Product Description
The Art of Fencing - The Use of the Small Sword is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Monsieur L'Abbat is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Monsieur L'Abbat then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
The unstoppable thrust is the arcane fencing technique known only by Don Jaime—and the deadly maneuver that a beautiful young woman wants him to teach her.What begins as a rather bold request leads Don Jaime into the shadowy politics and violence of mid-nineteenth-century Madrid.
Amazon.com Review
In The Club Dumas, Arturo Pérez-Reverte explored the labyrinthineworld of antiquarian book dealers, spicing his tale of mystery and murderwith characters straight out of Paradise Lost and The ThreeMusketeers. Next came The Flanders Panel, a brilliant puzzle comprised ofart, chess, and untimely death whose resolution lies in a painting by a Flemishmaster. InThe Seville Communion, Pérez-Reverte turned his sightson the tangled politics of the Roman Catholic Church as an appropriatebackdrop--for murder. In his fourth novel translated into English, theSpanish writer changes centuries (if not his focus on homicide), returningto the mid-1800s to follow the exploits of Don Jaime Astarloa, theeponymous fencing master.

The year is 1866 and revolution is brewing in Spain. The corrupt Bourbonqueen, Isabella II, is slowly losing her grip on power as equally corruptexiled politicians vie to be her successor in a new republic. Against thisbackground of political upheaval, Don Jaime goes about his business,teaching a dying art to a dwindling number of students. This is a man whoresists changing times; to a friend he explains, "I have spent my wholelife trying to preserve a certain idea of myself, and that is all. You haveto cling to a set of values that do not depreciate with time. Everythingelse is the fashion of the moment, fleeting, mutable. In a word, nonsense."But then Adela de Otero--a woman with a mysterious pastand an amazing talent for swordplay--comes into his life, and Don Jaime's world is turned upsidedown. As always, Pérez-Reverte offers literary excellence, a thumping goodmystery, and fascinating insight into an arcane practice, in this case,fencing. Though the 19th-century politics in the book may resonate morewith a Spanish audience than with English readers, the moral at the heart ofThe Fencing Master is universal: "to be honest, or at leasthonorable--anything, indeed, that has its roots in the word honor."In this, Don Jaime and Arturo Pérez-Reverte both succeed. --AlixWilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (100)

The worth of honor in the time of instability and chaos
This is not Dumas. But i think that the excitement element is perhaps a little bit higher, since the whole book revolves around the mastery of fencing, while the f.e. in the Three Musketeers fencing is used as more of a prop to establish the monoliths of the personalities such as D'Artagnan etc. Indeed, in Dumas writings the quality of fencing heavily defines what the individual is about.

Fencing is an exciting art, and although im far from understanding the lingo, at least i was able to discern the connection that it had to the overall murial painted for us by the author.

The master Don Jaime is a very interesting character with a very rich, but lonely life, someone who is very much in touch with his weaknesses, and yet someone who has a strong sense of his unalterable end, and knows that there s nothing that can be done about it..So he keeps on going by his routine.

At such point he falls in love, which his spirit strongly resists, as much as his heart resists the fact that he is not yet withered away and is in fact ready for such an encounter. That said, his professionalism does not allow him to cross the boundary...In fact that same adherence to the meticulousness in his life may save his hide later.

What's interesting all throughout the book, is that as we become more familiarized with Don Jaime's inner world, we also get too see why he is assigned a complicated role of the maitre of arms - a fencing master.

Fencing
Although the ending to this novel seems rushed,in my opinion, the build up to the final confrontation was cleverly done and left the reader with no clue until near the end who the prime subjects really were,though the final fencing pair were obvious. The author clearly understood the art of fencing. The cafe scenes could have been more political and the hero surprisingly naive for his advanced years. All told,a good read and hard to put down.

A cut above
This is my first time reading this author. I really enjoyed the book. I was most impressed with how the author was able to create a certain depth of character so that it became more than just an action novel. The insights given on the main character made the ending so much more poignant. His meetings with his friends could be somewhat compared to a kind of Greek chorus commenting on the state of Spain at the time.I feel that the author is writing for the mass market so what might be somewhat more detailed in a weighter novel is not found here. It also is possible that is why some readers' comments on other of his novels show some disappointment.

A Splendid Performance.
Review of "The Fencing Master" -- Arturo Perez-Reverte

Background abstract from the text:"In Madrid in 1868, fencing master and man of honor Don Jaime is approached by a mysterious woman who seeks to learn the secret of the unstoppable thrust, an arcane technique known only to him.All too soon he finds himself in the vortex of a plot that includes seduction, secret political documents, and more than one murder.Rich with the historical detail of a decaying world that agonizes--as does the world of fencing itself--over the ideals of honor and chivalry, The Fencing Master is superb literature and a true page-turner."

This is the second Perez-Reverte book I've read and I have to admit I really like his intelligent style of writing.I found the first half of the book to open very slowly building the back-story for the protagonist (Don Jaime Astarloa) and potential love interest with Adele De Otero who insistently pleads with him to teach her the fencing secret he perfected; "the unstoppable thrust."

*Spoiler here* The second half of the book quickly builds suspense and intrigue ending with a shocking conclusion.The final part of the story ends with Don Jaime discovering that Adele was acting as the agent of espionage for powerful economic interests.She attempts to kill her Maestro with the same fencing thrust maneuver she learned from him but with which he executes with the skill of "The Fencing Master" leading to her demise (with the thrust through her eye socket).

Well done and rife with a vivid historical backdrop and references.Five stars.

JP

Tries to be Dumas-esque, but is too modern
This was the first Perez-Reverte book I have read, and I was very disappointed.I have heard him referred to as the modern day Dumas by multiple reviewers.He comes nowhere near earning that title, at least with this book.Perhaps his other books are better, as previous reviewers have suggested, but this book was downright mediocre at best, and boring and poorly executed at worst.

Perez-Reverte's major blunder is his obsession with character sympathy and believability.Don't get me wrong, I am all about things being believable if possible, but being believable should never be one's focus.He spends such a ridiculous amount of space giving us psychological insight into Don Jaime that it is blatantly obvious that he is trying to explain why he does all the things he does.This would already have been bad, but the fact that Don Jaime is a very annoying character to read about makes it unbearable.As a previous review has said, Don Jaime is a "bumbling, clueless idiot."A simple page describing his psychological motivations would have been entirely sufficient, but instead we get something in the vicinity of 25 pages (not all in one place, of course).As another previous reviewer noted, the book is "populated with believable characters."The problem is that their believability is forced;it is something that was obviously purposefully done, and because of that it feels even more unbelievable than the "unmodern" characters of classical fiction.There is one exception to this:the antagonist.For all the effort put into the other characters, the antagonist is the most cardboard-cutoutish character I have come across in some time.

Perez-Reverte is missing a vital component to joining the ranks of the great swashbucklers like Dumas:naturalness.Dumas' novels and characters flow naturally.Perez-Reverte is obviously obsessed with creating believable characters and a main character people will remember and respect.Yes, we understand that Don Jaime is a relic of a past age.We don't need to hear it repeated on every other page.He has lost sight of the story in his obsession with the individual character, and it makes both story and characters boring.

This makes me think that it is far more comparable to a character study in the manner of Jane Austin than a Dumas novel, but the cover explicitly advertises it as an action/suspense book.The "suspense" doesn't come in until toward the very end, and the "action" consists of two short sword-fights (unless one counts practicing fencing as "action").It was compared by a previous reviewer to Don Quixote.However, it fails to suceed in any of the three categories I mentioned:it has too little action or adventure for a Dumas comparison, it is not nearly witty or profound enough to be compared to Austin, and there is no humour.It fails as historical fiction because the only history contained in it is found in randomly inserted conversations about the politics of the Spanish revolution (and he gives no background, so the reader can't really follow it very well).

Let me summarize what the book actually consists of.There are four parts.First, there are lengthy descriptions of the psychological motivations of Don Jaime and a few other characters.Second, there are numerous political conversations largely unrelated to the plot.Third, there are lengthy descriptions of Don Jaime's daily life, which are about as exciting as describing any normal persons daily life (because the author was trying to surround him with "believability").Finally, there is a brief "suspense" section at the very end, with a "surprise" plot twist that the reader guesses about 30 pages into the book (if not sooner).The fact that the author presents it as a huge surprise is simply insulting.

One final note.Was it really necessary for Perez-Reverte to include a romantic sub-plot between Don Jaime (who is in his late 50's) and a woman in her young 20's?Really?

