Anyone read this book?

[David]

The book is Medievil Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techiques by John Clements. If anybody has info on it please let me know. Thank you!

[Ian]

Not familiar with the book itself, but very familiar with John Clements.  He's the director of ARMA, and very well respected for his knowledge and ability.  He's also very controversial because ARMA is known to not really play well with other groups, so there's kind of an ARMA vs the rest of HEMA mentality at play, but I think even his detractors will agree that he's a very capable teacher and swordsman.  You may just find that certain techniques in his book disagree with the rest of the HEMA community at large.

[Thorsteinn]

John Clements reminds me of a scientist investigating something interesting that refuses to be peer reviewed but otherwise does good science.

I'm reminded of an article he wrote that spent half it's length bashing the SCA & HEMA and the other half doing good work.

Check out Freelance Academy Press, they seem to be very good guys over there.*


*Note: I'm biased as Christian Tobler gave me a free signed book for helping him with a debacle some years ago.

[Ian]

Seconded on Freelance, they're good people and great information!  If you're not opposed to the Italian side of the things, please check out Bob Charrette's Armizare.

[Sir Edward]

John Clements reminds me of a scientist investigating something interesting that refuses to be peer reviewed but otherwise does good science.

I'm reminded of an article he wrote that spent half it's length bashing the SCA & HEMA and the other half doing good work.

That's very much the case. He's very capable, but is also a narcissist. And sadly, that's the way his writing style works. It comes off as insecure, in the sense that he feels the need to denigrate everyone else in large, sweeping, all-encompassing brush strokes, in order to make his point stand (you know, the "I'm the only one who is right!!" sort of deal). It's just not necessary.

Check out Freelance Academy Press, they seem to be very good guys over there.*

*Note: I'm biased as Christian Tobler gave me a free signed book for helping him with a debacle some years ago.

Very good guys over there, and very good materials as well.

[David]

Thanks everyone for the info! Is there any decent sword fighting books that anybody knows of?

[Ian]

Thanks everyone for the info! Is there any decent sword fighting books that anybody knows of?

For Italian Fiore:

Seconded on Freelance, they're good people and great information!  If you're not opposed to the Italian side of the things, please check out Bob Charrette's Armizare.

Also for German Liechtenauer:

http://www.freelanceacademypress.com/secrets.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/Sigmund-Ringecks-Knightly-Art-Longsword/dp/1581606885

[Sir Rodney]

Another book by Christian Henry Tobler: Fighting with the German Longsword.

[Sir James A]

John Clements reminds me of a scientist investigating something interesting that refuses to be peer reviewed but otherwise does good science.

I'm reminded of an article he wrote that spent half it's length bashing the SCA & HEMA and the other half doing good work.

Yep, he does bash everyone somewhat equally, I took a class with him years ago and he bashed eastern martial arts too. He's a good teacher, he has skills, but comes off crass and rude to say the least. Doesn't make his knowledge worthless, he's sort of an "acquired taste" if anything. After the class w/him, the group went out to lunch, and he showed us Conan The Barbarian: The Musical. Fairly normal guy, minus the bragging and condescension.

[Sir Wolf]

crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i have never prayed to you  beforeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee............. help me!!!!!!!! or......to helllllllllll with youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[Thorsteinn]

crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i have never prayed to you  beforeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee............. help me!!!!!!!! or......to helllllllllll with youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu