SPADA II: An Anthology of Swordsmanship (v. 2) [Paperback]

Stephen Hand (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2005

The relatively young field of historical swordsmanship relies on research into the great historical fencing masters and the many fencing treatises they left behind for posterity. The first edition of SPADA, published in 2003 showcased the very best research by some of the best people in the field. SPADA II continues this, with articles on a wide range of different swordsmanship topics from some of the best known writers and teachers as well as some exciting new authors. Edited by Stephen Hand, author of Medieval Sword and Shield and the upcoming English Swordsmanship, SPADA II also includes work by Tom Leoni, the author of Art of Duelling, Paul Wagner, author of Medieval Sword and Shield, Master of Defence and Highland Broadsword, Chris Thompson, author of Lannairreachd: Gaelic Swordsmanship and Linda McCollum, the editor of the Society of American Fight Directors magazine, The Fight Master. The articles in SPADA II cover a wide range of topics, with something for everyone interested in the theory or practice of historical swordsmanship. Richard Swinney and Scott Crawford - Medical Reality of Historical Wounds Linda Carlyle McCollum - Dispelling Myths About the Early History of Rapier Fencing in England Tom Leoni - Finding the sword or stringere Stephen Hand - Further Thoughts on the Mechanics of Combat with Large Shields Mary Dill Curtis and R.E. “Puck” Curtis - The Circle and the Sword: A Focus on Carranza and Pacheco de Narváez in Renaissance Spain Gary Chelak- Italian Circle Theory: A Study of the Applied Geometry of the Italian Renaissance Stephen Hand - Re-interpretation of some aspects of the sword and buckler system of manuscript I.33 Paul Wagner and Chris Thompson - The Words “Claymore” and “Broadsword” Tom Leoni - The Forgotten Weapon: The Partisan in Italy In the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries Whether you are interested in rapier fencing, sword and shield, the Highland Broadsword or just want to know what a sword can do if it hits you, you won?t want to miss out on the latest cutting edge research from some of the finest researchers in historical swordsmanship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf (November 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891448358
• ISBN-13: 978-1891448355
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,094,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great research; fascinating read, December 6, 2005

By 

L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SPADA II: An Anthology of Swordsmanship (v. 2) (Paperback)

I did historical reenactment armored combat in groups like the SCA and ROC for about fifteen years before deciding to focus solely on traditional Asian martial arts yet I still have a keen interest in the art of European swordsmanship. Editor Stephen Hand has gathered together some extraordinary historians and medieval/renaissance fight experts to create this fascinating collection. Authors include Gary Chelak, Tom Leoni, Linda McCollum, Paul Wagner, and more. The book covers everything from the medical implications of historical wounds to realistic sword/shield combat to fencing and even broadsword work. Very well researched, interestingly written, and nicely done. A worthy follow-up to the original SPADA anthology that should be appreciated by reenacters, fencers, and martial artists alike. Huzzah!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paving the way for the Art, January 3, 2007

By 

A reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: SPADA II: An Anthology of Swordsmanship (v. 2) (Paperback)

This anthology, SPADA, is a collection of very fine articles. I confess a bias in that I have met most of the authors and am generally enchanted with Western Martial Arts (WMA) aka Historical European Swordsmanship (HES).

Although these fighting arts have been without a living tradition for centuries, the magnificent work of the people contributing to SPADA is laying a foundation which can be build upon by researchers, historians and martial artists.

Every article in here is subject to critical peer review. Research is constant, and interpretations of the historical material are changing all the time, but the reliance on the original material does not. I cannot recommend SPADA highly enough.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2,600 Years in the Making, October 23, 2007

By 

Z. P. Smith (Western Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SPADA II: An Anthology of Swordsmanship (v. 2) (Paperback)

First and foremost, this is an anthology. As such it has something to offer across a wide scope, but not all of it may be of interest to any given reader. Nota Bene: I am evaluating the areas in which I am inexpert by the depth and detail provided for those weapons or matters that I do understand.
The features include articles on historical fencing from Spain, Italy and England.(Not my forte, pun intended.) There is an excellent article on the use of various large shields from 600BC to 1300AD. Some of the material that Wagner and Hand covered in their Medieval Sword And Shield (from the 13th C MS I.33) is developed further and corrected. I was particularly impressed by the study of historical and modern wounds. (Not for the squeemish.)The piece on partisans, most of which could be applied to any polearm, was fascinating; I was glad to see what I have been doing right and intrigued by moves I had not considered.
If you are new to the study of Western historical martial arts, or if your experience has been within a single weapon or tradition, I recommend Spada 2 for your consideration of the kinds of material available.