English Martial Arts [Hardcover]

Terry Brown (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1898281181 | ISBN-13: 978-1898281184 | Publication Date: December 15, 1997

This book investigates the weapons, history and development of the English fighting system and some of the beliefs and social pressures that helped mould it. The second half examines various English fighting techniques drawn from historical texts and manuscripts including bare-fist fighting, broadsword, quarterstaff, bill, sword and buckler and sword and dagger.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Anglo-Saxon Books (December 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1898281181
• ISBN-13: 978-1898281184
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,293,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For any Scholler of the Arts of Defense, English Martial Arts is a `must have' resource., December 10, 2005

By 

Michael Chesbro (Rainier, Washington USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: English Martial Arts (Paperback)

"No man travelleth by the waie without his sword or somesuch weapon except the minister who commonly weareth none at all unless it is a dagger or a hanger at his side." - Aylward [English Master of Arms]

Terry Brown's `English Martial Arts' is an outstanding book about a little known topic. Beginning with an excellent overview of the background of English Martial Arts, we are then introduced to the weapons of the English man at arms:

>>Broadsword
>>Quarterstaff
>>Sword & Dagger
>>Sword & Dagger vs. Sword & Buckler
>>The Bill
>>Bear-Fist Fighting
>>Stances

Terry Brown then introduces us to the `Principles of True Fighting' and demonstrates the techniques of the weapons listed herein. A series of clear photographs demonstrates the effective application of techniques, allowing the student to develop sufficient basic skill to seek entry to `The Company of Maieters' [http://www.maisters.demon.co.uk/] as a Free Scholler.

Finally, English Martial Arts closes with "Words of Wisdom" from the English Masters of Defense such as Silver, Godfrey and Lonnergan.

For any Scholler of the Arts of Defense, English Martial Arts is a `must have' resource.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Training, and History, December 30, 2000

By 

Frank R Docherty (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: English Martial Arts (Hardcover)

I found Terry Browns book, English martial arts to be the most informative book I have read concerning the English martial arts, and the western martial arts in general.

It is historically accurate, as well as telling the history from a martial artists point of view, as many so called martial arts books are written by people who are not martial artist.

The training section, although concerned with only a few of the weapons in the English martial armoury, it is covered thoroughly, and when practiced the techniques are 100% effective, they feel comfortable to execute, as well as leaving you in a safe position after the technique has been done.

All in all, Terry Browns book is an informative, historically correct, training manual, that will be in demand long into the future as the bible of English and Western martial arts.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At first I thought it another poncey fighting book, February 16, 2006

By 

C. Anderson (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: English Martial Arts (Paperback)

How wrong could I be. Having practised re-enactment martial arts for 24 years I thought I'd seen it all... you live and learn.

The techniques described in the book are brutal to say the least. The knee stamp when the opponent is down is my favorite.

There are chapters divided into historical references for each weapon(including fists). Adding to this there are clear photographs of the strikes and blocks.

If you are re-enacting later european medieval history this is the book for you.