This is a heavily-illustrated, step-by-step guide for how to fence -- and how to teach! -- Hungarian sabre fencing, as well as how to use the "fokos," or long-handled axe traditional to Hungary and East-Central Europe. It covers everything from basic stance work and tactics to complete synoptic tables and how to troubleshoot students who are having difficulty with the material. The manual also provides translated comparative material in order to demonstrate how the lineage the author learned is -- and is not -- like other methods of fencing taught in Hungary and at the Wiener-Neustadt cadet school in the mid-to-late 19th century up through World War One.

This 1889 classic by a pioneer of modern fencing offers both technical and historical views of the art of the sabre. Topics include a variety of different strokes and parries, and associated weapons. 55 illustrations.

Where did Italo-Hungarian sabre fencing come from? It's not JUST Barbasetti...The Hungarians dominated Olympic sabre fencing for the majority of the 20th century. It is well-known that Radaelli's northern-Italian lineage became dominant in Austro-Hungarian fencing, under the immensely skilled tutelage of Barbasetti (and later, the Santellis). But little has been said about the Hungarian fencing-masters themselves and how they adapted the Radaellian sabre lineage to fit their own ideas. For the first time, the sabre fencing manual of Károly Leszák, primary sabre instructor at the prestigious Ludovica Military Academy, is made available in English. A must-read for historical fencers wishing to understand the evolution of Italo-Hungarian fencing, and for modern Olympic fencers curious where their methods come from.

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.

This book teaches the NEW saber! It has been more than 75 years since an English-language book devoted to saber last appeared. Those were the days of men-only, visually judged saber, and the US didn't stand a chance. Since then, saber has been revolutionized. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics: the U.S. women swept the individual saber medals and took bronze as a team; the U.S. men took team silver. The fencing was not just electronically scored the referees watched the slow-motion video replay to decide close calls. The world of saber has changed, and it needs this book! Modern Saber Fencing is the first book to explain and teach the new saber from the ground up. It illustrates the new techniques with over 75 photo illustrations. It shows the technical and tactical adjustments that transformed classical saber. It explains how to train for the new saber. PLUS it presents the scientific research that underlies the latest training methods.

This sixteenth-century German guide to sword fighting and combat training is a crucial source for understanding medieval swordplay techniques. Following his translation of Joachim Meyer’s The Art of Combat, Jeffrey L. Forgeng was alerted to an earlier version of Meyer’s text, discovered in Lund University Library in Sweden. The manuscript, produced in Strasbourg around 1568, is illustrated with thirty watercolor images and seven ink diagrams. The text covers combat with the longsword (hand-and-a-half sword), dusack (a one-handed practice weapon comparable to a sabre), and rapier. The manuscript’s theoretical discussion of guards sheds significant light on this key feature of the historical practice, not just in relation to Meyer but in relation to medieval combat systems in general. The Art of Sword Combat also offers an extensive repertoire of training drills for both the dusack and the rapier, a feature largely lacking in treatises of the period and critical to modern reconstructions of the practice. Forgeng’s translation also includes a biography of Meyer, much of which has only recently come to light, as well as technical terminology and other essential information for understanding and contextualizing the work.

Crowood Sports Guides provide sound, practical advice that will make you a better sportsperson, whether you are learning the basic skills, discovering more advanced techniques or reviewing the fundamentals of your sport. This book is illustrated in full colour throughout with photographs showing technique sequences, correct positions and competition situations. It covers fencing techniques in a logical progression, starting with the absolute beginner and culminating with the advanced competition fencer, and supplies detailed 'key points' as well as tips and advice on competition fencing. It discusses how to approach fencing as a left-hander and how to deal with left-handed opponents, and includes a valuable section on tactics which explains how to apply techniques in a fight situation. Presents footwork exercises and bladework training drills and provides an introduction to epee and sabre fencing. Aimed at fencers of all levels of ability and those considering taking up the sport and fencing coaches. Superbly illustrated with over 200 colour photographs showing technique sequences, correct positions and competition situations.