Overall grade: D ... Read more

Product Description
Learn the highly technical sport of fencing, in nine challenging and fun steps! Fencing: Steps to Success covers all of the essential skills of the epee and foil forms of the sport. The book is a perfect how-to guide for beginning and developing fencers, and a valuable reference for instructors.

Author Elaine Cheris shares the expertise that has made her one of the most prolific fencers and fencing instructors in the United States. In each progressive step, she explains the importance of a major skill, presents sequential illustrations to show you how to perform the skill, and then provides a series of drills to refine and master the skill.

Cheris has instructed many elite international competitors, as well as pop music star Jimmy Buffett. In Fencing: Steps to Success, you can receive your own personal lessons and start fencing the right way, right away.

This book is part of the highly popular Steps to Success Activity Series, which now has more than 1 million copies in print! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

What I was looking for
Unfortunately, I bought this after I bought The Art and Science of Fencing; this was what I was looking for!Several chapters worth of drills, exercises and illustrations for establishing a solid basic fencing skill-set.Each chapter includes common mistakes and how to fix them.No book is a substitute for training under a master, but if you can't find an instructor, this is the next best thing.

good basics for a newbie
Having not fenced since my college days in the 60s, but still having a set of foils and masques, I wanted to obtain a book to remind me of what I once knew...the basics
While there were a few defensive moves not discussed in this book, nor a discussion of the advantages/disadvantages of various grips, I found the book helpful and believe a newbie would benefit from its illustrations.

best instructional book out there for beginners
breaks down each move and explains exactly what each part of the body should (and should not) be doing, how your weight should be distributed, etc. also lists common mistakes made and how to avoid or fix them.best of all, it's filled with tons of drills for practice, both solo and with a partner.working my way through the book has gotten me through my first semester of fencing with excellent results.so much more helpful than any other book out there, by far.

Way too basic!
If you are looking for a super basic book on fencing with 75% of the content being exercises and little workout routines, this is the book for you. If you are looking for something with ANY depth on the subject look anywhere but here. I returned this book on principle I was so dissapointed with it.

Fencing
I purchased this book as a gift for my son. He was very pleased. He said that it contained all the information that he had hoped for, but didn't receive, when he purchased a different book. ... Read more

Product Description
The standard reference on historical swordsmanship since its 1885 publication, this volume is still widely considered the definitive work on fencing history and the art of European swordsmanship. The author traces fencing from its roots in the unschooled brawling of the Middle Ages to its latter-day precision and refinement; he focuses particularly on the sixteenth-century development of the rapier and the weapon's popularity in Renaissance Italy, where Italian masters founded the modern art of swordsmanship. Abundantly illustrated, this legendary work, long out-of-print, will be of great interest to scholars as well as fencing and sword enthusiasts. Unabridged republication of the classic 1885 edition. 150 black-and-white illustrations.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

ein Muss

Ich finde, dass dieses Buch ein Muss für jeden historisch Interessierten sein sollte - und für jeden Fechter sowieso. Zwar weicht Castle in einigen Details von anderen Fechthistorikern ab, z.B. Hergsell, aber dies meist nur bei zweifelhafter Quellenlage. Ansonsten kann ich dieses Buch uneingeschränkt empfehlen.

An outstanding history of the sword
Egerton Castle lays out a roadmap of European swords, schools and masters of the sword, and fencing texts from the middle ages to the early 1800s.Despite an original publication date of 1885, this is the best overview of the subjects covered.It is generally laid out in chronological order, with a few detours to follow specific schools of fencing, but flows well and logically.Castle describes the last days of armor and twohanded swords, and as gunpowder made medieval armor obsolete, he progresses through the development of the rapier and smallsword.

I found the sections on Spanish and English schools of thought most useful, as these are most removed from modern sport fencing, and least accesible through modern authors (who have been heavily influenced by Asian, Pacific Islander, and other edged weapons arts, and their own theories).For example, Ramon Martinez is absolutely brilliant at explaining the Spanish school of fencing as he interpretes it, but he tends to gloss over shortcomings of Spanish Fencing, or John Clements, whose books make reference to parrying with the flat of the sword rather than the edge, which is without practical or historical basis.

Castle's vignettes of personalities and events of fencing history add a charming 'gossipy' air to the work that make it very readable, when it easily could have devolved into an arid scholarly listing of unadorned facts and dates.The discussion of Domenico Angelo in England was a delightful snapshot of life among the upper class of England in that period.

In a word, brilliant."Schools and Masters of Fencing" does not claim to be a text on the management of l'arme blanche, but an overview of the history of the weapon.But with this disclaimer, Castle procedes to offer insights into the techniques and evolution of techniques that have become modern sport fencing.Although Castle does not dwell on it, this work offers great insight into the interrelationship of armor, muscle powered weapons, and firearms.The book neatly frames out the golden age of edged and pointed weapons from the time when the obsolescence of armor in the face of firearms made way for the most subtle and refined swordsmanship to the point where reliable repeating handguns made the sword a relic of a more refined but less democratic era.

Absolutly top shelf; a 'must read' for a serious classical fencer or student of the history of arms.

E. M. Van Court

Dated, but yet to be surpassed
Although this history of fencing is over a century old, and some of its conclusions are deeply flawed, it is still the most complete and accurate book on the subject. Castle's dismissal of early works on swordsmanship as "The rough untutored fighting of the Middle Ages" is unfortunate. I defy anyone to examine Sigmund Ringeck's Fechtbuch (as translated and interpreted by Christian Tobler in Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship) or the anonymous Manuscript I.33 from 1300 (translated by Jeff Forgeng in The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship and analysed by myself and Paul Wagner in Medieval Sword and Shield)and conclude that medieval fencing lacked system and sophistication.

Also unfortunate is Castle's evident belief that the history of fencing is a process of steady improvement to the perfection of fencing in his day. It was a good thing for Castle and his contemporaries that they never had to face the trained killers of the middle ages and see their "rough untutored" fighting for themselves.

But, quaint 19th century notions of superiority aside, in his description of the fencing masters of the 16th-18th centuries, Castle is unsurpassed. He possessed the rare ability to separate observation from opinion. So, while his opinions may be...interesting, his observations, unsullied by opinion are for the most part accurate. He examined about a hundred different fencing masters and their systems in analyses that are sometimes deep and sometimes quite superficial.

Other authors have attempted to write histories of fencing, but none have managed to separate their observations of the old masters from their personal opinions. Hence none are as useful as Castle. As old and as dated as this work is, it still deserves a place on the shelf of anyone interested in the history of swordsmanship.

Stephen Hand
Author, Spada, Spada II,
Medieval Sword and Shield

A MUST HAVE FOR FENCERS
A REVIEW BY NICK EVANGELISTA:

This book is a must for all fencers. It is a font of fencing knowledge, and although much criticized by members of the modern historical fencing movement, it is nevertheless a valuable resource.

As the author of "The Art and Science of Fencing," "The Inner Game of Fencing," and "The Encyclopedia of the Sword," and the editor/publisher of FENCERS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, I recommend this book highly.

Flawed; but a classic none the less...
This is a very readable and enjoyable history of the evolution of the various "schools"(or philosophies)of self defence with the sword, expressed with a detailed look at their main proponents, the salon masters of years ago.

Castle's personal sketches of the masters are enlightening and full of anecdotal material. The accompanying illustrations are mostly reproductions of period wookcuts which are invaluable in themselves.

However, the poorly reproduced photographic addenda reveal that Castle was as much as a century off in his ability to identify and date sword types. This of course was not the purpose of his work.

Even given this small flaw, I wholeheartedly recommend this for the fencer or martial artist of any level who is interested in the roots of the art. We are fortunate that Mr Castle provided us with such a good, solid history. ... Read more

Product Description
An illustrated study of the mental aspects of the sport of fencing, written by the author of ART AND SCIENCE OF FENCING. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

A controversial book it seems
An all round excellent book I found.I don't think it's old fashioned to belive martial arts are about personal growth and improvment more than beating the other guy, but some of the criticisms are valid.I enjoyed being trained, for a long time quite unknowingly, as a classical fencer.Therefore I thoroughly enjoyed this book and agree with the author ideas.But his constant attacks on sport fencing are tiring after a while and they are the only reason I didn't rate this book five stars. I always thought of fencing as a martial art more than a sport, but I accept that this is not the case for everyone.It's personal choice. Arguing in favour of classical fencing is one thing, but to simply repeatedly dismiss sport fencers as shallow idiots is unfair and boring.Not everyone wants to dedicate their life to fencing, some just want to swing a sword around and others just want to win competitions.Leave them alone to have their fun and count their medals Nicky, we'll get on with the real fencing quite fine without them!

