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Advanced Longsword: Form and Function
This book builds on the foundation laid in The Medieval Longsword, and teaches you how to train Fiore dei Liberi's Art of Arms, as shown in his 1410 manuscript ll Fior di Battaglia. Renowned swordsman and author Guy Windsor explains three of the longsword forms that are used every day in The School of European Swordsmanship: The Cutting Drill The Farfalla di Ferro THe Longsword Syllabus Form. Each form is explained step by step and application by application, with abundant photographs and images from Fiore's manuscript. Guy takes you through each step first as a pair drill, then as part of the form, then as a starting point for further training, or for further research into Il Fior di Battaglia. Within these pages you will find in-depth instructions and analysis, dozens of tips for how to improve your skills, and enough material for years of study. Guy Windsor has been training martial arts for 30 years, and teaching professionally since he founded The School of European Swordsmanship in 2001. The School has branches and study groups all over the world. Guy's other books include The Swordsman's Companion, The Duellist's Companion, Veni Vadi Vici, Mastering the Art of Arms volume 1: The Medieval Dagger, and Mastering the Art of Arms volume 2: The Medieval Longsword. You can find him online at guywindsor.com, and on Facebook and Twitter."
- GenresNonfictionMartial Arts
196 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2020
11 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Guy Windsor
54 books47 followersDr. Guy Windsor is a world-renowned instructor and a pioneering researcher of medieval and renaissance martial arts. He has been teaching the Art of Arms full-time since founding The School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki, Finland, in 2001. His day job is finding and analysing historical swordsmanship treatises, figuring out the systems they represent, creating a syllabus from the treatises for his students to train with, and teaching the system to his students all over the world. Guy is the author of numerous classic books about the art of swordsmanship and has consulted on swordfighting game design and stage combat. He developed the card game, Audatia, based on Fiore dei Liberi's Art of Arms, his primary field of study. In 2018 Edinburgh University awarded him a PhD by Research Publications for his work recreating historical combat systems. When not studying medieval and renaissance swordsmanship or writing books Guy can be found in his shed woodworking or spending time with his family.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 7, 2016
A manual for the lightsaber?
Don't laugh, when they invent one you will need techniques to use it, and what could be closer or more useful than the real techniques of real knights? There is even a picture of a toy light saber in the book.
Disclosure: I got a free copy but decided to buy it anyway.
It has a very interesting information in the use of Forms in order to train in the martial arts. A small part on the poleax. Also an interesting bit of information in how to kick.
The most unusual is probably the section in using sharps, yes very long pieces of sharpened steel that can cut people in half, and believe me it really makes a difference.
I believe that is almost magical the way in which from a forgotten source Guy Windsor and others are bringing back to life part of our heritage.
Yes, you should purchase and study the previous book, but believe me this one is worth the price.
I am giving it 5 stars but it deserves less, because the marketing is very incomplete. Guy Windsor is giving for free in his website a ton of videos and information that are really helpful, and that most people would market for extra money. Or perhaps it deserves more stars?
The Farfalla de Ferro for example is a beautiful flow exercise that is explained here, and you can see a very well done instructional video of it. Also the form created for the practice of the longsword deserves mention.
You like swords? I am doing sport fencing in a place in which finding french epees is considered weird, but I find this stuff fascinating, and hope to keep learning and one day be a swordplayer. What is your dream?
Peter
A Sword Nerd
Don't laugh, when they invent one you will need techniques to use it, and what could be closer or more useful than the real techniques of real knights? There is even a picture of a toy light saber in the book.
Disclosure: I got a free copy but decided to buy it anyway.
It has a very interesting information in the use of Forms in order to train in the martial arts. A small part on the poleax. Also an interesting bit of information in how to kick.
The most unusual is probably the section in using sharps, yes very long pieces of sharpened steel that can cut people in half, and believe me it really makes a difference.
I believe that is almost magical the way in which from a forgotten source Guy Windsor and others are bringing back to life part of our heritage.
Yes, you should purchase and study the previous book, but believe me this one is worth the price.
I am giving it 5 stars but it deserves less, because the marketing is very incomplete. Guy Windsor is giving for free in his website a ton of videos and information that are really helpful, and that most people would market for extra money. Or perhaps it deserves more stars?
The Farfalla de Ferro for example is a beautiful flow exercise that is explained here, and you can see a very well done instructional video of it. Also the form created for the practice of the longsword deserves mention.
You like swords? I am doing sport fencing in a place in which finding french epees is considered weird, but I find this stuff fascinating, and hope to keep learning and one day be a swordplayer. What is your dream?
Peter
A Sword Nerd
Displaying 1 of 1 review