Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - The Medieval Combat Environment Chapter 2 - Medieval Fighting Manuals Chapter 3 - Medieval Swords Chapter 4 - The Making of Medieval Swords Chapter 5 - Swords Against Plate Armor Chapter 6 - The Fate of the Medieval Sword Chapter 7 - Forms of the Medieval Sword Chapter 8 - Medieval Shields Chapter 9 - Sword & Shield Chapter 10 - The Long Sword Chapter 11 - Practice and Sparring Appendix A On Obtaining a Real Sword Appendix B The Problem of Stage Combat Appendix C Methods of Weapon-Sparring Appendix D Blunt Steel and Plate Armor Sparring Appendix E Medieval Fantasy and "Boffer" Sparring Methods Appendix F The Importance of the Full-Leg Target in Weapon Sparring Appendix G Kneeling Down in Weapon Sparring Rules Appendix H Weapon Sparring in Martial Arts Appendix I Understanding Swords and Martial Arts in America Bibliography

About the Author

John Clements has practiced cut-and-thrust swordsmanship for almost 20 years and trains regularly in long-sword, sword and shield, sword and buckler, sword and dagger, Medieval spear, and rapier and dagger methods. He lectures on historical weaponry and is an ardent promoter of contact-weapon sparring with historical replica swords.