Art and Practice of 16th-Century German Fencing: A Guide to the Use of Joachim Meyer's Rapier

Joachim Meyer was a prolific Renaissance fencing master who wrote numerous manuals on the art. This training guide by Robert Rutherfoord explores Meyer's rapier, featuring over 200 illustrations to bring the art to life. Meyer was the last great master of the medieval Liechtenauer fencing tradition and combined his native German traditions with those of Italian and Spanish fencing masters to create a unique system of fighting with a vast number of weapons. His synthesis of German and Mediterranean fencing styles with the rapier foreshadowed the developments of rapier fencing that Italian masters would promote in the next quarter-century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2020
Publisher: FreeLance Academy Press

Joachim Meyer, a prominent fencing master of the Renaissance, left an indelible mark on the art of swordsmanship. Renowned for his extensive writing on fencing manuals, Meyer's contributions were profound. In this comprehensive training guide, Robert Rutherfoord delves into the intricate and graceful art of Meyer's rapier, accompanied by over 200 captivating illustrations that bring the techniques to life. Meyer's monumental work, "A Thorough Description of the Free, Chivalric, and Noble Art of Fencing," was reprinted, adapted, and plagiarized for over a century after his death. As a martial artist, he embodied the fusion of medieval Liechtenauer fencing tradition with Italian and Spanish fencing masters, creating a diverse and innovative system of combat with an array of weapons. However, his most significant contribution lay in the cut-and-thrust sidesword, or early rapier, which quickly gained popularity surpassing the knightly two-handed longsword. Meyer's synthesis not only adapted his native art to the Mediterranean weapon but also foreshadowed the developments of rapier fencing that Italian masters would promote in the following quarter-century. His innovative techniques and adaptations laid the foundation for the evolution of rapier fencing, making him one of the most influential fencing masters of the Renaissance.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 180 x 254 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781937439385