This is Fencing
First of all, I find it important that the person writting
this book really knows fencing, because all his advises and
tips are from someone who has done fencing to a high level
(better for us)and is also a coach. What more do you want.
Excellent tips, excellent book

Not What the Title Says It Is
I've been sport fencing for over 25 years and picked up this book as a refresher on strategy. The title and introduction led me to believe that was the type of book that I would read. I was disappointed to find that nearly the entire book is a diatribe against sport fencing in favor of the classical fencing movement. Chapter after chapter stated in one way or another the basic idea of the book: "Modern sport fencing is garbage. Classical fencing is 'real' fencing."

I might have overlooked the author's diatribe, except that he really didn't have much else to say on the subject unless it was couched in his absolute refusal to acknowledge the validity of modern sport fencing.

I gave this book two stars because, within the incessant voice of the author's main point, he managed to slip in some words of advice that have slightly improved my performance on the fencing strip. This advice, however, was only useful since I could connect years of fencing experience with some of the hidden gems within the book.

If you are a die hard classical fencer, read the book as vindication of your choice of fencing. Sport fencers need not bother.

"REAL fencers"??! Oh dear.
Nick Evangelista has produced a book that is quite removed from most aspects of modern fencing. He has very strong views concerning how fencing 'should' be and seems rather irritated that they're not. As a result his work seems to at every opportunity take the form of a personal rant against modern styles of fencing. In fact 'The Inner Game' seems so full of personal vendettas and anecdotes to support them, that it's a wonder actual fencing tactics get a mention at all!

I suggest this book is unsuitable for those practicing the modern sport of fencing and would suggest works by authors such as Prof. John 'Jes' Smith as a preferable source.

It does concern me that those new to the sport could become extremely disillusioned by this work.

That being said he does make some useful comments concerning general approaches to training, placing a lot of emphasis on self discipline and correct practice.

In addition, all this talk of 'Real fencers' is at best a demonstration of the writer's ignorance. Nick may be a good teacher of classical fencing, however i believe 'The Inner Game' is poorly written and would not even recommend it to those who do wish to practice the classical style.

A Guide to REAL fencing
Another AWESOME book by famous fencing artist Nick Evangelista. This is a book made for REAL fencers and not the olympic woosy type. The book also explains grips, moves, etc. A MUST READ for any begginer or REAL fencer. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Fencing for Beginners
This book was a gift for a step-grandson.He is interested in swordsmanship, and this book has encouraged him to persue fencing for a sport.The pictures and language were clear and easy to understand.I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in fencing.

Intresting
A very interesting book, I will be exploring this sport further and this was a great starting point.

Beginners Fencing Book- Long on Attitude
I have a 9-year-old daughter who is interested in fencing. I bought this book hoping it would be a good basic instruction manual suitable for a child who is a good reader. Whatever it's merits, the book did not meet my hopes and expectations.

There is clearly a lot of good information in the book. However, in order to get to that information it is necessary to wade through a lot of prose in an excessively informal, folksy style that instantly rings false. The introduction (titled "You've Got To Be Kidding! But It Looks So Wierd") sets the tone, devoting itself to reassuring the reader that fencing is not a wimpy sport. The book proceeds to devote entirely too much ink to fencing's supposed underdog status in the world of sports, berating unclean fencing clubs, unintelligible instructors, etc.

Now my daughter had been fascinated by the idea of fencing ever since she discovered one of my old foils in the basement. It had never occurred to her that fencing was anything other than exciting and fun. The introduction, however well-intentioned by the authors, sets a negative tone that is entirely inappropriate for a young reader.

My daughter daughter was pretty much instantly turned off by this book. I had to agree with her.

If you can get it, I would highly recommend the out-of-print "Sports Illustrated Book Of Fencing", as a much more appropriate book for a young beginning fencer.

A Very Good Book-
Fencer's Start-up is an excellent intro and informative source for the beginning fencer- In all three weapons that it goes over, it covers the parries,footwork, basic defence, attacks, and some strategy. Also, the text is very interesting and easy to understand; you wont feel like youre being dragged tediously throughout the book. I highly recommend this- However, fencers BEYOND their first 6 months would NOT find this book as helpful since by then, they would have mastered the things shown.

Arrogance at its worst
Technically, this book is not a disaster: the basics of sport fencing are covered reasonably enough.

But the author has no respect for the tradition of fencing, nor does he come off as being more than anything than a "Sport Fencer" and semi-literate jock who has nothing but his own glorification in mind when he writes.

The most intolerable and tedious part of this tome is the "Fencing Journal." I must applaud whoever his maestro was, because he must have had the patience of a saint to put up with the author's temper tantrums, disgraceful behavior and overall infantilism.

This book is asinine. I would highly recommend Nick Evangelista's books and BY THE SWORD by Cohen for a true sentiment de fer. Avoid this piece of garbage like the plague, or if you must sbject yourself, get it at the local library. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Fencing is the most comprehensive and up-to-date fencing-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of nearly 100 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round fencing-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other fencing book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book will have fencers increasing agility, strength, balance, and flexibility, which translates into more precision and power in advances, lunges, and recoveries.Following the programs in this book will also enhance wrist speed and control, reduce the chances of injury, and make you an overall better fencer.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Only so-so
The book has decent recommendations, but a little too "cookie cutter". That is, if you take away the cover and some words in the text, it could be a routine for almost any other sport.

Excellent training book
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their fencing.Now that my fitness has improved, so has my agility and my athleticism.This is a great book and it has really helped me!

touche'
What a masterpiece!This is the number one book for all fencing enthusiasts.This book helped me with both strength and agility and it can help you too.Don't miss out on this gem of a book, I'll guarantee it helps you in your matches.

Buy this ASAP!!!!!
This is the best book I've found on this subject and is tailor-made for exactly what fencers need!I would definitely recommend this book without hesitation!It's a steal!

Great Book..Great Series
I first found out about this series of book when I purchased the WeighTraining for Football book for my son.I was pleased to see that there was one for fencing.As an avid recreational and competitive fencer, I found that this book made serious suggestions that a true student of fencing should follow! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Introductory book
We review this book before we fence each day. it is very practical and detailed information on the fundamentals.

good for what it is...
i really hate to give this book a bad review, because it is clear and well-written.it provides a brief overview of the essential elements of each of the three weapons.it's not specific enough to for anyone to be able to learn a new move from it, but if you're looking for a quick, "big picture" bullet-list of the important things to keep in mind for this parry or that footwork, this will do the job.

the biggest problem is the book's age.it presents electrical scoring as the big new thing, and still teaches the cross-over and fleche in sabre, which have been illegal for 17 years now, and does not teach the flunge.the speed and preferred tactics of the other weapons have also changed considerably over the 20+ years since this book was written, so... it's not at all bad for what it is, but unfortunately it's more of a historical document at this point.a new edition would be great.

also note that the picture in this amazon listing is a mistake - it's a picture of an entirely different book.

Clear and practical guide to Fencing.
Brian Pitmans book is an excellent, down to earth guide to Fencing, he cover the three weapons Foil, Epee and Saber that are used in Olympic style of fencing.

Some Fencing books are to much concerned with the history ofFencing and often teach old or even outdated styles, that may beinteresting in itself but if you want to compete in modern fencing you needmodern, practical down to earth kind of book and this is it, also if youjust want to Fence for fun this book is great, after all most people whowant to Fence do it for the joy of it and not to be historically correctand beautiful, you Fence in order to hit the opponent and prevent him fromhitting you, of course good and fun Fencing can be beautiful and eventhough the traditionalist are always complaining about the look of modernFencing you can see many examples of top Fencers today who are not onlyvery good but also Fence beautifully.

In his book Brian begins, in partone, with the basic history of fencing the aim of the game the rules andconventions and some basic warm up exercices, part two is about the Foiland part three and four are about the Epee and the Sabre.

He covers thefootwork the attacks and defences and the strategy of the game and the bookis full of good advice about, not only how to get a good technique but alsohow to use it that technique in an efficient manner, in other words how toFence well.

My version of the book is from 1993 and some of the ruleshave changed (it changes almost every year) but the rest is still up todate and relevant.

