Italian Rapier Combat: Ridolfo Capo Ferro's 'Gran Simulacro'

by Ridolfo Capo Ferro, Ridolfo Capo Ferro

This beautifully-illustrated and detailed book presents one of the world's most influential fencing treatises. Ridolfo Capo Ferro was a legend in his own lifetime and his intricate and exact instructions were copied and emulated throughout a Europe bewitched by this Italian's grace and style. The manual, illustrated with 43 striking illustrations, gives a very real flavour of the panache of this expert in swordsmanship and mastery of that most lethal of weapons - the rapier. Capo Ferro examines different kinds of swords, their component parts and their suitability, before going on to discuss their actual use. There he expounds his theory as to the timing and direction of thrusts, the essential distances and the need for complete control. He also looks at defensive measures, guards, parries, the need for quick footwork. Capo Ferro's text is a practical guide to fighting and one which builds on the theory to show exactly how a superior form of swordsmanship could be learned by Europe's elite. His illustrations clearly show the best methods and also show how a rapier could be lethally effective when used with a dagger or with a cloak. Translated into English for the first time, and presented by fencing expert Jared Kirby, this handsome volume is not only attractive to look at its also a vital historical record. It is essential reading for any historical swordfighter, student of martial arts and student of military history as it allows the reader to access the knowledge of one of the masters of the art. The book is also sure to give the modern fencer new insights in technique and a greater appreciation of the history of their sport.

Genres: Martial Arts

147 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 2004

Reviews

[Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've owned this book for many years, going back to the days before I had my back injury, when I fenced both foil and rapier & dagger. Now that my back has healed enough to be able to seriously think about getting stabby again, I'm re-reading some of the books I have if, for nothing else, to get my brain straight about fencing again. This translation Ridolfo Capo Ferro's treatise on fencing, lavishly illustrated with works from the original books from which it is translated, is stunning. A glossary at the beginning helps to understand the nomenclature, the historical context is provided, and the illustrations are self-explanatory and well-rendered to show the consequences (good or very, very bad) of taking a given course of action in a given situation. I am studying this one a bit more closely than in the past so that when I find a local HEMA or WMA group that I want to be a part of, I'll be able to regain my baseline, at the least, and get into the round again. Fencing with rapier & dagger is one of the joys in life that I've had to give up for years because of my back injury. I'm in a good enough place now that I can go at it again, albeit with a little more caution than my younger self!

[Alec M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensible translation of an excellent work on a foundational style of rapier fencing. Capo Ferro's presentation and content are a stand-by in the community for a reason, and his work stands on its own. This particular translation, for the most part, presents his work clearly and seemingly as intended, but seems to air on the side of caution by maintaining terminology in the original Italian and relying on the reader to look up in the glossary more than seems necessary given that appropriate translations are also presented there. Whether as an attempt to preserve technical terms in their language for the sake of tradition, or as an attempt to keep true to the meaning of the author by just not oversimplifying the translation, the result is that on a first read this text is difficult and confounding where the author has laid out a clear statement in his own language, and the translation feels to be missing that sense for the English reader.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is worth it only for the illustrations (not the text), which Rapisardi's Italian edition doesn't reproduce as well (lots of bleed-through); this does a first-class job with them. A coffee-table book, nicely produced.