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Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-quarter Combat
 
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Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-quarter Combat [Illustrated] (Hardcover)

by Hans Talhoffer (Author), Mark Rector (Editor, Translator)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 317 pages
  • Publisher: Greenhill Books; illustrated edition edition (23 Aug 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1853674184
  • ISBN-13: 978-1853674181
  • Product Dimensions: 24.5 x 15.8 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 961,664 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Book Description

Hans Talhoffer's original 'Fechtbuch' ['fight book'] of 1467 illustrates in detail the authentic combat techniques of a Swabian master of arms, presenting not only a unique historic record but also a visual guide for modern practitioners, with 268 illustrations and explanatory captions. This professional fencing manual reveals the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the 'judicial duel' (an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute) and personal combat.


From the Publisher

To meet a new interest by modern readers, re-enactors, actors and historians in accurate information about medieval fighting techniques and styles, Greenhill make one of the most influential and lavishly drawn fencing manuals of the Middle Ages available in English for the first time.
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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginners, 13 Feb 2001
A literal tranlation of the works of Master Talhoffer, circa 1467, this book provides valuable insight into the nature of germanic combat. My only (even vague) criticism of this book would be that it does not cover the initial positions, guards, and gripping of the sword in any great depth, preferring to move straight to the techniques. Nothing wrong with this, but if you are a beginning fighter, it would be my recommendation to start with something like Medieval Swordsmanship by John Clements, which covers the basics far more efficiently. That said, if you are already capable of the basics, and need a kick start to your training, this book will more than provide it. The illustrations (a good 80% of the book) are sharp and clear, with a good definition of what is going, how it is getting there, and what it will do when it gets there, in my experience, a thing that is missing in altogether too many books these days.

In summation, An excellent piece of work by a well acknowledge practitioner of the art.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-century Manual of Swordfighting, 20 Jan 2003
Produced by Hans Talhoffer in 1467, 'Medieval Combat' is more or less a facsimile of the original fifteenth Century illustrations (in black and white) with translations for the text. Translated and edited by Mark Rector and with a foreword by John Clements, both of who are world-renowned practitioners of historical swordsmanship. This book is a must for any Western Martial Artist, student in European Medieval Warfare, and re-enactor. Large, full-page images make recreating his various attacks and defences for the modern practitioner relatively straightforward. The only drawback is the imprecision in Talhoffer's explanation for his various 'freeze frame' illustrations. This can be misleading until you actually pick up a sword and begin to 'go through' the illustrations, filling in the gaps which Talhoffer appears to have deliberately included. After all, a Master is only such while he maintains more knowledge than his pupils.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good...if you have some idea of what you are looking at, 22 Jul 2003
By Philip Whyman "Phil Berghan-Whyman" (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
When I first picked up this book I was astonished at the picture and situations described. The various types of judicial combat and the equipment used for them is astounding.

Having begun training in Fiore I began then was able to appreciate the weapon manoeuvres described within and the transitions between the differing positions (some thing that was very difficult to comprehend initially as I lacked the grounding in weapons combat to appreciate what was occurring).

As another reviewer as pointed out, the basic guards are not directly pointed out but the manual does not claim to be a teach yourself Talhoffer guide but rather a translation of an aid to training.

I find it useful and interesting.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars How do you review this book?
I love this book but how does one review a book written by a sword master five hundred years ago? The modern translation is clear the weapons are described and the book is given... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Niall MacMhathain

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
This is a good book in terms of the illustrations and the techmiques that are within it. However, it does not show you how to get from one move to another, merely doing... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2005

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