Academy of Historical Fencing

Printed by Salvestro Marchetti and Camillo Turi in Siena, Ridolfo's origin is unclear. The reference to the Holy Roman Empire may indicate that he studied with masters of the German school. Cagli (in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino) appears to be his place of origin, while he was active as a fencing master in Siena (in Tuscany). Ridolfo's teachings, however, do not reflect perceptible German influence, but are soundly in the Italian tradition with a notable influence from the earlier Italian school of swordsmanship of the 1500s.

Capoferro's most notable feature is his preference for a rather upright and leaning back posture when in his favorite guard of Third (Terza), a feature which is by no means a strict rule of his system though. Capoferro's manual initially discusses the principles of swordsmanship and fencing, clearly showing the manuals emphasis on fighting for self defense as opposed to the duel or sport usage. This fact is made clear by the writers reference to when it is appropriate to cause injury and how to draw the sword and deploy the dagger and cloak quickly, features which would only be necessary for self defense.

Ridolfo was one of the most celebrated masters of his day and his book has been reprinted several times and praised by later notable swordsman such as Egerton Castle who says in his 'Schools and Masters of Fence (1893)', "...but of all the Italian works on fencing none ever had such a share in fixing the principals of the science as 'Great Simulacrum of the Use of the Sword, by Ridolfo Capoferro", later adding "for once the title of the book fully represented its contents." A later edition of Capoferro's work also incorporated Biblical scenes drawn into the backgrounds of the plates.

Jakob Sutor von Baden, 1612.  Sutor's fechtbuch draws heavily from Meyer and the miniscule longsword section is included as the book's first weapon for little apparent reason other than tradition. This fechtbuch signifies the waning role of the long sword, it is primarily a rapier and dusack treatise which borrows heavily from Meyer's much more impressive work.

Francesco Ferdinando Alfieri of Padova was a 17th century master of the Italian school of swordsmanship.  He was the first Italian swordsmanship author to amply quote, reference and comment on earlier masters. For instance, we know he was an ardent admirer of earlier Paduan sword master Salvator Fabris, whom he calls "a man of the greatest name in our profession." On the other hand, he sharply criticises Achille Marozzo and Ridolfo Capoferro and strongly disagrees with some of their positions.

1850, Wayne, Henry, Sword Exercise Arranged For Military Instruction (Washington).

Corbesier's "Principles of Squad Instruction for the Broadsword" is slightly misnamed, but excellent for the purpose for which it was intended. The intention of this book was as a lesson plan to instruct a relatively large group of people (and 12 to 1 is a very high student to instructor ratio for fencing) in the basics of the cutlass. The slight misnaming is that the sword of the time (1869) for the U.S. Navy was a curved, relatively short bladed cutlass rather than a broadsword which was generally straighter and significantly longer. Nevertheless, the instructions in this book are appropriate for most one-hand, cutting type swords.

Hutton's "Cold Steel: A Practical Treatise on the Sabre" is based on the old English backsword play of the 18th century and is combined with the method of the "then" modern Italian school. This manuscript also includes other weapons including the short sword-bayonet, the constable's truncheon, and knife techniques (based on Marozzo's earlier works). With respect to the sabre, discussion surrounds the guards, moulinet, cuts, points, timing and distance, all aspects of swordplay regardless of whether longsword or sabre.  The techniques associated with the sabre differ markedly from those of the épeé and the rapier.

This 1889 classic by a pioneer of modern fencing offers both technical and historical views of the art of the sabre. Topics include a variety of different strokes and parries, methods of combining attack and defense, and associated weapons. 55 illustrations.