I have not seen a better book about Fencing so far ... Read more

Product Description
Often thought of as an activity just for actors or an elite few, fencing is actually an ideal sport for people of all ages. Fencing develops dexterity, endurance, flexibility, grace, and overall fitness, while also allowing participants the opportunity to hone the mind's problem-solving abilities. It is easily learned and practiced by both young and old, men and women, boys and girls. It has even been molded to fit the needs of the blind and individuals using wheelchairs. This is truly a sport for everyone. The Art and Science of Fencing covers everything from the history of the sport to the specifics of fencing technique, including the psychology of fencing, types of fencing weapons, biographies of great fencers, and information on selecting a fencing school and getting started in the sport. This book is a necessity for everyone who's ever seen an Errol Flynn movie and thought "Hey, that could be me!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (78)

Beyond Technique
Nick Evangelista proves that he is a true master on the subject of fencing. Not only does he know the techniques and "little tricks" which may make an ordinary fencer an extraordinary fencer (he even has advice for a "Southpaw", like myself), he understands to enrich his text with background stories from fencing history, and anecdotes from his own career which make the book very readable and a rounded resource for anyone's fencing library. I could not put it down, once started. As it is always difficult to describe physical movements in words without losing the reader in the process, this, too is sometimes difficult to understand in Evangelista's book, and some passages need to be re-read over and over to make sense, and to allow the reader to form a mental picture of these intricate movements. I even went so far as to have his book open, next to me as I executed some of his described moves against a pell. His descriptions are true to form and complete in the manner of execution. Evangelista is a self-confessed traditionalist of my own liking. As with my own schooling in my professional career, he advocates old-fashioned, thorough training, starting with the basics and progressing only to the next level once the lower tasks have been mastered. In our world of instant gratification we are all too soon pressured to partake in "exciting" sparring bouts, which fencing schools need to encourage to keep their students interested (and paying). Evangelista states categorically that this will lead only to the formation of bad habits and sloppy techniques. I couldn't agree more! This is a great book for the beginning and intermediate fencer.

A Thoughtful and Informative Guide to Fencing
Nick Evanglista's The Art and Science of Fencing is thoughtful, informed view on the world of fencing. His book inspired me to try the French grip which I have used ever since. After reading it twice, I often randomly pick it up and just read through a few topics to keep my mind fresh. While I believe that some of Evanglista's views are a little harsh, his core principles ring true and I have learned many things from reading his book. I would recommend this book to any fencer with over a year of experience.

A good overview of classical fencing teqniques
This book provides an excellent overview of classical fencing techniques.
The biggest flaw in this tome is the bias of the author to the "French" school of classical fencing...however, as this bias is clearly and repeatedly stated, there is no conflict.
As a beginner fencer myself, I found this book essential to developing practical skills as well as an understanding of the finer points of the sport.

Dull, not for advanced students
Not a technical book at all, but rather a poorly organized essay on the author's personal philosophy. For fencing history, try "By the Sword" by Richard Cohen. For technical instruction and better photos, try "Foil, Sabre, and Epee Fencing" by Garret, Kaidanov, and Pezza.

Best intro. fencing book I've read
This book offered a detailed overview of a variety of fencing concepts. It was both informative and enjoyable to read. I definitely recommend this book for beginning fencers or those who might be interested in the pursuit. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

klasse Buch

An dieser Arbeit gibt es nichts auszusetzen, was einen Sternverlust rechtfertigen würde. Der Text ist wirklich einfach und die Zeichnungen sind klar. Das Grundkonzept des Säbelfechtens ist hier gut nachvollziehbar. Nur trainieren muss man noch allein.

A great discussion on classical sabre
This was a great read. I loved how the author described the pommel of the weapon as the pUmmel because when someone foolishly closes you use it to pummel them with it to teach them their proper distance. It is a great discussion on late 19th century fencing.

Most Excellent.
Well, as the title suggests, i was most impressed with this little gem. Mr. Hutton clearly knew his stuff, not only as a fencer but as a teacher as well. the book is divided into clear sections arranged in a logical sequence. first the basics (in which one is shown the correct manner of holding the sword, the basic stances, strikes and parries), then paired drills, then the fancy techniques (including a rather amusing description of how to properly smack someone with the pommel).
The written descriptions of the moves and techniques are generally quite clear and comprehensible, and usually accompanied by illustrated plates (though having to flip for five pages between description and plate can get a little annoying).
a word of warning for the enthusiastic, though: Mr. Hutton assumes the reader to have a basic knowledge of fencing forms and terminology before going into the exercises in his book. nothing particularly hard to find online, but it is worth mentioning.
so, to sum up, this is an excellent book for anyone with an interest in real, battle-tested, non-sport fencing, and i highly reccomend it.

Very good manuel for saber
This book is a straight forward manual on training to use a saber.That means there is little to no historical stories and no nice chit chat on the personal belief of the author.From the first chapter we are thrown straight into grip of the saber to the guards and to the basic cuts.

A saber fencer should have no problem understanding and picking up many techniques and exercises that is given.A Foil or Epee fencer should be able to quickly pick up much of what is written and learn much of saber techniques.A non-fencer might have trouble remembering all the numbers attached to the cuts and parries, but the book has good illustrations and the writing explains things well enough for even a beginner to pick up quite a bit from this book. (although it'll be hard to tell whether you are applying the techniques correctly without a properly trained fencer to fence against you)

Not for sport fencers; this is sabre as a weapon
And a lot of other great stuff.

Much as Domenico Angelo's classic,The School of Fencing: With a General Explanation of the Principal Attitudes and Positions Peculiar to the Art did for the small sword, Hutton provides the one essential work on combative use of the sabre.He lays out a comprehensive yet straight forward series of lesson plans with detailed guidance on how to gain copetence with the sabre.I particularly liked his comments on the importance of the return or reposte."[The riposte] is the most brilliant stroke a swordsman can make, since in making it he demonstrates his command of nerve...his activity... and his judgment".Too true, and relevant even to sport fencers.Also excellent are the dills, including blindfolded drills for developing 'sentiment du fer' or the feel of the sword.

Along with lessons for the sabre, Hutton includes instruction on the two-handed sword that is hidden within his section on the Great Stick (5' stick).Most of the movements are straight out of the height of two-handed sword fighting a couple of centuries earlier, and equally applicable to European two-handed swords and the katana, the Japanese two-handed sword (or Jedi sword play even...)

He also discusses knife fighting and the use of the 'truncheon', the baton or blackjack, in clear and accessible, though somewhat antiquated terms.

In short, brilliant.Hutton's work is a timeless addition to any fencer's or martial artists library and a 'must read' for classical Western fencers and students of the two-handed sword (of any lineage).For sport fencers, the drills may seem of questionable relevance at first, but mastery of these classical drills will only improve your competitive skills, especially with the new rulings about touches on the underside of the arm not having priority.

Great stuff, I can't recommend it highly enough.

E. M. Van Court ... Read more

Product Description
A manuel of the movements necessary to master the art of fencing. ... Read more

Product Description
Anyone who wishes to learn the sport of fencing will find the basic elements necessary to begin in Foil, Saber, and Épée Fencing. The already accomplished fencer will find the answers to methodology and strategies by which to overcome one's opponent in tournament play. The coach and teacher is herein presented with lesson plans by which to chart a student's progress. The administrator is advised of the safety factors and range of liability to consider while incorporating fencing into a sports program. Three eminent coaches, each with a wide range of international experience, present their methods of teaching, which are compatible for the student choosing to learn the skills necessary in more than one weapon. Excellent photographs and diagrams illustrate the concepts, and an extensive annotated bibliography provides the reader with a wide selection of research materials. Late in the summer of 1993 new rule changes were adopted by the United States Fencing Association. These changes, which go into effect with the start of the 1993-94 fencing season, are included in this manual.Foil, Saber, and Épée Fencing. also traces the transition of the art of duelling from the combat arena to the sports arena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great for beginners
I've always been intrigued by the sport of fencing, and wanting to fill in the gaps of the classical education I always wanted (but never had), this seemed like a logical place to begin.As a novice, I found _Foil, Saber, and Epee Fencing_ a treasure-trove of information - at times, it was almost too much.

I was particularly impressed with the way in which the authors broke down the sport: beginning with a bit of history, the equipment, scoring and rules of fencing are then introduced.In a similar manner, every detail of learning to fence is presented, from how to hold the foil to proper body positioning, to the skills and movements basic to fencing.Photos and diagrams further clarify the proper way to stand, lunge, attack, defend and disengage.

