The Swordsman's Companion

Over the last decade, the study of European swordsmanship has become increasingly popular, with schools opening in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Poland, France, Australia, Italy, Germany and Finland. Drawn from a host of historical treatises, modern instructors are reconstructing the lost arts of swordsmanship, creating new methodologies based on the original texts. Although there are now many fine translations and interpretations of individual medieval masters, there has been no work aimed at the beginner. With the Swordsman?s Companion, Guy Windsor has broken new ground, presenting for the first time a modern system based on historical techniques. Combining (as they did) fighting with the sword with wrestling and efficient footwork, Mr. Windsor?s book will prove intersting to any reenactor, martial artist, or student of medieval or renaissance military culture. Mr. Windsor, founder and director of the School of European Swordsmanship, Helskinki, well-respected for his disciplined approach, offers numerous drills, explanations and bouting techniques designed to provide a solid foundation with which to pursue the study of swordsmanship as a martial art. Softcover, 236pp, 300 photographic illustrations.