Historical Sources

Dierk Hagedorn
Peter von Danzig: Transkription und Übersetzung der Handschrift 44 A 8
VS-Books
ISBN 978-3-932077-34-0

A publication by Hammaborg's instructor for the longsword.
The Peter von Danzig "fechtbuch" from 1452 is one of the most extensive and important treatises of medieval martial arts. This book contains the complete text of the manuscript 44 A 8 twice: once in an accurate transcription to the letter, and once in a translation into modern German.

Würgegriff und Mordschlag: Die Fecht- und Ringlehre des Hans Czynner (1538)
Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt
ISBN 978-3201018555

Excellent facsimile and transcription of an illustrated German "fechtbuch" of the 16th century.

Grzegorz Zabinski, Bartlomiej Walczak (editors)
Codex Wallerstein
Paladin Press
ISBN 978-1581603392

This volume offers a black-and-white reproduction of the important illuminated manuscript as well as an English and a German translation.

Medieval Combat
Greenhill Books
ISBN 1-85367-582-2

The most popular "picture book" about medieval martial arts. Indeed the illustrations are nice to look at (although unfortunately only in black and white) but to use them as a guideline to learn actual fighting techniques from them might be rather futile. It's only a single phase of a fight that is exemplified and the brief comments are not very elucidatory since they do not explain particular movements or techniques. Anyway, it's a nice addition to your bookshelf.

Jeffrey L. Forgeng:
The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship
Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-38-2

Facsimile and translation of Europe's oldest manual concerning martial arts. The manuscript I.33, sometimes addressed as "Tower Fechtbuch", is lavishly illustrated. Every single page of the manuscript has been carefully reproduced and the latin texts from the medieval original have been translated into modern English.

Luca Porzio & Gregory Mele (Translation):
Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi
Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-18-8

Facsimile and translation of the manuscript by Filippo Vadi, a fencing master in Italy from the 15th century.

Jeffrey L. Forgeng
The Art of Combat: A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570 by Joachim Meyer
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 978-1403970923

A translation of Joachim Meyer's fencing treatise into English.

Jeffrey Hull
with Monika Maziarz and Grzegorz Zabinski
Knightly Dueling: The Fighting Arts of German Chivalry
Paladin Press
ISBN 978-1-58160-674-4

A substantial overview concerning judicial duels based on German fencing treatises. Transcriptions, translations and illuminatiing essays cover the fighting in armour on foot and on horse, and with a multitude of weapons. Numerous sources are being referred to, e.g. 3227a, Hans Talhoffer, Peter von Danzig etc.

Sources plus Interpretation

Christian Henry Tobler:
Secrets of German Medieval Swordmanship
Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-07-2

The first book about the longsword by Christian Tobler. By means of the writings of Sigmund Ringeck Tobler explains Liechtenauer's teachings very clearly. Since Ringeck not only dealt with the longsword but also with sword and buckler, wrestling, and fighting on horseback, these items are also addressed. A voluminous coffee-table book with a vast number of images that enable a concise look at the techniques presented. Since the publishing of this book, Tobler has come to a different conclusion in some of his interpretations. Because of that there are some differences to be found between "Secrets" and "Fighting with the German Longsword". These are explained in the latter extensively.

David Lindholm, Peter Svärd:
Sigmund Ringeck's Kightly Art of the Longsword
Paladin Press
ISBN 1-58160-410-6

Another attempt to approach Liechtenauer's teaching according to Sigmund Ringeck. This book is also very methodical in its structure and a huge advantage are the hand-drawn illustrations. A number of direction arrows explain very efficiently the movements of the body and the blade. However, some of the techniques seem to be a little awkward, particularly as footwork is concerned.

David Lindholm, Peter Svärd
Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat: Sword and Buckler Fighting, Wrestling, and Fighting in Armor
Paladin Press
ISBN 978-1581604993

The follow-up volume to the longsword deals with the remaining passages of the Ringeck manuscript, except te sections about fighting on horseback. Again, the book is illustrated with drawings. This time, however, they seem to be a bit rougher and cruder.

André Schulze
Mittelalterliche Kampfesweisen. Das Lange Schwert. Talhoffers Fechtbuch Anno Domini 1467
Verlag Philipp von Zabern
ISBN 3805336527

This is the first volume of an ambitious project to interpret the famous fechtbuch by Hans Talhoffer in its entirety. This book presents high-quality full colour facsimiles of the manuscript and photographical sequences of the reconstructed techniques. Since the historical illustrations show only a snapshot of these techniques, it is not an easy task to transform them into plausible and complex movements. Sometimes the realisation is successful but sometimes it is not. Particularly with some of the core principles - that go back to Johannes Liechtenauer's teachings - one would have desired a bit more of precision and understanding.

André Schulze (Hrsg.)
Mittelalterliche Kampfesweisen 2. Kriegshammer, Schild und Kolben. Talhoffers Fechtbuch Anno Domini 1467
Verlag Philipp von Zabern
ISBN 978-3805337366

The second volume of the series deals with not yet widely reconstructed fighting techniques with such weapons as the head-high "Stechschilde" (thrusting shields) for medieval trials by combat. The book contains also a number of techniques with the longsword and the pollaxe.

