Historical Fencing
Historical European Martial Arts in its Context
Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is based on reading source material to recreate the lost martial arts of Europe. While reading the treatises and performing depicted techniques helps understand HEMA, there is more to it. The sources were not written and illustrated in a vacuum, but rather in a rich and complicated world. Historical European Martial Arts in its Context places the sources in a time and place with details about single-combat, duels, tournaments, self-defense, war as well as the Masters and their treatises. Richard Marsden approaches the 'why' behind the treatises and delves into Europe's martial culture from the 14th through 18th century. HEMA is thus explored on the blood-soaked fields of battle, in the dark alleys of dangerous cities, and under the shade of trees where illicit duels might be fought.
The Polish Saber
Polish Saber - The use of the Polish Saber on foot in the 17th century covers the history, anecdotes and use of Poland's iconic weapon. In matters of honor and personal safety the saber was the Polish nobleman's choice of arms. The concept of the duel, the form and function of the weapon, as well as source material from Poland, Italy and Germany are blended together in an interpretation presented in full-color. The work is suitable for history enthusiasts, Historical European Martial Artists and re-creationists who wish to explore Poland's Commonwealth and the weapon that symbolized its nobility.
Bad Hema
As soon as someone picked up a weapon and tried to use it, someone else told them how they were doing it wrong. In BAD HEMA, Richard Marsden explores the criticisms and witticisms of historical fencing masters. With good humor, the masters' many complaints are analyzed as are their solutions to what they saw as bad fencing. Problems historical fencers deal with today were just as contentious in the past with such questions as; Is it better to cut or thrust? should I wait in guard? How can I tell who is a bad fighter? Is it safe to feint and void? Additionally, BAD HEMA has a modern section where Richard Marsden and the students and instructors of the Phoenix Society of Historical Swordsmanship provide positive advice for today's historical fencers to recognize and overcome bad habits. How can physical differences affect fencing? How should we approach sources? What core concepts do newer fencers struggle with? What mistakes are often made in cutting and sparring? By looking at the complaints of the past and advice from today, the revived arts of historical fencing will improve because we can't know what is good until we truly know what is bad.
The Flower of Battle: MS Ludwig XV13
Fiore dei Liberi was a weapons-master from Italy who was active in the 14th and early 15th century. After fifty years of training Italy's elite, he put his art to paper and created the Flower of Battle. The Flower of Battle covers unarmed combat, the use of the dagger, sword, spear, axe as well as fighting in armor, without and on horseback as well as other odds and ends. MS Ludwig XV 13 is the most complete surviving copy of Fiore's work and has been painstakingly translated by Colin Hatcher and formatted to be as close to the original as possible by Tracy Mellow in an effort to bring Fiore's work to the English-speaking world.
The Flower of Battle: MS Latin 11269
Fiore dei Liberi was a weapons-master from Italy who was active in the 14th and early 15th century. After fifty years of training Italy's elite, he put his art to paper and created the Flower of Battle. The Flower of Battle covers unarmed combat, the use of the dagger, sword, spear, axe as well as fighting in armor, without and on horseback as well as other odds and ends. MS Latin 11269 is a copy of the Flower of Battle in full color with Latin prose. The Latin has been translated by Benjamin Winnick and an interpretation provided by Richard Marsden in which brief explanations are provided as well as comparisons to the other copies of the Flower of Battle. The art has been restored by Henry Snider.