Forrest’s Reviews > Iberian Swordplay: Domingo Luis Godinho's Art of Fencing > Status Update

Part Eight might just as well have been titled "dirty tricks". Literally dirty, like keeping a pocket full of fine sand to cast into the eyes of an opponent who "has greater advantage" or to use against multiple opponents who justifiably want to kill you because you are a scumbucket. It essentially says this, but in a more refined way. Screw honor, you've got to defend yourself! Best section of the book!

I always wondered why those beefcake sword and sorcery covers had the hero standing and a woman kneeling or sitting at his feet. Turns out this was how people were trained to defend a woman from a crowd (royal bodyguards and such). When surrounded, you have to swing in wide arcs. If she's standing behind or beside you . . . well, it's bad optics to accidentally decapitate the person you're trying to protect.

Part Two: Sword and Shield, can be summarized: protect your hand, slash at your opponent's legs or stab him in the belly, and whatever you do, do it really, really quickly, like a snapping turtle.

Okay, now we get to the more interesting stuff: sword and shield, sword and buckler, sword and dagger (my favorite), sword and cloak, and two swords (where one learns how to clear a street - yes, that's in there).