Historical European martial arts 858344 226179312 2008-07-17T05:00:06Z 76.184.12.199 /* Reconstruction */ :''HEMA redirects here. See [[HEMA (disambiguation)]] for other uses.'' [[Image:Cod Wallerstein 10.jpg|thumb|240px|The first page of the [[Codex Wallerstein]] shows the typical arms of 15th century fencing]] '''Historical European Martial arts ''' are [[martial arts]] of European origin, often commonly used to refer to arts which were formerly practiced, but have since died out or evolved into very different forms. Modern [[historical martial arts reconstruction|reconstructions]] of some of these arts exist and are practiced today. Historical European martial arts are often known as [[Western martial arts|Western martial arts]]. ==Antiquity to High Middle Ages (before 1350)== {{see|De Re Militari|Viking Age arms and armour}} There are no known [[martial arts manual|manuals]] predating the [[Late Middle Ages]] (except for fragmentary instructions on [[Greek wrestling]], see [[P.Oxy. III 466]]), although [[Ancient literature|Ancient]] and [[Medieval literature]] (e.g. [[Icelandic saga]]s and [[Middle High German]] epics) record specific martial deeds and military knowledge; in addition, [[History of art|historical artwork]] depicts combat and weaponry (e.g. the [[Bayeux tapestry]], the [[Morgan Bible]]). Some researchers have attempted to reconstruct older fighting methods such as [[Pankration]] and [[gladiator|gladiatorial combat]] by reference to these sources and practical experimentation, though such recreations necessarily remain more speculative than those based on actual instructions. [[Image:MS I33 04v.jpg|thumb|200px|Fol. 4v of the I.33]] The so-called MS [[I.33]] (also known as the Walpurgis or Tower Fechtbuch), dated to between ca. [[1290]] (by Alphonse Lhotsky) and the early to mid-[[14th century]] (by R. Leng, of the [[University of Würzburg]]), is the oldest surviving [[fechtbuch]], teaching [[sword]] and [[buckler]] combat. ==Late Middle Ages (1350 to 1500)== [[Image:MS 44 A 8 1v.jpg|thumb|240px|[[Longsword]] guards (1452 manuscript)]] The central figure of late Medieval martial arts, at least in Germany, is [[Johannes Liechtenauer]]. Though no manuscript written by him is known to survive, his teachings were first recorded in the late [[14th century]] MS [[3227a]]. From the 15th century into the 17th, numerous ''fechtbücher'' (German "fencing-books") were produced, of which some 55 are extant; a great many of these describe methods descended from Liechtenauer's. Normally, several modes of combat were taught alongside one another, typically unarmed [[grappling]] (''[[Kampfringen]]'' or ''abrazare''), [[dagger]] (''Degen'' or ''daga'', often of the [[Rondel (dagger)|rondel]] variety), long [[knife]] (''[[grosses messer|Messer]]'') or [[Dussack]], half- or [[quarterstaff]], [[pole weapon|pole arms]], [[longsword]] (''langes Schwert'', ''spada longa'', ''spadone''), and combat in [[plate armour]] (''Harnischfechten'' or ''armazare''), both on foot and on horseback. Some ''Fechtbücher'' have sections on dueling shields (''Stechschild''), special weapons used only in [[judicial duel]]s. The long sword had a position of honour among these disciplines, and sometimes '''Historical European Swordsmanship''' ('''HES''') is used to refer to [[swordsmanship]] techniques specifically. Important [[15th century]] German fencing masters include [[Sigmund Ringeck]], [[Peter von Danzig (person)|Peter von Danzig]], [[Hans Talhoffer]] and [[Paulus Kal]], all of whom taught the teachings of Liechtenhauer. From the late 15th century, there were "brotherhoods" of fencers (''Fechtbruderschaften''), most notably the [[Marx brothers (fencing)|Marx brothers]] (attested [[1474]]) and the [[Federfechter]]. An early [[Burgundy|Burgundian]] French treatise is [[Le jeu de la hache]] ("The Play of the Axe") of ca. [[1400]]. The earliest master to write in the [[Italian (language)|Italian]] was [[Fiore dei Liberi]], commissioned by the Marquis di [[Ferrara]]. In approximately [[1410]], he documented comprehensive fighting techniques in a treatise entitled [[Flos Duellatorum]] covering grappling, dagger, arming sword, longsword, pole-weapons, armoured combat and mounted combat. The Italian school is continued by Filippo Vadi (1482-1487) and [[Pietro Monte]] (1492, Latin with Italian and Spanish terms) Three early (before [[George Silver|Silver]]) natively [[English language|English]] swordplay texts exist, all very obscure and of uncertain date; they are generally thought to belong to the latter half of the [[15th century]]. ==Early Modern period (1500 to 1700)== [[Image:Fechtende adelige Studenten um 1590.jpg|thumb|250px|Students fencing with rapier and dagger, ca. 1590]] [[Image:Girard Thibault - Academie de l-Espee 1628 Met. museum.jpg|thumb|300px|''Academie de l-Espee'' (Girard Thibault, 1628)]] In the 16th century, compendia of older ''Fechtbücher'' techniques were produced, some of them printed, notably by [[Paulus Hector Mair]] (in the [[1540s]]) and by [[Joachim Meyer]] (in the [[1570s]]). In the 16th century German fencing had developed sportive tendencies. The treatises of Paulus Hector Mair and Joachim Meyer derived from the teachings of the earlier centuries within the Liechtenauer tradition, but with new and distinctive characteristics. The printed fechtbuch of [[Jacob Sutor]] ([[1612]]) is the last in the German tradition. The Italian school is continued by the [[Dardi school]], with masters such as [[Antonio Manciolino]] and [[Achille Marozzo]]. From the late 16th century, Italian [[rapier]] fencing attains considerable popularity all over Europe, notably with the treatise by [[Salvator Fabris]] (1606). * [[Antonio Manciolino]] ([[1531]]) (Italian) * [[Achille Marozzo]] ([[1536]]) (Italian) * [[Angelo Viggiani]] ([[1551]]) (Italian) * [[Camillo Agrippa]] ([[1553]]) (Italian) * [[Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza]] ([[1569]]) (Spanish) * [[Giacomo Di Grassi]] ([[1570]]) (Italian) * [[Giovanni Dall’Agocchie]] ([[1572]]) (Italian) * [[Henry deSainct Didier]] ([[1573]]) (French) * [[Frederico Ghisliero]] ([[1587]]) (Italian) * [[Vincentio Saviolo]] ([[1590]]) (Italian) * [[George Silver]] ([[1599]]) (English) * [[Luis Pacheco de Narváez]] ([[1600]]) (Spanish) * [[Salvator Fabris]] ([[1606]]) (Italian) * [[Nicoletto Giganti]] ([[1606]]) (Italian) * [[Ridolfo Capo Ferro]] ([[1610]]) (Italian) * [[Joseph Swetnam]] ([[1617]]) (English) * [[Francesco Alfieri]] ([[1640]]) (Italian) * [[Francesco Antonio Marcelli]] ([[1686]]) (Italian) * [[Bondi' di Mazo]] ([[1696]]) (Italian) ==Modern period (1700 to 1918)== [[Image:Dendrono - Der fechtende Student.jpg|thumb|300px|Academic fencing (1725 etching)]] [[Image:Tübinger Mensur 1831.jpg|thumb|300px|Academic fencing (1831 painting)]] [[Image:Mühlberg - Säbelmensur.jpg|thumb|300px|Transition to modern sports fencing: sabre fencing around 1900.]] The martial arts of the post-Renaissance period can be divided roughly into civilian duelling/self defence, sporting and military applications. There is considerable overlap between these classifications, however, in that some systems fit into more than one category. Examples of martial arts practiced primarily by the military during this period include [[bayonet]] fencing, [[sabre]] fencing and the use of the lance by cavalry soldiers. The duelling and self-defence categories include [[smallsword]] and later styles rapier fencing, [[walking-stick]] fighting and [[Bartitsu]] (an early hybrid of Eastern and Western schools popularized at the turn of the 20th century). European combat sports of the 1700s to early 1900s include [[boxing]], numerous regional forms of [[wrestling]], the French kickboxing art of [[Savate]], quarterstaff and [[singlestick]] fencing as well as [[stick fighting]] methods such as [[Jogo do Pau]] and [[Juego del Palo]]. Some existing forms of European martial arts and combat sports can trace direct teacher-student lineages to the [[19th century]]. Notable examples include the French [[kickboxing]] art of [[savate]] and the stick fighting methods of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Jogo do Pau]], Italian Paranza and some styles of [[Canarian]] [[Juego del Palo]]. Direct continuity between the 18th and 19th centuries is more difficult to establish, but to a certain extent needs to be assumed by necessity: not least because the terminology of modern [[fencing]] is directly based on that introduced by [[Henry de Sainct-Didier]] in 1573. Likewise, [[academic fencing]] has a continuous tradition from the 16th century to the present day. ==Reconstruction== Attempts at the reconstruction of historical fighting arts have occurred since the [[Victorian age]] most notably with the work of [[Egerton Castle]] and [[Alfred Hutton]] and of the