I'll be giving a lecture at the Redford Twp. Library (http://www.redfordlibrary.org/) on April 11th, 7pm, on medieval fighting manuscripts. Whether you're familiar with the German Fechbuchs or have only heard of them in passing, come on out for this survey of the tradition.

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Medieval combat is often portrayed as a brutish affair, lacking the refinement of the later sword forms that have become modern fencing. It is also far from most people’s concept of a “martial art”. But personal combat in the Middle Ages was far from mindless hacking and strength of arm. A wealth of manuscripts survive that show a highly technical and nuanced combat system. In “Masters, Manuscripts, and Swordplay in Late Medieval Germany”, historian and martial artist Josh Little will explore this tradition and how modern practitioners are resurrecting the fighting arts of the past.

I wish I were at home so I could come, Josh!