I am very pleased to announce the publication of the third book in the die Schlachtschule armored combat series entitled The Play of the Axe: Medieval Pollaxe Combat by Hugh T. Knight, Jr.

This book is intended to introduce the reader to authentic medieval pollaxe techniques as taught by medieval fighting masters. Consisting of more than 200 pages with more than 380 photographs, the book begins with a general introduction about medieval fight books and the nature of armored pollaxe combat, and follows with a chapter dedicated to the strategic principles of medieval combat as they apply to the pollaxe. The author then gives a detailed chapter on how to train, including information about finding a teacher, training without one, and the equipment necessary for training. Next, the book goes on to explore detailed pollaxe techniques, starting with fundamentals such as stance, footwork and guards, and moving logically through techniques to be used in a wide variety of situations in pollaxe combat. Finally, it ends with an appendix containing instructions for creating drills to use with any of the techniques in the book, rules for free play in armor designed to recreate real combat, and a detailed glossary. It is available in both a perfect-bound edition and a spiral-bound edition designed to lay flat and open for use at practices.

This book will be of interest to anyone with an interest in knighthood, medieval combat, history or martial arts in general.

The Play of the Axe: Medieval Pollaxe Combat has been published through Lulu.com and is only available for internet purchase at this time:

http://stores.lulu.com/hughknight

The author is the founder and head instructor of die Schlachtschule in North Hollywood, CA, a school dedicated to rediscovering and practicing the knightly arts of combat from medieval Germany. He has more than 30 years of martial experience ranging from traditional Japanese sword and grappling arts to over ten years of German martial arts. He founded die Schlachtschule in 2003 and teaches a curriculum that includes sword, spear, pollaxe, grappling and dagger combat both in and out of armor. More information can be found on the school’s web site:

www.schlachtschule.org

Hello,

Congrats!

Is this a combination of sources? If so, which ones?

Cheers,
Steven

Hi Hugh!

I'm excited to order this book, but Lulu.com and I appear to be having some difficulties :mad:

Oh well, as soon as it works out, I will be ordering one. I'm sure it'll become well-worn and dog-eared (that's why I'm ordering the spiral bound edition).

That's...an awesome idea. Props!

I'll grab one of those if I get a chance. I'm trying to organize a seminar on the staff this November.

M.

No problems Hugh, Lulu was just having technical difficulties. Placed the order.

Doesn.t LuLu carry this anymore?

I just made a purchase of the pole axe book. Also I purchased the book on daggers and... grappling I think. I look forward to learning all that I can. Thanks for all the help.

No problem it's always interesting to read even older interpretations or more fragmentary information.

As to the longsword book I should be able to use it even if it isn't a complete work or very basic and is missing certain things: It helps that I have been doing this for 3 to 4 years and am not depending on just a book for instruction.

Thanks for the information and I will certainly keep in mind that some interpretations may be " dated " and that you future work(s) might expand or even contradict some of what is in some of the current books. :D :cool:

Quote:

I have just finished writing a complete longsword book covering all aspects of Ernstfechten longsword--some 350 pages and more than 600 photographs--and that should be available in a few weeks.

Note: Just more books to look forward to soon. ;) :cool:

Jean,
You too? I caught this thread while at home for lunch, thought what the heck and ordered all the same titles as you, Merry Christmas to ourselves I guess. It must be nice to have a group locally, I am stuck learning from books, DVD and YouTube videos. The nearest HEMA groups are in Edmonton AB followed by Calgary AB, a five hour and eight hour drive respectively.

Hugh,
Looking forward to the Ernstfechten book as well.