French Academie D'Armes circa 1880-1914. With the advent of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] (a historical re-enactment organization founded in [[1966]]){{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} there was a renewed interest in the practice of historic fighting arts. Dividing their focus between Heavy Armored Fighting, to simulate early medieval warfare, and adapted sport Rapier fencing, to reenact later renaissance styles, the SCA regularly holds large re-creation scenarios, throughout the world. Their styles are often criticized by other groups as lacking discipline and scholarship. Since the organization is effectively a collection of like-minded hobbyists (with individual exceptions), participants who view their fighting sport objectively accept it as an outlet for stress and a source of pleasure, rather than a literal re-creation of historical fighting methods. Another approach to the reconstruction of Medieval and Renaissance martial arts in the USA was pioneered by [[John Clements (martial artist)|John Clements]] in the mid-1980s that focused on the analysis of the works of the historical masters and realistic martial practice. In the early-1990s Clements took over the leadership of The [[Association for Renaissance Martial Arts]] (ARMA), then known as HACA (The Historical Armed Combat Association), and focused the organization on a true martial arts approach to the reconstruction of these fighting arts. To ensure that a martial focus is maintained in its reconstruction efforts ARMA excludes all sport, re-enactment, role-playing, and persona activities, as well as choreographed theatrical swordplay. ARMA also started providing to the general public the fight books of the historical masters through its web site. During this same period several other researchers in Europe and the United States started collecting and analysing the works of the historical masters. By the late 1990s there were more groups and organizations. Since 1999 a number of these groups have held the annual [http://www.wmaw.us Western Martial arts Workshop (WMAW)]. In 2001 the [http://www.hemac.org Historical European Martial arts Coalition (HEMAC)] was created to act as an umbrella organization for groups in Europe. Since 2002, the HEMAC has organized the annual ''[[International Historical European Martial arts Gathering]]'' in [[Dijon]], [[France]], hosted by ''De Taille et d'Estoc''. A number of groups and organizations who were originally focused on Medieval and Renaissance re-enactment have since changed their focus to the study of Historical European Martial arts. ===Organizations and Schools=== <!--do not add your own school. propose addition of an entry on the talkpage, providing evidence of notability--> The following is a limited list of organizations and schools that teach Historical European martial arts. *[http://www.academyofarms.com Academy of Arms] (Los Angeles) *The [http://www.aemma.org Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts] (AEMMA) (Toronto, Canada, since 1998) *[http://www.academieduello.com Academie Duello] (Vancouver, Canada) *The [[Association for Renaissance Martial Arts]] (ARMA) *The [[Academy of Historical Fencing]] (AHF) *[[Magisterium (fencing)|Magisterium]] (Czech Republic, combines historical reconstruction with [[scenic fencing]]) *[[The Academy of European Swordsmanship]] (Canada, since 1994) [http://www.the-aes.org/] *Academia Duellatoria (USA) *The New Dawn Duellist's Society (UK) *The Italian Historical Fencing Federation (FISAS) (Italy, since 1995)[http://www.scherma-antica.org/] *Sala d'Arme Achille Marozzo (Italy, since 1996)[http://www.achillemarozzo.it/] *The Martinez Academy of Arms (USA, since 1996)[http://www.martinez-destreza.com/] *The Chicago Swordplay Guild (USA, since 1998)[http://www.chicagoswordplayguild.com/] *The Stoccata School of Defense (Australia, since 1998)[http://www.stoccata.org/] *Dreynschlag (Austria, since 1998) [http://dreynschlag.at/] *Ochs Historische Kampfkünste (Germany, since 1999)[http://www.schwertkampf-ochs.de/] *Mid-Atlantic Society for Historic Swordsmanship [http://mashs.org/] (USA, since 1999) *Die Freifechter (Germany, since 2000)[http://www.freifechter.org/] *Zornhau (Germany, since 2000)[http://zornhau.de/] *The Tattershall School of Defense (USA, since 2000)[http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/tsod.html] *The