Guy Windsor has been training swordsmen and swordswomen for a very long time. This short book distills his principles of training swordsmanship into seven key ideas, divided into three internal principles, and four external principles. They are:Internal:MindfulnessFlowAdopt Useful BeliefsExternal:4) No Injuries5) The Pareto Principle6) Run a Diagnostic7) Distinguish between knowledge and skillThis ...

From the Foreword by Neal Stephenson:“Whether you are a writer or game-maker seeking the kind of information I sought while writing The Baroque Cycle, or just a general reader with an interest in the arts to which Guy Windsor has dedicated his career, you should find much that is rewarding in these pages.”This book is a collection of essays and articles, about half of which have been adapted from Guy’s successful blog, at guywindsor.com, the rest have never been published b...

"As a long time solo student of Historical Martial Arts, The Theory and Practice of Historical Martial Arts and Guy's other works have encouraged me to take my training to the next level. The advice in this book has helped me start a small club and provided well grounded advice for developing classes and instruction based on the author's experience. Guy's book also has plenty of advice which has helped me better plan out my personal training and to help me make better use of the original s...

Guy Windsor has been training historical fencers for over twenty years. For many swordsmen and swordswomen, expert freeplay (also called sparring or fencing) is the pinnacle of the art; both desirable and hard to attain. In this book he describes the step-by-step process he uses to take students from absolute beginner to expert fencer.This is system can be applied to any style of fencing, because it is not about the specifics of technique. It is about the process of developing skil...

Ever wonder how good you’d be with a sword?This book is for you.Do love movie sword fights?Learn how real sword fights work.Are you into stage combat?Add depth with historically accurate technique.You’re a bad uncle looking for a present for your niece?Get her this book, though her parents might hate you.Or do you just like swords?If you’ve ever wan...

This fifth instalment of The Swordsman's Quick Guide will help anyone who wants to start teaching basic classes, in any martial art. It covers everything from safety, to planning classes, to making corrections in class, to how to get your own training done while you're teaching.

When this coronavirus, SARS-CoV-19, emerged at the beginning of 2020, I didn’t worry too much about it, because I recognised it as being outside my area of control. There was nothing for me to do, so I just ignored it. Then bit by bit things started to change—the twin threats of death by plague and economic ruin came front and center into our collective awareness.As lockdown progressed it was soon obvious that many of my students were struggling. Things they depended on for their p...

This book builds on the foundation laid in The Medieval Longsword, and teaches you how to train Fiore dei Liberi’s Art of Arms, as shown in his 1410 manuscript ll Fior di Battaglia. Renowned swordsman and author Guy Windsor explains three of the longsword forms that are used every day in The School of European Swordsmanship:The Cutting DrillThe Farfalla di FerroThe Longsword Syllabus FormEach form is explained step by step ...

Celebrate two decades of historical martial arts development with the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Swordsman's Companion by Guy Windsor. This seminal guide has transformed the lives of thousands of swordsmanship enthusiasts worldwide, becoming a timeless classic in historical martial arts literature.This special edition retains the original's practical approach with detailed instructions, illustrations, and drills, which were state-of-the-art in 2004. The field ...

This book raises and answers the following questions:When is it ok to stab someone in the face with a sword?What is the one thing you find most useful about swordsmanship training outside the salle?How important is history to you in your practise of swordsmanship?Can a duel settle a matter of honour?Can violence be beautiful?To what extent is the practice of swordsmanship the cultivation of virtue?Is the study of eth...

Fencing theory is the intellectual, abstract structure that fencers use to describe, define, and explain their art. In this book, professional swordsmanship instructor and author Guy Windsor introduces you to the uses of fencing theory, and explains in detail all the major concepts. You can then use this theory to better analyse and understand whatever swordsmanship style you practice.The main areas covered here are:Doctrine: the idea behind the art. What is the best ...

Welcome, instructors of historical martial arts! In Get Them Moving, I’ve distilled over twenty years of teaching experience into a comprehensive guide that’s as practical as it is motivational.Whether you’re stepping into the salle as an instructor for the first time or you’ve been teaching students for years, this book offers clear and actionable guidelines to improve outcomes for your students. From constructing effective lesson plans to overcoming the hurdle of imposter syndrom...