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Cutting with the Medieval Sword: Theory and Application
For centuries, masters of defense throughout the world jealously guarded their knowledge, sharing it only with their students and patrons. But it was not just their techniques that they wanted to keep hidden—their most closely guarded secret was not what to do with a sword, but how to do it. This book lays bare the principles of the use of the sword with unprecedented detail—principles that are universal across nearly all cultures and time periods, including our own.
This information comes from centuries-old living lineage martial arts, medieval fencing treatises and decades of combined research, experimentation and application. It is accessible to anyone, from a complete beginner to a seasoned expert. The path to mastery consists of small steps, each easily understood and taken. There is no magic or mystery in the use of the sword. There is only the art, and it is an art created by and for human beings, utterly attainable and without artifice or embellishment.
pages.jpg
Using clear and concise explanations and highly detailed illustrations, this book takes you step by step through the body mechanics of the sword, from foundations to essential elements. It is divided into three modules: Theory, Practice and Calibration.
The Theory module thoroughly explains all of the underlying concepts and principles and how they combine to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The Practice Module provides advice on choosing training equipment as well as a comprehensive array of drills and exercises designed to put everything you learned in the previous module into practice. Finally, the Calibration module gives you all of the information you need to put your skills to the test by cutting targets with a sharp sword, from advice on choosing a sword to how to purchase, prepare and set up tatami and other targets. Most importantly, it will teach you to interpret your results in a way that will inform your training and allow you to correct errors and improve your technique. Whether you are taking your first step or the latest of many, let this book be your guide.
This information comes from centuries-old living lineage martial arts, medieval fencing treatises and decades of combined research, experimentation and application. It is accessible to anyone, from a complete beginner to a seasoned expert. The path to mastery consists of small steps, each easily understood and taken. There is no magic or mystery in the use of the sword. There is only the art, and it is an art created by and for human beings, utterly attainable and without artifice or embellishment.
pages.jpg
Using clear and concise explanations and highly detailed illustrations, this book takes you step by step through the body mechanics of the sword, from foundations to essential elements. It is divided into three modules: Theory, Practice and Calibration.
The Theory module thoroughly explains all of the underlying concepts and principles and how they combine to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The Practice Module provides advice on choosing training equipment as well as a comprehensive array of drills and exercises designed to put everything you learned in the previous module into practice. Finally, the Calibration module gives you all of the information you need to put your skills to the test by cutting targets with a sharp sword, from advice on choosing a sword to how to purchase, prepare and set up tatami and other targets. Most importantly, it will teach you to interpret your results in a way that will inform your training and allow you to correct errors and improve your technique. Whether you are taking your first step or the latest of many, let this book be your guide.
- GenresNonfictionWar
182 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2017
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46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 24, 2017
To say I'm impressed would be an understatement.
I've been fencing and running a small HEMA club for a bit more than two years and just started test cutting this year. I have been looking forward to the book since Edelson announced he was working on it.
I binge read it as soon as I completed the download. If this review seems a bit vague, it's because the book made such an impression. I tried to go into more detail, but I simply wound up regurgitating big chunks of his text.
Content (my headings):
The Why and What of cutting: It's what I, and those in more isolated groups, have been trying to piece together from videos and snatches of conversation from social media. Excellent. He establishes the training context and lays out the concepts in relation to skills.
The How: Again, excellent material. The drills are progressive and supplement the previous section.
All together now -- Sharps into target: For me, this was gold. From cutting media to weapon prep, maintenance, and more. Much, much, more material than I expected.
Bookcraft:
For me, this is what sets this book apart.
Most martial arts books are compilations of techniques and theory with some dubious historical context thrown in. Maybe you'll get a comprehensive syllabus -- maybe a curriculum. Maybe it's well written and you get a sense of training progression. Still, they're mostly cumbersome and their best use is as reference material. Their usefulness as a learning aid, much less a guide, is very limited.
Edelson understands that it's a book. He understands that a book is different than teaching a class, different from an online conversation, and different from a personal coaching session. He makes the best use of the medium. It reads like a very good technical manual -- which is probably why I was able to get through it so quickly.
A lot of attention was paid to the overall layout and organization. The overall progression makes sense. Just about every question that came up as I read was immediately answered in the text that followed. He's clear about anything that's beyond the scope of the book. There aren't any jarring jumps between pages or sections. It just flows. And it flows well.
The illustrations are functional. Photos as examples when they are appropriate. Photos overlaid with diagrams when that's the best way to get a point across. Diagrams and drawings alone, when that simple visualization is the best way to illustrate a concept.
In this sense, only the Ashihara/Enshin Sabaki books and the best of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu books are this good. Cutting with the Medieval Sword belongs up there with the best modern works on martial arts.