Of course, there is a vast difference between "theory" and "practice" - hence the four stars.While the authors do a remarkable job of illustrating and explaining the art of fencing, it simply isn't the same as being personally instructed by a fencing master.The more "advanced" techniques and strategy included in the book were frankly above my head at this point; one assumes that with time and practice their utility will be better appreciated.The final chapters on officiating and conducting tournaments were similarly of little practical use to me as a novice.Nonetheless, it does serve to bring the lesson full circle from absolute neophyte to master instructing others.

For those seeking an solid and helpful guide in addition to formal instruction, I highly recommend this book.As a stand-alone guide, I wouldn't recommend.Those with previous experience in the sportwill undoubtedly find it less useful (unless, of course, advice is sought on coaching or officiating.)

A good book for beginners...
This book is a good general overview of the "sport" of fencing (as opposed to the "art" of classical fencing) that any beginner would do well to read.There are many classical fencers out there (myself included) that can find several faults in this work, such as pictures displaying bad fencing form, diagrams showing inefficient parries, etc.This book, however, does not really concentrate on this area of fencing; instead, it covers all of the basics that every sport fencer should know.As a past competitive fencer myself, I would recommend this book to any present or aspiring competitive fencer who desires to attain a broad knowledge of the sport itself, the varying techniques involved, the conventions involved in a fencing tournament, and other assorted general knowledge that every fencer really should know.This book would also be considerably helpful to newer or not-yet-begun fencing clubs (especially college fencing clubs), as it provides not only helpful lesson plans for many of the techniques it covers, but also chapters on officiating, hosting and running fencing tournaments, and legal matters that must be considered by clubs and hosts of tournaments.These chapters in particular can help a club to start off well, keep running smoothly, and avoid later problems (especially legal problems) that all-too-often occur because they were not a consideration in the beginning. All in all, this is a good start-up book for beginning individuals and clubs, and as long as you can ignore many of the (unfortunately) misleading pictures and diagrams, the text is quite accurate and well thought out.

AVALUABLE TOOL FOR THE SPORT FENCER
A while back I gave this book only a so-so review, but, on reflection, have since changed my mind. This book will appeal to many in the fencing world today, those with a mindset geared specifically toward the active competitive arena, and therefore should be considered a valuable source of information for that purpose. While I happen to lean toward a more classical approach to fencing than this book professes, that is not important to this review. I recognize that many do not share my opinions about fencing (I am the author of "The Art and Science of Fencing" and "The Inner Game of Fencing"), and that's fine. There should, of course, be books detailing all aspects of fencing. This book is the best of its kind.

Aspiring Coaches: There are two fencing books you should own
And this book is one of them.(The other is Fencing and the Master, by Laszlo Szabo)

I have read many of the different fencing books on the market, and these two are the only that provide both logical structure anduseful content.As one other reviewer has astutely pointed out, theauthors have themselves produced many national champions, team champions,and olympic team members.

This book may be a bit pricey, but it isworth the money compared with the other books out there.The old sayingholds true: "you get what you pay for."

As an epee fencer, Ihave to say that the section on epee is very well written.I have noticedthat, in many fencing books, the author will only spend a page or twodescribing epee tactics/technique/theory.Usually, the theory consists ofa few rambling paragraphs.Epee is given a much better treatment here. For one thing, the description of epee footwork put into words what I hadtrying to describe to begining epee fencers for years.

Good photographstoo, especially the one of my friend Michael Feldschuh (with an astonishedGeorge Kolombotovich in the background) at the begining of the chapter onofficiating.Also, the "models" demonstrating fencing actions donot look awkward (as those in other books often do).

In short, if you area competitor, borrow it.If you want to become a coach, buy it andmemorize it.

Probably the best text on modern fencing available
The famous Italian fencer, Aldo Nadi, gave the following advice(paraphrased) to those looking for a fencing master:"Ask him howmany national champions and how many Olympic champions he hastaught."

The authors of this book have long, distinguished recordsof training American individual and team champions--something that cannotbe said for most other authors of fencing books--especially those who claimconnection with "classical" or "traditional"schools.

No book can replace a great master, but this book offers soundbackground on modern fencing, and provides varied, directed drills thatwill improve anyone's fencing.It is long on practice, and short on thetiresome, windy opinions one finds in the books of those who do not likecontemporary fencing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

An excellent primer
Gaugler's book on the Science of Fencing is an excellent primer for fencing students and coaches, and is a superb work on basic fencing actions and helps to illustrate to newer fencers good fencing technique.For coaches, this reinforces what should be taught and what the coach should keep an eye on when working with fencers.Which is very helpful in teaching the basics as well as simply reinforcing good technique.

The book is primarily broken into 3 different sections, one for each of the three different weapons.Each section of the book covers basic technique for each of the weapons, talking about target area and basic lines of attack as well as the parries.Even the basics of holding the weapon are covered, to ensure that a proper grip is reinforced for the fencer.Each section also has several prictures (of Gaugler and his students) to demonstrate some of the fencing actions.This helps to understand some of the more complicated actions, as well as blade positions.

Overall, this ensures that the technique that Gaugler is discussing is adequately explained and that the reader can get what is going on here.As a coach, I've found the text to be invaluable for drills, whether it be for beginning fencers or more experienced fencers.Reading the text gives a coach or advanced fencers some areas to explore by using the drills presented as a jumping off point for other drills.

Some of the critics have found one of the following faults with the book:

Firstly, it is too focused on the Italian school.Gaugler makes no excuse for this, and himself mentions that the focus of the book is training in the Italian school; afterall, that's what he says he was trained in.So, you know what you are getting into from the beginning.And, speaking as someone who has read Vass, learning about the Italian school and gaining an understanding of that system is not a bad thing.

Secondly, it is too basic in nature.This is not meant to be an exhaustive text on fencing and tactics.In fact, I would be wary of any book that promises that, as fencing tactics is a difficult subject to cover (and strongly biased depending on your focus).Instead, it reinforces the basics and technique that all fencers should be well grounded in.Even as an advanced fencer, I find myself more focused on practicing the basics and reinforcing good fencing technique first; then reflecting on tactics later on.

Thirdly, the book is too dated.Gaugler is admitedly a historical fencer.As such his book is not geared towards competitive fencing.He does not decry competitive fencing (as some do), just that is not his focus.That being said, even competitive fencers should be able to learn something from his books.Certainly it will not focus on the what is applicable on the piste in a close bout, but it gives enough good technique that competitive fencers should come back to this for their drills and continuing development.

Overall, I've found the book to be an excellent resource and one that I recommend to fencers interested in learning more.The book can be a tough read though, and if you are not familiar with the Italian school it is also difficult to translate the lessons into something that may be more readily grasped (most fencing in the US is based on the French school, and there are big gaps between the Italian and French schools).But, if you can make the jump, then this book is an invaluable guide that can be used by fencers and coaches.

Strong medicine for American fencers' chronic impotence
Trained by self-made "coaches" contemptuous of formal teacher training, it should come as no surprise that American fencers have seen no Olympic Gold in an entire century.Ask them what thrusts or feints are to be used in blade seizure, how to oppose an action in countertime, or which counterattacks can be executed with priority and you'll get a blank stare.Their "coaches" will defiantly insist, "That's old-fashioned, we don't do that any more."Well, perhaps they don't, but it's clear that American fencers' eminently successful European adversaries, prepared with a strong foundation in classical fencing theory and technique, know better.In the United States the one resource that holds the key to success is Dr. William M. Gaugler's "The Science of Fencing."Based upon the works of Parise, Pessina and Pignotti, its importance is not overlooked by the Germans, Austrians, and Swiss who now use the German edition.In Italy the Italian edition is widely employed, while Gaugler's"Dictionary of Universally Used Fencing Terminology" and "The History of Fencing" are required reading for all candidates who hope to become fencing masters.For those fencing either solely for recreation or with serious Olympic aspirations, this book is indisensable.

Not for modern fencing
This book has little useful information relating to the modern sport.Absolutely NO attention is paid to the rules, concepts of right-of-way, or direction.The book spends all its time on the mechanics of movements with no attention paid to tactics.Furthermore, figures are sparse, and few illustrations are present to detail the evolution of the movements.The book uses the Italian hand positions rather than the easier to understand and more prevalent (in my experience) French numbering.Too much attention is paid to relaxed, exhibitionist movements rather than the overall goal: to score touches and win.Finally, the preference for all things Italian is excessive and unhelpful with insufficient translation.