André Schulze (Hrsg.)
Mittelalterliche Kampfesweisen 3. Scheibendolch und Stechschild. Talhoffers Fechtbuch Anno Domini 1467
Verlag Philipp von Zabern
ISBN 978-3805337502

Also the third volume deals with the thrusting shields that appear already in volume 2. This is accompanied by Hans Talhoffer's techiques with the dagger. Like in the two volumes before, a number of essay provide interesting additional information about Talhoffer and his time.

Hugh Knight
The Ambraser Codex by Master Hans Talhoffer: A Fifteenth-Century Fight Book
Lulu.com

Enjoyable publication of another of Talhoffer's fight books. The whole manuscript is presented and occasionally supported by additional images from other sources. Unfortunately, the quality of the images is rather poor.

Tutorials

Herbert Schmidt
Schwertkampf: Der Kampf mit dem langen Schwert nach der deutschen Schule
Wieland
ISBN 978-3938711194

A concise and descriptive manual for beginners and advanced students. Numerous photographs elucidate the basics as well as the more sophisticated techniques. Valuable additional information about test cutting and equipment for freeplay make this volume a perfect guide. An attractive lay-out adds to the overall good impression.

Herbert Schmidt
Schwertkampf Band 2: Der Kampf mit dem Kurzschwert und Buckler nach der Deutschen Schule
Wieland
ISBN 978-3938711293

Herbert Schmidt presents his second book in the usual good design, this time with his interpretation of historical techniques with sword and buckler. After an informative and well illustrated introduction he describes the techniques following the manuscript I.33 and other German masters by means of photographic sequences and precise texts in great detail. Despite some rather stiff photographs and the somewhat unfortunate combination of historical and an own made-up terminology the book offers a solid start into fighting with the buckler. The reconstruction however is void of an absolute consensus.

Christian Henry Tobler:
Fighting with the German Longsword
Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-24-2

This book explains clearly and well structured the medieval art of fighting with the longsword in the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer. So-calles decision charts explain effectively even the more complex sequences. Each technique is explained and illustrated precisely with a large number of black and white photographs.

Konrad Kessler
Kampf mit dem langen Schwert
ISBN 978-3878920915

A small handbook for the reguar training. A book for beginners who smoothly get to know the essential basics.

Wolfgang Abart
Lebendige Schwertkunst: Bloßfechten mit dem Schwert und der Feder
Verlag Philipp von Zabern
ISBN 978-3805338578

A profound and affectionately illustrated compendium. Nevertheless, Wolfgang Abart mixes techniques and principles of fighting treatises from multiple centuries and regions, thus destilling his very own enclosed system.

Paul Wagner & Stephen Hand:
Medieval Sword & Shield
Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-43-9

An attempt to recreate I.33 by two Australian gentlemen. They present basic knowledge and advanced techniques with sword and buckler in great detail. Unfortunately, they have taken some considerable liberty according to some conclusions they've come to.

Guy Windsor:
The Swordsman's Companion
Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-41-2

A training manual concerning the Italian school of the longsword. Some of the theoretical issues in the beginning are universal nevertheless. Additionally, a glance at a different variety of instruction is often rewarding, and it certainly is no disadvantage at all to peruse the differences between the German and the Italian way of swordfighting.

Colin Richards
Fiore dei Liberi 1409: Wrestling & Dagger/Ringen & Dolch
Arts of Mars Books
ISBN 978-3981162707

A lavishly designed boook, that makes the dagger and wrestling techniques of Master Fiore dei Liberi comprehensible with the aid of elaborate timelines. The text appears in both, English and German.

Andreas Leffler
Mittelalterlicher Schwertkampf für Anfänger und Umsteiger
Leffler Medienverlag
ISBN 978-3936457322

A rather strange hodge-podge, not really worth the acquisition.

DVDs

Hans Heim, Alexander Kiermeyer
The Longsword of Johannes Liechtenauer, Part I
The Chivalry Bookshelf
ISBN 1-891448-20-X

In a simple and very convincing didactical manner, the authors present the basic principles of the longsword. Subsequently, they deal with the five meisterhaue (master strokes) and other advanced techniques. This DVD is a good starting point to study the intricacies of the art of medieval fencing.

Hans Heim, Alexander Kiermeyer
Langes Messer Teil 1 nach Johannes Lecküchner (DVD)
Agilitas TV

An excellent introduction to the art of the "langes messer", a weapon wielded one-handedly. Because of the long runtime (90 min) the whole topic can be explained in great detail.

Hans Talhoffers Fechtkunst - Das Schwert (DVD)
Agilitas TV

Interpretations of Talhoffer's techniques with the sword - from the basics to the more advanced examples. Occasionally the reconstruction is not entirely flawless but it is a rewarding approach nevertheless. (Runtime approximately 90 minutes)

Dave Rawlings
Sword & Buckler pt I – I.33

Dave Rawlings' first DVD was released in 2006. Though some details may be out-dated, it does show a convincing interpretation of I.33's deep postures for the first time. The video only covers first ward. The production does not live up to standards set by Agilitas-TV.

Dave Rawlings
Sword & Buckler pt II – I.33: Timing and distance

The second DVD of the Boar's Tooth (released in 2008) is very recommendable. It covers essential basics and deals once again with first ward as well as with second ward. Production standard is fairly plain: no camera movement, no voice-over. The video's overall-structure is yet very comprehensible.