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Title: Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques by John Clements ISBN: 1-58160-004-6 Publisher: Paladin Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.91 (54 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A beginner's guide
Comment: I must say before I begin that John Clements is a very talented and knowledgeable martial artist. His years of experience have made him reliable, and perfectly authorized to write this text.
However, this book is, as he says, nowhere near being the only source for any researcher of medieval swords. In fact, it is more of an introduction for beginners to start their studies upon. It offers many fundamental concepts essential to Western Swordsmanship, and gives readers a starting point in learning European martial arts. Many of the points he makes, especially regarding bodily movement, balance, and the like, are self-evident to somebody already involved in martial arts, especially in Western Martial Arts.
The only drawback to this book was that, in an effort to rid the world of common myths, and to dispel many misconceptions about WMA, Clements was very redundant. However (and this can be good or bad) he sprinkled different facts all through the book, so a reader cannot skim over parts without fear of missing something.
Overall, I'd say that this book is worth a look for anybody interested in WMA, but a beginner would definitely find it much more useful than would a veteran. It does provide a good reference for certain tidbits; the name of a guard, or the execution of a strike. As always, a book is no substitute for a bona fide teacher, especially in the world of WMA, where our knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts adopted by our fencing forefathers is always changing and expanding.
Rating: 5
Summary: The most authoritative book on the subject - bar none!
Comment: John Clements does a magnificent job on this book, which is a follow-up to his previous title, _Renisance Swordsmanship_. He clearly discusses the various types of weapons used in the Middle Ages (roughly 1100's-1400's) as well as the training that went into becoming a master in their use. Drawing from many period sources that are hard, if not impossible, to find and translate he describes the actual fighting techniques used by the sword masters of Europe. Whether you are a re-enactor, Medieval historian, martial artist, sword collector, or just someone who wants to learn, this is THE book to own! Having read hundreds of books on the martial arts and swordplay, I truly believe that this book will become the standard to which all other books on the subject will be compared.
Rating: 4
Summary: Chock full of information
Comment: 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.
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