Sword Fighting: A Manual for Actors & Directors [Paperback]

Keith Ducklin (Author), John Waller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

SWORD FIGHTING; A MANUAL FOR ACTORS AND DIRECTORS is a comprehensive new work on the art of creating realistic and exciting fight sequences for theatre, film and TV. This book is the product of thirty years research and experimentation into traditional European martial arts by acclaimed fight director John Waller and his associates, and possibly the most wide-ranging and practical book on stage combat ever published.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Keith Ducklin has spent fifteen years as a practitioner of period fighting techniques, having studied with John Waller. He taught dramatic combat at some of England's top drama schools and directed many fights for the London fringe theatre circuit until 1994, when he became involved with the Royal Armouries Museum. He has fought in full fifteenth-century plate armour before both Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Prince of Wales, demonstrated medieval European sword fighting in Japan; and has made many television appearances demonstrating historical fighting styles. He is an accredited teaching member of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, secretary of the European Historical Combat Guild, and continues to train students of swordsmanship in Britain and America. John Waller has spent more than thirty years as an action arranger and historical consultant for stage and screen. For nineteen years he taught stage combat at drama schools including the London Academy of Music and Drama and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His work on the uses of armour and weapons brought him to the Mary Rose and its archery finds. As Head of Interpretation for the Royal Armouries at Leeds he has helped to produce many specialist film projects. He is a member of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat and the Equity Fight Director's Register, and in 1999 founded the European Historical Combat Guild. His numerous stage, film and TV credits include, amongst many others, Martin Guerre, Elizabeth R, Dr Who, and Pride and Prejudice and Arms in Action. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557834598
• ISBN-13: 978-1557834591
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,241,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not too bad, July 5, 2005

By 

Allen Johnson (S.C.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sword Fighting: A Manual for Actors & Directors (Paperback)

As a regular practitioner of Historical European Martial Arts I am usually the one cringing in the back row of the theatre or movie house, shelling out brutal insults at the lack of historical accuracy and good martial sense that is not seen in the vast majority of films and plays. I also have been working in the film and theatre community as both an actor and fight choreographer- so I understand both sides of the coin.
On the whole the book isn't too bad. It's refreshing to see these guys recognize that there are historical manuals and that they contain the real way to use these weapons. I had a few issues with some of the techniques. Avocation of an edge-to-edge parry (though the majority of them are flat to flat or edge to flat- the proper way, especially with longswords and medieval cutting blades). I really think their sword and buckler should be re-evaluated. Find a copy of MS I:33 and study that. Their interpretation of gripping the smallsword is off from a number of historical documents (see McBane, for instance). One of the bigger things I was surprised to see is that they did not show the use of the empty off hand as a parrying device for rapier and smallsword.
The book itself really does not teach you how to use these weapons. It rather shows you a step by step example of a small fight scene with them. I would really like to see more time spent on the various guards and methods of use. Some are present in the scenes they display, but far, far too many are left out.
I think this is a step in the right direction for anyone interested in pushing for more historical accuracy in film and theater. However I feel this is no where close to what could be done. Lots of room for improvement but not too bad overall.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What does one expect, December 10, 2005

By 

Ms. K. Soeborg - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sword Fighting: A Manual for Actors & Directors (Paperback)

Only so much can be learnt from a book, it can only direct you in the correct direction, or give better insight if one already has knowledge. As such the book is good. As it says, learn from somebody not something
As to previous comments on sword and buckler, these guys are well aware of the I-33 manual, they work at The Royal Armouries, who own I-33! John Waller, guided and help J.Forgeng who translated teh manual. Also different manuals show different ways of using the buckler! Which one is right?

Not sure about the points on holding a smallsword? Their way works perfectly fine to me, its personal choice at the end of the day and what works for you.
We must remember that the historical manuals are a great source as they come from the time that people fought with swords, but they are not 100% truth, if that were true, we should listen to every book written on a given subject these days!? Just because a book has survived several hundred years, does not make its content correct.

All in all a good book based upon 40 years of experience working, directing and teaching combat, based upon a reality centerd system that makes as full use of historical combat as possible.