Melchior's Reading list.

These are books or sites I have, use, and suggest, check'em out. If you see somthing here that you would like to study or use as reference, please contact me.

You can get a copy of the Free Scholars 'articles project' book at the link below. This is a compilation of various articles on and about the arte of fencing in these current middle ages. It has been available for some time in print form and is now available here for you to download and distribute as you see fit.

*Warning* this file is about 1.2megs, and for those of us on dial up, it will take about 7-8 minutes to download. Inside the .zip file is a .PDF which you will need Acrobat to view.

If you would like information on submitting an article contact me at melchior@houseblueheron.com

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Book of Five Rings : The Classic Guide to Strategy
(Go Rin No Sho)
Miyamoto Musashi: 1645
Japanese Swordsmanship, Psychology: this is one of those must read items for anybody that seriously plans to tackle the use of the sword, in all of its forms. Pick this one up if you get a chance.
Read it online

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Arte Dell Armi
Achille Marozzo: 1568
Download it here

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Arte of Defence: An Introduction to the Use of the Rapier
William Wilson: 2002
Italian Swordsmanship, SCA: This text gives an awesome introduction to the use of the rapier in the Italian school. Covers pointed thrust and cut/thrust technique. Also provides a fairly complete training system for the aspiring duelist. This is an execellent book if you're just starting, or even if you're a seasoned scarf, there is still much to learn from this book.
Buy It.

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Codex Wallerstein
Anonymous, Translated by Zabinski with Walczak: 1470/2002
Buy It

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Medieval Combat, Tallhoffer
Hans Talhoffer, Translated by Mark Rector : 1467/2000
Heavy Weapons: German fechtbuch which covers the use of the: long sword, long sword with spear, pole-axe, dueling shield, throated hooking shield, dagger, messer and the sword and buckler. Addresses combat with these weapons, wrestling and grappling while armored and un-armored. Great documentation.
Buy It

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Real Men dont Ware Shields
Duke Olaf Askoldsson (SCA)
Two Swords (Heavy weapons), conditioning: If you EVER plan to take up two sword heavy weapons you've got to read this book.
publication no longer available

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Renaissance Swordsmanship
John Clements: 1997
Generic Rapier, Cut & Thrust: A basic overview of the general principles of renaissance swordsmanship may have been a better title for this one. Good base introduction to rapier play. If you've never picked up a rapier before this would be an okay place to start.
Buy It

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Schools and masters of fence: From the middle ages to the eighteenth century
Egerton Castle: 1884/1969
Strangly enough this work still holds up very well today. Castle's premise was to show the evolution of sword from it's conception, in general practice, to the sword play of his day. Gives a really good account on the preeminant schools of the middle ages and renaissance. Also great overviews of various fencing Masters. This is a must have.
Buy It

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The Armored Rose
Duchess Elina of Beckenham(SCA) : 1992
Heavy Weapons, SCA, Psychology: This book is for lady fighters and deals with many of the unique issues that they face in taking up armed combat in the society. I highly recommend this to anybody that has female students. Very well written.
Buy It

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The Art of War
SunTzu : [apx] 500 B.C.

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The Compleat Light Weapons Fighter: A Treatise on Period Combat in the Age of the Rapier
Wulfe von der Russ (SCA) : 1993
Generic Rapier, SCA: this is like one of those "Everything you ever wanted to know about ____" books covers a great deal of material and is specifically geared for SCA rapier combat. Provides a fairly sound system of training. To me the best part is the glossary, I keep this book in my gear bag.
Buy It

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The History of Fencing: Foundations of Modern European Swordplay
William M. Gaugler : 1997
Basicly a regirgatation of "Schools and Masters of of Fence...", right down to the insanely long title, updated to 1997. Worth having.
Buy It

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The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe
Sydney Anglo : 2000
This is like the über-encyclopedia of all things martial from the renaissance era of Europe. Okay that's not entirely true, but pretty damn close. Also a gold mine for documentation. Very informitive and well written.
But It

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The New SCA Fighters Handboke

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Thinking Around Stratagems
Foo Check Teck : 2001(?)
Psychology: this book is actually written in the context of modern business; however it address several very good critical thinking skills that are very helpful on the field. Especially in melee. Worth a read, don't go looking for it.

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This is Kendo, the art of Japanese Fencing
Junzo Sasamori : 1989
But It

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Three Elizabethan Fencing Manuals
James Louis Jackson : 1594
Published in the late 16th century this is a collection of what was concidered to be three of the more prominant works on the arte of the rapier. These were translated into olde English around 1591-3 and published in England in 1594. This book is a hardback photocopy of the orginal. IF you can find a copy of this book you're going to pay around $100 and the information is available online for free (see below). It is great documentation and wonderful to have on the shelf though.

Amazon says that they can get it, but they are always out of stock (I think they only print like 50 a year) but give it a shot: But It

Vincent Saviolo: his Practise Read it online
George Silver: Paradoxes of defence Read it online
Giacomo di Grassi: His True Arte of Defense Read it online

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Fencing101.com Modern Drills
Desscription

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FencingOnline.com Modern Articles
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Fencing.Net Modern Drills
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The ARMA
Desscription

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European Historical Combat Guild
Desscription

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William Wilson's Site
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Scola Metallorum Rapier Training Manual
Desscription

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