Cateran Society (USA, since 2000) [http://www.cateransociety.com/] *Schola Gladiatora (UK, since 2001) [http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/] *The School of European Swordsmanship (Finland, since 2001)[http://www.swordschool.com/] *The School of The Sword (UK, since 1998) [http://www.schoolofthesword.com] *The Order of Seven Hearts (USA, since 2003)[http://www.salvatorfabris.com/] *Saint Martins Academy of Defense (USA, since 2001)[http://www.stmartinsacademy.com/] *Unionen för Europeisk Stridskonst (Sweden, since 2001)[http://www.ues.se/] *De Taille et d'Estoc (Dijon, France) [http://www.detailleetdestoc.com/] *Historical European Martial Arts Coalition (HEMAC European umbrella organisation, since 2001)[http://hemac.org/] *Retallack School of Arms (USA, since 2006)[http://www.retallackschoolofarms.com/] ==Literature== {{refbegin}} *Anglo, Sydney. ''The Martial arts of Renaissance Europe''. Yale University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-300-08352-1 *Terry Brown, ''English Martial arts'' (2002) Anglo-Saxon Books, ISBN 1-898281-29-7 *John Clements, ''Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques''. Paladin Press, 1998). ISBN 1-58160-004-6 *John Clements, ''Renaissance Swordsmanship : The Illustrated Book Of Rapiers And Cut And Thrust Swords And Their Use''. Paladin Press, 1997. ISBN 0-87364-919-2 *Gaugler, William. ''The History of Fencing : Foundations of Modern European Fencing''. Laureate Press, 1997. ISBN 1-884528-16-3 *Hans Heim & Alex Kiermayer, ''The Longsword of Johannes Liechtenauer'', Part I (DVD), ISBN 1-891448-20-X *Tommaso Leoni, ''The Art of Dueling'' (2005), ISBN 1-891448-23-4 *David James Knight and Brian Hunt, ''Polearms of Paulus Hector Mair'', Paladin Press (2008), ISBN 978-1-58160-644-7. *David Lindholm & Peter Svärd, ''Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword'', Paladin Press (2003), ISBN 1-58160-410-6 *David Lindholm & Peter Svärd. ''Knightly Arts of Combat - Sigmund Ringeck's Sword and Buckler Fighting, Wrestling, and Fighting in Armor''. Paladin Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58160-499-8 *David Lindholm, ''Fighting with the Quarterstaff'', (2006), ISBN 1-891448-36-6 *Brian R. Price, ed. ''Teaching & Interpreting Historical Swordsmanship'' (2005), ISBN 1-891448-46-3 *Christopher Thompson, ''Lannaireachd: Gaelic Swordsmanship'' (2001), ISBN 1-59109-236-1 *Christian Henry Tobler, ''Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship'' (2001), ISBN 1-891448-07-2 *Christian Henry Tobler, ''Fighting with the German Longsword'' (2004), ISBN 1-891448-24-2 *Jason Vail, ''Medieval and Renaissance Dagger Combat'' (2006) Paladin Press *Guy Windsor, ''The Swordsman's Companion: A Modern Training Manual for Medieval Longsword'' (2004), ISBN 1-891448-41-2 *Grzegorz Zabinski and Bartlomiej Walczak. ''The Codex Wallerstein : A Medieval Fighting Book from the Fifteenth Century on the Longsword, Falchion, Dagger, and Wrestling''. Paladin Press, 2002. ISBN 1-58160-339-8 {{refend}} ==See also== *[[Swordsmanship]] *[[German school of swordsmanship]] *[[Italian school of swordsmanship]] *[[Destreza|Spanish school of swordsmanship]] *[[Combat reenactment]] ==External links==<!--- NOTE: Do not include links to individual martial arts clubs' websites or web forums, unless they themselves have a claim to notability. ---> * [http://www.ejmas.com/kronos/NewHist1350-1699.htm A Chronological History of the Martial arts and Combative Sports 1350&ndash;1699] by Joseph R. Svinth * [http://www.hemac.org The Historical European Martial arts Coalition.] A Europe-wide coalition of clubs and researchers. * [http://ejmas.com/jwma/jwmaframe.htm The Journal Of Western Martial arts] * [http://www.umass.edu/renaissance/lord/collection.html The Raymond J. Lord Collection of Historical Combat Treatises] * [http://maps.google.de/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=de&om=1&msa=0&msid=108461239144680584019.00000112996828e5725a9&z=6 map of schools and groups in Western Europe] (google maps, maintained by [http://arsgladii.at arsgladii.at]) * [http://www.wmaillustrated.com Western Martial Arts Illustrated magazine] {{manav by country}} [[Category:Historical European martial arts|*]] [[cs:Historický šerm]] [[de:Historische Kampfkunst]] [[fr:Arts martiaux historiques européens]] [[it:Scherma tradizionale]] [[sv:Historisk europeisk kampkonst]]