This is an excellent book for those not serious about or have no interest in competition.Do not buy this book otherwise as it is useless to you.

Centuries worth of fencing knowledge
This is an amazingly complete work on Italian fencing actions and theory written for both student and instructor.It is clear Maestro Gaugler has done exhaustive work collecting and translating works from the last three to four centuries in order to write this compilation.The actions and theory presented here are still being taught in Italy and the U.S.For foil, sabre, and epee, information provided in this book includes:the classical guard and lunge, simple attacks, parry and riposting actions, compound and circular attacks, cut-overs, actions on the blade, counteroffensive actions, actions in time, and fencing tactics.

Any serious fencer should be anchored to the foundations of fencing by exploring classical styles.This book may seem wordy, but it is necessary to describe the actions correctly so that one can effectively practice what ultimately must be felt "in hand" on the strip.A number of the advanced actions revealed by Maestro Gaugler are particularly effective against sport fencers who have never been taught or exposed to this breadth of work.If you aren't a fencing instructor, you don't necessarily need to pour over the synoptic tables, but they do reveal how a fencing phrase can progress with your opponent from the given offensive action.For teachers, the tables and sample lessons provide a wealth of offensive, defensive, and counteroffensive actions that can be used to develop your own lessons.

zero relevace to the modern sport
I bought all this author's books... zip on the useful info. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Possesses merit
But over-hyped and a bit out of date.

What's good:
-A great degree of detail and thoroughness.Nadi meticuluously develops each concept and writes clearly enough that the concepts can be grasped from the text.
-The emphasis on form is important, and Nadi makes it clear that form matters.
-The text is well structured and organized, so a fencer can quickly refer to the things he or she wants to work on.
-The emphasis on good fencing manners.As long as there really is respect, "excessive manners" is not possible.Modern American sport fencers can be sloppy about good manners, but when the coaches don't correct them, that rankles.If a fencer takes nothing else away from Nadi, manners matter.

What's not so good:
-Nadi is a big advocate of Nadi.Yes, he was a great fencer, yes, he won again and again, yes, he fought in a 'real' duel.These things make him a great fencer, but don't contribute to the clarity of his prose.
-Nadi spends a lot of time discussing the management of an Italian foil with a crossbar, and the use of the wrist strap.Neither are in common usage today, and the wrist strap wasn't relevant to the management of the sword prior the obsolesence of the sword in the early 1800s.This piece of the book detracts from the merits of the rest of the book.
-Although Nadi extolls fencing as a pursuit for anyone, he possessed a rare physique (over 6' and about 130 lbs) but ideal for sport fencing.Discussion of alternate approaches for those of us with less than ideal physiques for fencing would have been very welcome.

I got as much out of either Dominico Angelo or Bazancourt's books.Nadi is great for an experience sport fencer, but shouldn't be the first text for anyone, and probably would be wasted on inexperienced or classical fencers.

An Essential Fencing Student Primer!
Aldo Nadi was an undefeated World Professional Fencing Champion.Know that many fencing instructors consider Nadi to be the consumate Master of sport.

Aldo Nadi places his many decades of fencing instruction into text form for all of us to use and enjoy.He provides the reader with his "secrets" gleaned through his fencing education, techniques, and learned and natural talents.

In this book, Nadi states that "teaching fencing is much more difficult than might be generally supposed."He then launches into a treatise of the history of the sword, the importance of footwork, the lunge, proper attack techniques, parry-ripostes, counterattacks, and much more.

I feel that this book is a model of fencing instruction, that is devoted to the sport, nay art, of fencing.Nadi's insights into the "psychology of combat" are revealing of the authority to which he speaks through his instructions.

The reader will find this text very easy to understand and incorporate into their personal fencing regimen.For novice or advanced fencers, this book is a must read!What else needs to be said.This is a great instructional/tutorial text.Superb!Five stars.

Invaluable
I fenced for 8 years before I read this book and ONLY THEN did I truly understand how to lunge.Aldo Nadi's technique and approach to fencing is incredible and timelessly effective.No fencer can afford not to read this book.

Aldo teaches the italian system, emphasizing the italian foil for bladework.However, his techniques are easily adapted to the modern orthopedic grips and will catapult you far beyond those who haven't read this book.

There are rarer and more lenghty texts, but Nadi's book is the standard by whch all others are measured against.again, no fencer should be without this book.

Brilliant
Excellent book. My experience is not in fencing. Nonetheless, Nadi's book can be applied to most martial arts.
What I found most interesting were Nadi's views on training and mindset.

The chapters "Intro", "Pre-Combat Exercises" "Combat Exercises" and "Competition" are among the best martial arts advice-on the topics-- I've read.


Antonio Bustillo

This book should be read by every fencer.
If you have ever participated in the magnificent art of fencing at any point in your life, you should read this book.If you are a serious student of fencing, no matter what style or school of fence you practice, you should own this book.Even if you have not fenced before, despite the highly technical nature of much of this book, it can give you an excellent insight into the fencer's world and, in particular, into the mind and life of one of the greatest fencers who ever lived.On Fencing contains a wealth of knowledge that only a true master could possibly hope to attain, and Aldo Nadi does an excellent job of not only explaining his fencing style, but also telling a story of honor, danger and romance that is, in a word, fencing.This work superbly illustrates to anyone who reads it the pure passion that many fencers actually (or at least hopefully) feel for their art.True, this book was written many years ago.True, Aldo Nadi was of a different build than many of the fencers now out there who may read this book.Also true, fencing in Nadi's time was quite different from what we now call "fencing."These truths, however often they and other "faults" are pointed out by some of Nadi's critics, are in fact irrelevant to the true art of fencing; any serious fencer with good training and enough experience can tell you that size, age, build, etc. are not a consideration in an art that relies more on mental alertness and skill than it ever will on size or strength.What Nadi does in this book is to point out exactly this fact, and to engulf the reader in a world where there is still honor, where fencing is still given the respect it deserves, and where anybody, man, woman or child can learn an art in which everyone has an equal chance of success.If nothing else, this book is a fascinating read from a time long gone, in which the teachings given are as useful and true now as they were then.This book should be cherished by every true fencer. Note: Aldo Nadi was a classically trained Italian fencer.To those not familiar with the Italian style of fence, it is highly recomended that you read The Science of Fencing by Maestro William M. Gaugler for better understanding. ... Read more

Product Description
Camillo Agrippa's widely influential "Treatise on the Science of Arms" was a turning point in the history of fencing. The author - an engineer by trade and not a professional master of arms - was able to radically re-imagine teaching the art of fencing. Agrippa's treatise is the fundamental text of Western swordsmanship. Just as earlier swordsmanship can be better understood from Agrippa's critiques, so too was his book the starting point for the rapier era. Every other treatise of the early-modern period had to deal explicitly or implicitly with Agrippa's startling transformation of the art and science of self-defense with the sword. Likewise, all of the fundamental ideas that are still used today - distance, time, line, blade opposition, counterattacks and countertime - are expressed in this paradigm-shifting treatise. This is a work that should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the history, practice or teaching of fencing. His treatise was also a microcosm of sixteenth-century thought. It examines the art, reduces it to its very principles, and reconstructs it according to a way of thinking that incorporated new concepts of art, science and philosophy. Contained within this handy volume are concrete examples of a new questioning of received wisdom and a turn toward empirical proofs, hallmarks of the Enlightenment. The treatise also presents evidence for a redefinition of elite masculinity in the wake of the military revolution of the sixteenth century. At the same time, is offers suggestive clues to the place of the hermetic tradition in the early-modern intellectual life and its implications for the origins of modern science. Camillo Agrippa's "Treatise on the Science of Arms" was first published in Rome in 1553 by the papal printer Antonio Blado. The original treatise was illustrated with 67 engravings that belong to the peak of Renaissance design. They are reproduced here in full. "Mondschein has at last made available to English-speaking readers one of the most important texts in the history of European martial arts. Agrippa marks a turning point in the intellectual history of these arts.... Mondschein's introduction to his work helps the reader understand Agrippa - and the martial practices themselves - as pivotal agents in the evolving cultural and intellectual systems of the sixteenth century. 
Above all, Mondschein's translation is refreshingly clean and idiomatic, rendering the systematic clarity of the Italian original into equally clear modern English - evidence of the author's familiarity with modern fencing and understanding of the physical realities that his author is trying to express. Mondschein's contextualization of his topic points the way for future scholarly exploration, and his translation will doubtless be valued by both students of cultural history and practitioners of modern sword arts." - Dr. Jeffrey L. Forgeng, 
Paul S. Morgan Curator -Higgins Armory Museum, 
Adj. Assoc. Prof. of Humanities, 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute First English translation. Hardcover, 234 pages, 67 illustrations, introduction, bibliography, glossary, appendix, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Add this to your historical fencing library!
This is a great book. The introduction alone is worth a read. A detailed description of the world that created the duelist mentality. Agrippa's style is fascinating. It is a bit difficult to follow at times since he sometimes refers to previously described techniques by letter. The illustrations are spectacular. Agrippa's use of geometry to describe techniques is great. A note to the squeamish: there are drawings naked men fighting with swords. This should not bother people that are truly interested in historical swordsmanship, but you get funny looks when reading it in your lunch room at work. A dust jacket might be a good idea on the city bus.

