Customer Reviews

Duellists Companion: A training manual for 17th century Italian rapier

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As someone who enjoys historical weaponry, I found Windsor's book to be of particular use, and his update and translation into a modern day training guide of Ferro's work is wonderful. The descriptions of techniques are easy to follow, and the illustrations are both plentiful and helpful. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to any enthusiast out there.

This book is an invaluable resource for the beginning fencer or the intermediate looking to improve their game. It focuses heavily on building basic muscles, techniques, and mindsets, with useful pictures both of period plates and modern photographs.

I fence with rapier in the Italian style in my local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and have found this book an excellent supplement to our weekly fencing lesson. If you learn better by reading than by doing, I recommend this book highly. Windsor does seem to assume that his reader has 12 hours a day to do exercises and a full-size, fully-equipped fencing salle to practice in, but taken with a grain of salt, his fanaticism is helpful, rather than hurtful. ;)

This book is a must have for anyone interested in historic fencing. It puts the often difficult descriptions of fencing technique into practical methods that you can use and incorporate in practice. The book includes drills that put the description to practice and leads one to improve their skills. The only improvement I would like to have seen is an actual translation of Capo Ferro's work. This does not eclipse the books usefulness though. This is definitely a book worth including in your collection.

This is a great book for learning period sword fighting. Guy Windsor logically breaks the book down into usable and easy to understand drills lessons and exercises.