Rating: 
Summary: Too much...and too little
Review: If I had been able to get past all the anti-SCA, anti-Asian martial arts, and anti-stage combat whining, I would have given this book more stars - probably not five, but certainly four.
In reading this book, I wonder why Mr. Clements thinks he can catch more flies with venom than with honey? The teacher who belittles his student is no teacher - he is an abuser. Repeatedly calling someone "ignorant" is no way to instruct them, or to get them to agree with you.
(I am also led to seriously wonder which SCA fighter ran over his dog when he was a boy? Which stage fight instructor stole his lolli-pop? Which kendo master slapped his mother?)
Despite some excellent analysis of the art of swordsmanship, Mr. Clements seems to have totally missed the point that recreational or theatrical groups aren't in the swordplay business to be killed, or even be 100% "accurate." They are interested in a hobby - in having fun - and in "making it look good." I've been in the SCA for 18 years (as a fighter, among other things), and I have yet to meet any SCA fighter who suggests that "this is exactly how they did it in the Middle Ages." There is a lot in the SCA that we don't attempt to recreate with 100% accuracy: sanitary conditions (except during Pennsic, perhaps...), the Black Plague, medical practices (i.e. leeches), etc. It's the Society for CREATIVE Anachronism.
Mr. Clements also takes no less than NINE appendices to thoroughly thrash the horse corpses he digs up - FOUR of which whine about the SCA's knee-fighting rules. He postulates that "standing still" would be a better alternative to going down on one knee to simulate a leg injury.
As a veteran of many SCA melees, I can state without fear of contradiction that while Clements' idea could possibly work for SCA single combat (i.e. tournaments), it is wholly impractical for melees of any appreciable size (for example, those found at the Pennsic War). Imagine trying to determine - in the heat of battle, no less - whether the guy in the shield wall ahead of you has lost his leg, or is merely standing still. Simply ain't gonna work.
My absolute favorite quote was this (p. 5): "No one can be 'expert' unless he has actually fought and killed with a real sword." Wow. Really...? Disregarding the truly homicidal and sociopathic tendencies betrayed by this remark: Does it mean that there are NO expert firearms marksmen, since they have never actually KILLED someone with their guns? Can no one be an expert in the pathology of sexual abuse unless they have actually raped someone? I don't buy it, and neither should the readers of this book.
Too much arrogant whining, which mitigates the value of the book. If he had started with Chapter One, and left off the many forwards, author's notes and appendices, Clements would have been much farther ahead.
Rating: 
Summary: Well researched
Review: I found this book to be very informative and a great addition to my collection of books on medieval fighting. Mr.Clements does have some strong opinions, but I didn't find any reason to take offense. Personally, I am glad to see that someone is taking a strong stance and representing Western Martial Arts as something more than just role-playing and reenacting(which I think definitely has its merits as entertainment and recreation, but not as an actual fighting system). Mr.Clement's extensive knowledge is conveyed in a clear-cut manner and beginners and advanced students both can profit by reading this book.
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.
|