The intro alone is worth the purchase price
One of the best of rapier manuals...but it's the introduction that sets this book above the others.It's a tour-de-force of history, placing Agrippa in his milieu at the cutting edge of the Renaissance.Outstanding.

Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa... which I have
And once you've read this book, you too will be able to say this.

Both sections of this book, the background material; introduction and translator's notes, and the body of the translation are enormously rewarding.

The first half of the book is an incredibly well researched and detailed body of background material that provides essential context for the twenty-first century reader.Art, science, tactics, culture, occult, and egos all shaped Agrippa's work and later perceptions of it.The author does an excellent job of addressing points brought up by critics over the centuries.At the same time, the relevance of Renaissance artistic styles, engineering, occultism and geometry are all addressed in appropriate detail for a reader looking at one of the landmarks of fencing for the first time.

The second half of the book is the actual translation of Camillo Agrippa's "Trattato di Scientia d'Arme".The translator, Ken Mondschein, avoids the Italian epithet, "traduttore, traditore" ('the translator is a traitor').Clearly, tremendous effort went into preservation of the spirit and details of Agrippa's revolutionary (for the time) work.Agrippa was, by trade, an engineer in a time when any man of social standing went armed and was prepared to redress insults with swords.Having spent some time in the company of engineers, I believe this work was the product of an engineer by vocation, who turned his gifts to the practice of fencing.The use of geometry, the efficency of technique, the innovation (the lunge is first identified in Agrippa) all support the historical record of Agrippa as an engineer rather than fencer who dabbled in geometry and literature.Most of the techniques are illustrated with rapier and a parrying dagger.This is interesting as Agrippa barely addresses the off-hand weapon, and remains focused on the rapier through most of the book.The work begins with the basic guards (four, when other schools used more), discusses the math behind the lunge, then goes into technique.Mostly sword technique, but at the end there is some attention paid to disarming and other weapons.

Needless to say, the lungeis the highlight.Previously, attacks had been driven by simpler footwork and despite Capo Ferro's efforts to emphasize the point, was often based on cuts more than thrusts.Of course today, the lunge is the essential technique with foil and epee, so Agrippa's analysis of fencing and the sword appears to have been borne out.To understand how we got to where we are today can only benefit a modern fencer.This book addresses one of the essential elements fencing that has stood over four hundred years of testing.

Whether a historian of the Renaissance, a modern fencer, or a student of the origins of engineering (or a fan of The Princess Bride) this book will be a worthy investment of time and effort.

Edward M. Van Court

P.S.Re: the quotes from The Princess Bride about Capo Ferro, Thibault, and Agrippa; they raise good points.Really.

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Product Description
Monsieur L'Abbat was a French author and a Fencing Master at the Academy of Toulouse in France in the late seventeenth century. He was the author of the first comprehensive study of theart of fencing entitled Questions Sur L'Art En Fait D'Armes, which was first translated into English by Andrew Mahon in 1734 and called, The Art of Fencing, or, The Use of the Small Sword. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

eine solide Arbeit

L`Abbat hat hier ein Werk geschaffen, was sich mit dem der Gebrüder Angelo vergleichen lassen muss. Da kann L`Abbat nicht ganz mithalten. Auch wenn es sich hierbei um eine recht klare Fechthandschrift handelt und der Autor einige Jahrzehnte vor den Angelos gewirkt hat, fehlen mir zum Beispiel die glasklaren Grafiken anderer Werke. Es gibt einige Bücher zu diesem Thema, die gründlicher abgehandelt und qualitativ besser aufgemacht wurden und sind. Daher nur vier Sterne von mir.

Historically important, generally sound
This is one on the earlier texts on the use of the small sword, with techniques that are generally recognizable as foil or epee techniques.Yes, there are references to parrying with the empty hand, but the guard, parries, footwork, and attacks are clearly dominant antecedents of the point arms of modern sport fencing.

The illustrations are generally clear and helpful, the text was translated from French in the early Eighteenth Century, but is very readable despite this.Not as comprehensive as Domenico Angelo's The School of Fencing: With a General Explanation of the Principal Attitudes and Positions Peculiar to the Art (published about thirty years after L'Abbat, in 1763), this book still lays down a basic and sound framework for the management of the small sword.The discipline of fencing had a ways to go at that point.With scholarship like this as a foundation, it is easy to see how it matured fairly rapidly in that period.

By itself it is a mildly interesting but basic text on smallsword fencing, but in the context of the development of fencing, this is a priceless addition to a student's understanding of the sequence of developments and innovations in fencing.

Don't get it as a first book on fencing, don't get it as a "how to" but it is an essential piece of the development of the art of fencing.

E. M. Van Court ... Read more

Product Description
This work, with its child appropriate uncomplicated text and motivating illustrations, was written for a child's hand. By inviting the child to complete individual tasks, to solve puzzles, to answer questions and to complete drawings, the book achieves the feel of a workbook. The little cartoon character "Foily" accompanies the reader throughout the book, as he offers tips and invites the child to practice independently. The contents correspond to the most basic level of fencing training. It is intended as a teaching tool for fencing instructors and trainers, to help promote understanding of the sport of fencing with the fencing students, and to improve independence in training. For the parents of fencing children it is an important motivational companion to fencing instruction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Learning Fencing
At last a great book for kids and their parents, that gives the reader clear information regarding the Olympic sport of Fencing. Orignally written for young German fencers, the information and approach is very approriate for kids in the States. The little figure "foily" guides us through the beginning steps of learning how to fence. A wonderful read as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Bible of fencing
The Bible on fencing. The most complete and comprehensive guide to strategy and tactics of fencing I have ever come across. This classic will appeal mostly to serious practitioners of the art, who will appreciate thedepth and intricacy of C.L. de Beaumont's discussions on swordplay. Allthree weapons are covered along with principles of offense, defense,counter-offense, similar and distinct for all three weapons. Each type ofstroke is dealt with, not only in the ways to do them but with variousconsiderations such as timing, circumstance, rationale, appropriacy. Also,copious guidelines for honing practice and aims for developing high-calibreproficiency. If you have read Roger Crosnier's books (out of print) ontactics, this book goes much beyond that. A very business-like treatment offencing, where tactics and strategies are dissected and analyzed in minutedetail. A definite must for serious fencers. ... Read more

Product Description
From critically acclaimed author of The Meadow comes a haunting novel of the American West.

Circumstances spiral out of control when an accidental murder springs from the best intentions.With one man dead and another on the run, this is a story about violence and how it destroys lives when the land is at stake.This lyrical first novel--long-awaited by the many admirers of James Galvin's The Meadow--is nothing less than the story of the disappearance of the American West.
Amazon.com Review
James Galvin opens his first novel with a shocking, seeminglyinexplicable murder--horseman Mike Arans closes on a pistol-packingmotorist named Merriwether Snipes, throws a rope and snaps hisneck--and then proceeds to illuminate why it happened, what it means,and how Mike deals with the consequences. Though billed as a novel,Fencing the Sky is in fact a more deeply fictionalizedcontinuation of TheMeadow, Galvin's partly historic, partly imagined evocation ofa way of life that took hold on an upland Wyoming ranch for a centuryand then blew away.

If The Meadow is elegiac, Fencing the Sky is angry andblackly humorous. This is the grim, greedy '90s, when swaggeringdevelopers like Merriwether Snipes ride the range in their ATV's,carving up the old homesteads into 40-acre ranchettes and making lifehell for the few decent people who remain. Galvin makes three of theseholdouts his heroes--Oscar Rose, who supports a cattle habit (andfamily) by working as a vet; Adkisson Trent, a doctor who inheritedfrom his father a spectacular spread and a penchant for proudsolitude; and Arans, the renegade, who fled from New Jersey to becomea cowboy. The heat of the book rises from the connections and passionsof these men--their women and work troubles, their unspoken bond witheach other, their fury at Snipes and everything he represents.

