These are links to several good articles on historical fencing via the internet. They are easily read and understood, fun to learn from, good for research, and appropriate to our type of fencing school.

From Dueling to Fencing     "At the dawn of history, two principles of personal combat had prevailed:   i.   The principle of attack, either by stabbing or crushing, and ii.  The principle of defence, either by interposing some object between the attacker's weapon and one's own body, such as body armour or shield, or by dodging the attacker's weapon."   Review - Well put together - from the earliest mentions of swordfighting, through swordsmanship as a means of gentlemanly education and honor, and into sport fencing.

The Demystification of the Spanish School of Fencing,   Part One,   /   Part Two,  /   Part Three   "It is of vital importance to approach the treatises of the Spanish Masters with an understanding that these men were highly educated individuals." Review - Shows the reasoning and techniques behind the methods of the Spanish Masters. Presented nicely.

A Study of The London Masters of Defense    "The Company of the Masters of Defense of London was an officially recognized guild of teachers of fencing in England (centered mostly around London). Henry VIII gave the guild a charter in 1540 granting it a monopoly to teach proficiency in all of the weapons of war that a gentleman should know." Review - Very thorough - Historical significance of playing the prize, challenges, advancement, and the Italian masters in London.

Anthony DeLongis Theatrical fencing teacher, actor, fight director and weapons specialist, and Wild West action performer. Characteristics of the Rapier An informative article  by Chris Evans outlining the rapier from it's early history as a heavy weapon to it's evolution to the small light weapon that it is now.

Olde Fencing Masters  Check out the links page for information on these fencing masters

Salvatore Fabris,   Giacomo DiGrassi,  Nicoletto Giganti,   Ridolfo Capo Ferro,  Achille Marozzo,   Girard Thibault,      Charles Bisnard,     Joseph Swetnam,     George Silver,  Angelo Viggiani,    Rocco Bonetti,        Vincentio Saviolo,   Camillo Agrippa

Journal of Western Martial Art  An article by Stephen Hand - A Matter of Time - "Stephen Hand examines perhaps the most critical change in defensive technique in the entire history of western swordplay." Review - Good article going over how the fencing masters shaped the fencing world of their time.

Achille Morozzo "See Achille Morozzo come alive in this animation." Review - Animation in pictures of the wards or postures of fencing master Achille Morozzo

Fencing Articles

Fencing Articles

Giacomo DiGrassi - The True Art of Defense Review - Di Grassi's treatise on fencing, very good.

Vincentio Saviolo - His Practice Review - Saviolo's treatise on fencing, book one.

Camillo Agrippa - The Illustrations Review - Lots of illustrations.

Art or Sport From Classical Fencing "The goal of a sport is to achieve mastery over others; the goal of a martial art is to achieve mastery of yourself."

Duels, Doctors and Death "Duelling  as a method of settling disputes between gentlemen was practiced in the British Isles and on the Continent from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century. In early duels the victory would go to the better swordsman"

Historical Fencing Studies - The British Legacy "Several Victorian military men, namely Captain Alfred Hutton, Egerton Castle, Captain Carl Thimm, Colonel Cyril Matthey, Sir Frederick and William Pollock, and Captain Sir Richard Burton, were fencers interested in the history and practice of antique forms of fence.  Their legacy is with us in the current resurgence of historical fencing interest now underway." Review - A thoughtful and thorough account of the British interest in historical fencing from the 1800's.