Reviews for Methods and Practice of Elizabethan Swordplay

The average rating for Methods and Practice of Elizabethan Swordplay based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-03-05 00:00:00 Greg Atkins This is a quick read outlining the combative approaches of a few of the sword masters active in Elizabethan England. There are some fine insights into the transitions in combat and weaponry of the era, and the connections to Shakespeare's text are nice insights into some particular lines. That said, the authors repeat themselves verbatim more frequently than a great editor would have allowed, and they call their knowledge into question a bit by characterizing broadsword combat as primarily a test of strength/fitness and trading of blows- any number of HEMA scholars would likely disagree. In some cases their descriptions are also unclear; they mention a stance with the feet wide apart as "requiring bent knees" as compared to one with the feet closer together; my anatomy/geometry don't define a causal relationship there (if anything, at the extreme case a wider stance requires straighter legs). If you only have time to read a <150 p. book on rapier play, this isn't a bad one to get some context. If you're hoping to learn meaningful technique or bring depth to a choreographed fight beyond the most basic elements of movement, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-09-10 00:00:00 Brandon Hwang What an unhealthy book. But most importantly, intellectually bland, full of unsubstantiated dogmas, and predictable.