Galvin, a poet, has assembled his narrative out of vivid shards, yet,despite the jump-cuts, this is an old-fashioned novel at heart, withheroes and villains, heartbreak and suspense, and characters so realyou want to ride out and shake hands. The same themes, the sameimagery, the same equine adoration crop up in Cormac McCarthy andLarry McMurtry, but Galvin has a lighter touch, eschewing myth for theminute particulars of hard work and hard luck in a singlecommunity. Galvin can also crack a good joke, even though he knows aswell as anyone that there's not a lot to laugh about under the big skythese days. --David Laskin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Should'a been 5 Stars
I have a rule, or, rather, a practice of reading paperbacks and, if I find the book to be one that I know I will want to revisit repeatedly, and recommend to friends, I then buy the book in hardcover.When I was about three quarters of the way through Fencing the Sky I went to Amazon and ordered it in hardcover.Last night, when I finished it, I tried to cancel the order.

The author has a rare gift:he is able to make the reader feel the places, know the people, and understand both in a way that draws her or him into the reality of the modern, aging west.There are imperfect heroes and awkward villains, depicted in a way that causes the reader to want to know, to confront, both.All of this wrapped in a story that caused me, at least, to need to see the past that had formed the characters and led to the events that the ending would bring.

Which brings me to the ending, and to the reason I won't keep a hardcover copy of this book.All I'll say is that a character that I had come to know, to understand, and to relate to because of how well the author had captured the spirit, mores, and outlook of real westerners, suddenly and jarringly acts out of character.From there, a poorly constructed ending emerged.

It's worth reading, but it should have been worth buying in hardcover.

A new perspective
Being from New Jersey, and having a log cabin in upstate NY where I feel I have my own little piece of paradise, this book was a shot to the gut.

When rich city folk buy up most of the unclaimed land out west, and disrespect that land by tearing it up with dirtbikes and ATV's, and spook the cattle and make life hard for the ranchers who have lived there and made livings the hard, good ol' way, it made me change the way I felt about my own cabin. Seeing and feeling how disrespectful these newcomers were is greatly felt through the characters we get to know in this book.

Told through a series of flashbacks while our protagonist is fleeing from the law on horseback, we come to know and love the fugitive who was only standing up for his own moral rights. While this is the main outline for the plot, the deeper, real intention is the abuse the government forced upon landowners and ranchers in the west, claiming rights to dig up land regardless of ownership.

Overall, a sad story that hits home with impact and gives you chills as you turn the last few pages. I particularly enjoyed the last quarter of the book the most. Please read and try to understand the loss many landowners out west feel about the destruction of good land, turned into a 'wilderness escape' for wealthy personel.

But what a preposterous ending!
I love Wyoming, and Galvin brought me to tears more than once with his loving and poetic descriptions of the land, the people who want to protect it, and his indictment ofhorrible Takers and Users who see only dollar signs in that beauty.

Galvin's message about the land and the Wyoming rancher's fading way of life should be read and treasured.But stop reading this book when you reach Page 235. I wish I had.

PS:or read Galvin's beautiful "The Meadow," also about the Medicine Bow area.Its characters are the people who lived there (composites of them are in "Fencing"), and while the ending is sad, it's believable.

Brilliant Book
Exceptional book, beautifully written, powerful story. I've bought as a gift for others many times.

Excellent story, wrong hero
There is no denying that Galvin has weaved an excellent tale in this book.His writing and the story are excellent.You want to know more with each snippet of the story regarding what's going to happen. Even though the scene's change and you don't really want them to change, you are thrilled when they do change because each part of the story is very captivating.The only exception to this is the end of the story. I won't say what happened, but the end read to me as though Galvin got a call from his publisher saying, "Finish it or lose the contract."I felt myself having to totally suspend reality and belief at the end and in general thinking, "this just doesn't fit."

The major drawback to the story is that more often than not, I kept thinking that the hero in the story was missing.The person who is very clearly the 'hero' is not much more than a vigilante, and as such the glorifications of his actions are misplaced.Additionally, the story has as a general idea a lament for the loss of the small time rancher in Wyoming and Colorado.This is not a lament I share.The small time rancher in Wyoming has a great deal of political influence anddespite Galvin's depiction of them as hardworking honest folk who only want the best for the land, the political realities are often far from that depiction.

This is a book that will start conversations, especially if you are at all familiar with the current state of events in the Rocky Mountain region.By that standard alone this book does warrant five stars, but because I disagree so heavily with the thesis and because the ending is so poorly constructed, I have to give it four stars.

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Product Description
Fencing and the Master is abeloved, unique classic tatdistills the fencing wisdom of the twentieth century.

Of great and lasting value. -- Robert Scranton,President, USFCA The most complete book on the teaching andlearning of fencing I have ever read. -- Dick Oles, Head Coach,Johns Hopkins. More great coaches have stolen ideas from this bookthan any other!George Edward Kolombatovich, Fencing Coach,Columbia University.

Szabo's book lays out the tools and techniques of coaching, butmore than that, it opens up the heart and spirit of amaestro. Copiously illustrated. Supplemented with a discussion offencing terminology and with a new memoir of Szabo by his studentEugene Hamori, Olympic medalist, US sabre champion, and distinguishedcoach. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Must have for fencing coaches
Anybody who wants to learn fencing, as well as people who are looking for ways to become a coach should have this book in their library. It gives basic training techniques as well as tactics for combat situations.
Consider this "the bible" of fencing.

A complete guide for both master and fencer alike
My Hungarian master Laszlo Jakab, a personal friend of Laszlo Szabo, introduced this book to me as "The fencer's Bible". He continued telling me that within its pages were common faults that Masters shouldlook for and how to fix them. Master Szabo has in his book endeavoured toput in to writing his method of teaching. It a very thorough treatment ofthe subject matter. Within the scope of subjects covered is immense.Ranging from the master's obligations to his pupils, techniques forbuilding the correct fencing mussels, giving individual and group lessons(where to stand, how to give signals etc), a complete tactical system allthe way down to the basics of a correct guard stance.

My master can notspeak highly enough of this book and has integrated many parts of thecontents in to his own method of teaching and fencing. I myself feel thateven though some of the methods explained are now outdated (e.g. trainingwithout masks) the book offers great insight in to fencing at all levelsand should you wish to become a good coach this is the only book you willneed.

A distillation of a lifetime of wisdom
There are faults in this book, but they are mostly of production, illustrations in the wrong place and some clumsiness in the translation.

However, the content is excellent. Each topic is consideredin detail and there is a pleasing flow in development.

If you areintending to be a coach then this book is an essential adjunct to yourcoaching course. If you already are a coach then it offers a wealth ofmaterial to improve your coaching.

The best sabre drills you will ever find
This book has quite possibly the best and most comprehensive collection of sabre drills that I've ever come across in print. Also the discussions on the mental preparedness of both the student AND the master are extremelyworthwhile. If you are going to teach anyone how to fence, read andunderstand this book. If you are going to teach anyone to fence sabre,read, understand and constantly refer to this book!

Aspiring Coaches: THIS IS THE BOOK TO OWN
As an aspiring coach, I have read through many different books on fencing and fencing instruction.Only one other book (Foil, Sabre and Epee Fencing, by Garret et. al.) approaches the breadth, detail and clarity ofthis remarkable work.

Szabo not only describes exercises, drills andlesson plans for the fencing instructor -- he describes *how* to teachthem.His section on fencing theory, specifically the "tacticalwheel" and "tactical tree," is indispensible -- it is simplynot found in any other fencing book.Finally, the book is superblyillustrated: both with represenations of proper technique(and improper --so that coaches can recognize common errors in their students) and diagramsshowing the position of feet relative to the torso during footwork.

$30may be kinda steep, but it is cheaper than taking a plane flight to Hungaryfor participation in a week-long fencing instruction seminar (the next bestthing)

I did notice that a large portion of the book was dedicated tosabre, but then again, the author was primarily a sabre coach.

I could goon, but I think that if is suffice to say that any serious coach (i.e.hoping to have students with national results) should buy this book andcommit it to memory.You won't be sorry.

The book is also available frommajor fencing equipment suppliers (e.g. blade)

My opinions do not reflectin anyway those of my employer, Vault Reports ... Read more