Hello, after a long period of lurking and studying, I have decided to actually learn longsword. While I have found a teacher, I want to also be educating myself. I just bought stephen ficks book, The Beginner's Guide to the Longsword. While useful as a beginners guide, It is very much a beginners book. It discusses lines of attack and foot movement, as well as guards, however it is in the italian style, and while I do not know much about swordsmanship yet, it seems that the german school is more of my style. Additionally, the book ends to early for me, no wrestling or half-swording is included.

I was wondering if anyone had a more substantial beginners book on the german style (with details on wrestling, half-swording, and winding). Something that could take me from beginning to at least covering all the basis,

Thank you in advance.

Well Mr. Tobler's book is pretty good from what I gleamed at my friend's place. It's still pretty basic beginner's book but goes a bit more then Fick's book does...and is german swordmanship. If you can afford it and find it, Guy Windsor's swordmans companion is a really good book (but italian focused). I had a chance to pick this book up for 55 bucks a few months ago and I'm really sad I didn't as the cheapest I can find is 90 for this book now.

You should attend classes too. A lot of what you learn in any martial art can't be fully understood just from a book. You need to practice it with another person to see how it works three dimensionally and spacially in order to get a full understanding of the art. The book gives you the ideas and basic principles, but practice is where you learn.

Do you know a specific book from tobler that u recomeend?

Michael,

Try:

Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat: Sword and Buckler Fighting, Wrestling, and Fighting in Armor and Sigmund Ringeck's "Knightly Art of the Longsword". Both by David Lindholm and Peter Svard. Both of these are very clear and useful

Also, Fighting with the German Longsword by Christian Henry Tobler - another essential buy.

Get hold of the Swordsman's Companion too if you can - it may be Italian in focus but it is another fine book (as is the Duellist's Companion - worth getting even if you don't intend to learn the rapier!)

Neil.

From Down Under - but relatively cheap:

The Swordman's Companion: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetails...%26sts%3Dt

Neil.

Thank you all fo your advice.

I intend to attend class, but due to being a junior in college and woring for my rent, I may not be able to attend the club meeting so I want something I can study with in my free time.

The Swordsman's Companion can also be purchased directly from Chivalry Bookshelf.
http://www.chivalrybookshelf.com/titles/sword...panion.htm

Hope you find what you need,
Alan

Oh, and while I am on the topic, while I know that they are complicated systems, if you had to reduce them to a short paragraph, how would you descibe and compare the german and itaian systems?

You know what... I actually think I understood that, lol!!!

I mean the thumb being placed on the blade is beyond me (don't you do that for krumphau?) But I know what winding isand I think I understand what you mean by smothering (in the book I just read that was called moving in half time).

But I may just be off base, all I have is various internet sources and youtube videos fro various pratictioners (of which MEMAG and Hammaborg are my favorites).

oh - if you want to snag a book more focused on learning Italian longsword, there is Guy Windsor's Swordsmans companion (though his interpretation has changed since the book came out).

Check on SwordForum International - they have a group finder that may be valuable to you.

Cheers,
Steven