From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice: The Longsword Techniques of Fiore dei Liberi

by Guy Windsor

Overview

In From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice, renowned historical swordsman Guy Windsor demystifies one of the greatest martial arts books of all time, Fiore dei Liberi's Il Fior di Battaglia (The Flower of Battle).

In the late 14th century dei Liberi, an Italian knightly combat master, wrote Il Fior di Battaglia (The Flower of Battle). This magnificent, illustrated manuscript described how to fight on foot and on horseback, in armour and without, with sword, spear, pollax, dagger, or with no weapon at all.

Windsor spent the last twenty years studying Fiore's work and creating a modern practice of historical swordsmanship from it.

In this book, Windsor takes you through all of Fiore's longsword techniques on foot without armour. Each technique (or "play") is shown with the drawing from the treatise, Windsor's transcription and translation of the text, his commentary on how it fits into the system and works in practice, and a link to a video of the technique in action. The book also contains a detailed introduction describing Fiore's life and times, and extensive discussion of the contexts in which Fiore's art belongs.

From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice is essential reading for all martial artists and historians of the medieval and early Renaissance.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940166359520
Publisher:	Spada Press
Publication date:	05/01/2020
Sold by:	Draft2Digital
Format:	eBook
File size:	45 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

About this Book

Historical Context: The Who? Where? and When? of Fiore dei Liberi

The Fencing Context

The Four Versions of the Treatise

The "Table of Contents": The Structure of Il Fior di Battaglia

The Martial Context

What is a Longsword?

And why should you listen to me?

SWORD AGAINST DAGGER, AND DRAWING THE SWORD

The Dagger against the Sword

The Sword against the Dagger

Digression: Abrazare and Dagger

Digression: How Other Masters Draw the Sword

THE SWORD IN ONE HAND

The Master of the Sword in One Hand

The First Two Plays

The Third and Fourth Plays

The Fifth Play

The Sixth and Seventh Plays

The Eighth and Ninth Plays

The Tenth Play

The Eleventh Play

Thoughts on the Parry from the Left

Thoughts on the Sword in One Hand Section

MECHANICS: GRIPS, BLOWS, AND GUARDS

Footwork

Gripping the Sword

The Blows of the Sword

The 12 Guards

Posta di Tutta Porta di Ferro

Posta di Donna

Posta di Fenestra

Posta di Donna la Sinestra

Posta Longa

Posta di Mezana Porta di Ferro

Posta Breve

Posta di Dente di Zenghiaro

Posta di Coda Longa

Posta di Bicorno

Posta Frontale Ditta Corona

Posta di Dente Zenchiaro Mezana

Thoughts on the Mechanics Section

THE PLAYS OF THE ZOGHO LARGO

Freedom to Strike: a Lengthy Discussion of Largo and Stretto

The First Master of the Zogho Largo

The Second Master and the First Two Plays

Grab the Blade, Kick the Knee: Plays Three and Four

The Peasant's Blow, Plays Five and Six

Slipping the Leg, and a Kick to the Groin: Plays Seven and Eight

The Exchange of Thrusts: Plays Nine and Ten

Breaking the Thrust: Plays 11 to 16

Plays 15 and 16

Plays 17 and 18: the Punta Falsa

THE PLAYS OF THE ZOGHO STRETTO

The Crossing of the Swords and Plays One to Five

Plays Six and Seven

Plays Eight to Ten 281 Plays 11, 12, and 13

Plays 14, 15, and 16

Play 17

Play 18

Plays 19 to 23: the Disarms

Now Go Back to the Beginning

CONCLUDING REMARKS

GLOSSARY OF ITALIAN TERMS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FROM THE SAME AUTHOR

THANKS