When we think of martial arts we too often focus on styles from Asia, but there is a highly developed and effective martial heritage originating in Europe. In Sigmund Ringeck's "Knightly Arts of Combat", David Lindholm and Peter Svard present a portion of our European Martial Arts heritage.
Knightly Arts of Combat offers instruction in:
> Sword and buckler fighting
> Wrestling, both while wearing armor, and while dressed in normal clothing
> Spear
> Sword against spear
> Openings on a man in armor
Knightly Arts of Combat includes the original German language text of Sigmund Ringeck as well as translation and extensive commentary by Lindholm and Svard.
While the techniques of sword and buckler, and the techniques of the spear are not particularly useful for defense in the modern world, these techniques do develop speed, strength and dexterity. The wrestling techniques taught in the Knightly Arts of Combat, however, are clearly applicable to self-defense on the streets of today's cities.
I enjoyed Knightly Arts of Combat both from its historical perspective, and because I was able to learn new techniques of combat and personal self-defense. Knightly Arts of Combat is highly recommended both to the student of European history and the student of martial arts.