Negatives:
I'm not experienced enough to notice any glaring omissions. The only drawback I see is that it's the first edition. There are probably going to be clarifications. Eventually, though they're very good now, the graphics will probably be polished up too. But that's it.
Also, I know there are those that don't agree with Edelson's thesis, that test cutting informs and benefits training. I'm not sure it would convince someone who thinks otherwise, but that's not the work's intent.
Recommendation:
Buy it. It's for anyone wanting to incorporate test cutting into their practice (or refine their current training) -- or anyone who wants to understand those that do.
I've been fencing and running a small HEMA club for a bit more than two years and just started test cutting this year. I have been looking forward to the book since Edelson announced he was working on it.
I binge read it as soon as I completed the download. If this review seems a bit vague, it's because the book made such an impression. I tried to go into more detail, but I simply wound up regurgitating big chunks of his text.
Content (my headings):
The Why and What of cutting: It's what I, and those in more isolated groups, have been trying to piece together from videos and snatches of conversation from social media. Excellent. He establishes the training context and lays out the concepts in relation to skills.
The How: Again, excellent material. The drills are progressive and supplement the previous section.
All together now -- Sharps into target: For me, this was gold. From cutting media to weapon prep, maintenance, and more. Much, much, more material than I expected.
Bookcraft:
For me, this is what sets this book apart.
Most martial arts books are compilations of techniques and theory with some dubious historical context thrown in. Maybe you'll get a comprehensive syllabus -- maybe a curriculum. Maybe it's well written and you get a sense of training progression. Still, they're mostly cumbersome and their best use is as reference material. Their usefulness as a learning aid, much less a guide, is very limited.
Edelson understands that it's a book. He understands that a book is different than teaching a class, different from an online conversation, and different from a personal coaching session. He makes the best use of the medium. It reads like a very good technical manual -- which is probably why I was able to get through it so quickly.
A lot of attention was paid to the overall layout and organization. The overall progression makes sense. Just about every question that came up as I read was immediately answered in the text that followed. He's clear about anything that's beyond the scope of the book. There aren't any jarring jumps between pages or sections. It just flows. And it flows well.
The illustrations are functional. Photos as examples when they are appropriate. Photos overlaid with diagrams when that's the best way to get a point across. Diagrams and drawings alone, when that simple visualization is the best way to illustrate a concept.
In this sense, only the Ashihara/Enshin Sabaki books and the best of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu books are this good. Cutting with the Medieval Sword belongs up there with the best modern works on martial arts.
Negatives:
I'm not experienced enough to notice any glaring omissions. The only drawback I see is that it's the first edition. There are probably going to be clarifications. Eventually, though they're very good now, the graphics will probably be polished up too. But that's it.
Also, I know there are those that don't agree with Edelson's thesis, that test cutting informs and benefits training. I'm not sure it would convince someone who thinks otherwise, but that's not the work's intent.
Recommendation:
Buy it. It's for anyone wanting to incorporate test cutting into their practice (or refine their current training) -- or anyone who wants to understand those that do.
January 15, 2019
A very valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn how to cut properly with the correct biomechanics with a sword. When reading It is hard to resist the temptation to bounce around and gaze upon all the pretty sword pictures. One thing that I really like is the clear and concise advice and insights that bleed over into your fencing regardless of tradition or school. I bought it so I could be better at cutting but I think I am a better martial artist after reading this book. Get it.
June 24, 2018
An excellent book on swordwork.
It is marketed as HEMA, but I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anybody who practices any sword arts. (I study iaido).
Edelson gives a clear no-nonsense explanation of the basics with clear illustrations. But more than that, he shows how these basics affect all techniques and gives exercises so that you can incorporate the points into your practice.
It is marketed as HEMA, but I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anybody who practices any sword arts. (I study iaido).
Edelson gives a clear no-nonsense explanation of the basics with clear illustrations. But more than that, he shows how these basics affect all techniques and gives exercises so that you can incorporate the points into your practice.
Read
December 1, 2019Research book. It was more "HEMA practice guide" than the purely abstract theory that I'd hoped for, though it did have plenty of concrete details. Strong on the body mechanics of cutting, but little about the mechanics of the bodies receiving the cut, which was what I'd hoped for. None of that is relevant to the book's actual purpose, so no rating.
November 29, 2017
Absolutely fantastic text that should be on the bookshelf of any serious HEMA practitioner. There are drills for days, as well as the theory behind everythig so you know how even the smallest details can affect your ability to use a sword.
Full review at hemaphilia.tumblr.com
Full review at hemaphilia.tumblr.com
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews