieval swords and swordsmanship
Review: John Clement's new book "Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques" goes beyond the usual considerations of medieval swords as artifacts and, for the first time in depth, considers how these weapons were used, referring to historical records of combat when they are available and relying on experimental practical training when such sources do not exist. It should come as no surprise that much of what we have seen in the movies of medieval combat is entirely wrong, and this book has the potential of undoing much of that damaging misinformation. The use of the single handed sword in conjunction with the shield is considered in depth as is the use of the two handed sword. But, even if you, like myself, are not the physical type and possess little or no desire to actually swing these things, this book remains a highly desirable addition to your bookshelf on the basis of its detailed explanations and diagrams of the types of medieval swords and their evolution. This section is very clearly written and while accessible for the beginning student still remains satisfying for the more advanced enthusiast. Also considered in detail is rarely encountered information on the shields of the period. I find this to be the best work on the medieval sword since the heyday of Oakshott. Aside from its degenerate remains in modern fencing (my opinion), traditional European swordsmanship of these earlier periods, when the sword was in fact a relatively more important weapon than later, has long been a neglected and nearly forgotten field, particularly in comparison with Oriental martial arts. This book may well be the harbinger of a renaissance of a different sort.
Rating: 
Summary: The formidable fffectiveness of Medieval swords in detail.
Review: Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques Finally, a work that presents the most celebrated weapon of the Middle Ages in all its formidable effectiveness. This book is over 300 pages of information on the tools and martial skills of medieval warriors. It offers a comprehensive look at medieval blades as fighting weapons and distills the essential fighting elements from such masters as Liechtenauer, Talhoffer, Dei Liberi, Filippo Vadi, and others. Based upon years of hands-on study and practice by HACA Director and sword scholar John Clements, this sweeping work finally approaches Medieval swordsmanship as a legitimate martial art form and not as fantasy play or theatrical performance. This is a detailed examination and practical guide to one of the most fascinating areas of our Western martial heritage: the Medieval sword! The most thorough attempt ever to examine Medieval swords from the point of view of their historical function and use. Derived from rare historical manuscripts and material covering the highly effective techniques of sword and shield as well as Medieval long-swords and great-swords. A one of a kind detailed compilation featuring over two hundred illustrated pages of weapons, techniques, and fighting principles. Both a general reference work and an instruction guide for beginning and advanced students of martial arts and military history. A thorough study of the martial art of Medieval swordsmanship and the historical fighting skills of knights, warriors, and men-at-arms which attempts to reconstruct and rebuild their lost fighting arts. Also the only exhaustive and comprehensive study of the formidable but overlooked Medieval shield. Based upon years on extensive training in the use of historical European weaponry it offers extensive instruction on practice and modern sparring. This seminal work sets a new standard in the approach to this fascinating subject. From the book: "The Medieval long-sword is not wielded in the standard "hack and slash" style so familiar from movies and TV. It has a different center of balance and is used in a tighter, closer manner that employs its hilt, utilizes thrusts, and emphases its length offensively and defensively. When swung with both hands long-swords are capable of delivering tremendous and devastating wounds. Used in this manner they have a well-rounded and symmetrical offense and defence. Parries are made with the flat of the blade and it's cross-guard can be used to block, bind, or trap an opposing weapon. Its pommel can be grabbed to give power to thrusts or it can be used to strike with when close in. Those lighter more rigid blades with narrower tips can also make use of numerous thrusts and maneuvers allowing the armored second hand to be employed in helping guide the weapon or in grabbing the adversary. Such anti-armor blades are also further distinct in their handling from broader slashing blades. The brutal style of the Medieval long-sword is one of power and practical efficiency, but one with an artistry all its own. In contrasts to the slicing slash of a curved, single-edged, Japanese katana, Medieval long-swords were made for hacking, shearing cuts delivered primarily from the elbow and shoulder. It is a mistake to think a straight, double-edged sword with a cross-guard and pommel is handled liked a samurai's katana. Instead it strikes more with the first 8-10 inches of blade and has two edges to work with (it can "reverse cut" upwards or back). Also, a medieval sword's simple cross-guard (or "cruciform hilt") is intended not so much to protect the hand from incoming blows, but to allow the blade to bind and lock up another weapon then quickly slip off (it does also offer some protection from hitting into an opposing blade). It also protects the hand from slamming into an opponent's shield which is moved to greet and to smack attacks not left just hanging (contrary to myth, a medieval shield was far too strong to simply cut through with a few blows)."
Rating:
Summary: Medieval excellence!
Review: Outstanding! Everything you've always wanted to know about the subject and then some. Made me realize how much more there was to the real thing. I learned a tremendous amount. This is a real gem.
Rating: 
Summary: What a pity.
Review: Every time I see a book on Western swordsmanship, I buy it. I think it is imperative to support the efforts of the growing Western Martial Arts (WMA) community, including all the authors and editors who invest time and money into it. But what a pity when such a book is abused to advance one's petty causes, as Mr. Clements does rather petulantly in Medieval Swordsmanship. What better way to dispel "myths" then to accurately and faithfully show how swordsmanship was practiced in the olden days? If Mr. Clements had done this, there would have been no need for his protracted diatribe. But instead he throws at the reader a myriad of unconnected actions and techniques, interspersed with his off-color comments about the groups with which he disagrees. Furthermore, many of these actions and techniques are intuitive and anyone with half a notion of body-mechanics can figure them out for themselves. By the end of the book, one feels like he has been stuck in an elevator with a hyperactive (and aggressive) close-talker, who character-assassinated any and all who fail to see the world the way he does. There is no generosity in these comments, and the tone of the book makes you wonder whether Clements wears the same intellectual blinders when analyzing period sources. What a pity. A book is a promise -- and Medieval Swordsmanship is a promise broken.
Rating: 
Summary: The only introductory text on Medieval Swordsmanship!
Review: I've read all 61 reader reviews of this book, and I feel like there is one important point none of them have covered. The point is simply this: Whatever its faults, this is the *only* book of its kind. You simply will not find another introductory text to Medieval Swordsmanship out there. There are plenty of translations of old fechtbuchs, but those were never intended for the beginner and are virtually incomprehensible to the novice. There is a fair amount of material with a focus on theatrics, archaeology, history, etc., but there simply isn't anything other than this one book for the beginner on learning how to use a sword the way it was actually intended to be used. Not once in any of the 61 reader reviews of this book does anyone mention a better alternative book. (Of course, in any martial art a real live instructor is much preferred over a book.)
If you already know how swing a sword, then I can see where you might object to some of Mr. Clements diatribes, but the rest of us will just have to accept them, because nobody else has done us the favor of writing an alternative introductory text to medieval swordsmanship.
It is also worth noting that John Clements through his ARMA organization has arguably fostered more scholarly research on the subject of swordsmanship as a martial art than anyone else in this decade. On the ARMA web site you will find more free PDF's of ancient swordsmanship manuals in one place than anywhere else on the planet. (AEMMA also maintains an extensive online library, but only a small portion of their archives are free to the public.) They also have many contemporary essays on various sword topics and a neat library of video clips.
In summary, if you are interested in learning about medieval swordsmanship as an authentic martial art and you don't have an instructor in your area, then this book is *THE* place to start.
Rating:
Summary: Groan... if only not for the tone
Review: This book contains a whole lot of good information. The challenge is wading through the arrogant, condescending writing style. Yes, SCA fighters don't practice a "real" fighting art. For that matter, neither do Olympic fencers, boxers, or anyone else who competes in a rule-based tournament. After all, the law frowns on killing your opponent in a sporting competition. The historical references are quite good and the topic is interesting, even insightful, but I just can't handle the writing style. If Clements could lighten up a bit I'd rate this much higher...
Rating:
Summary: Have to agree ...
Review: ... there are much better books on this subject available today - Tobler, etc. Clements' work is well illustrated - good use of diagram figures, etc. - but it's disorganised and he wastes reams of paper slamming fencers, Hollywood, and everyone else who's ever picked up a sword.
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