Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword

by David Lindholm, Sigmund Ringeck, Peter Svard (Translator)

Ringeck's invaluable 15th-century compilation of the lessons of German fencing master Johannes Liechtenauer is given new life by two modern students of the sword. The original text is presented with extensive interpretations and detailed, instructive drawings to capture the medieval swordsman's art.

Genres: Martial Arts, History, War

248 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[James Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: Original Text, English Translation, A Modern Interpretation
Cons: Starting to show its age, but only barely

I started studying Renaissance martial arts just before this book came out. It really helped me get acquainted with the style and substance of the German combat manuals. It's fairly "newbie friendly".

As I progressed, I came to disagree with some of the interpretations, but that's what they are: modern interpretations the best the authors could do at the time. Cutting-edge research has moved on somewhat, but nevertheless this volume remains a solid reference.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a par with Christian Henry Tobler's Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship, this work has the added benefit of footwork diagrams, and the consequences of each attack shown in the illustrations, leaving no doubt that this was a lethally effective martial art. Having been published after Mr. Tobler's first book, the research here is slightly more up-to-date.

[Alexander Sotos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rumble of the subway car is interrupted by an intrusion. “Give me all your money, man.” The robber says, flashing a switchblade from his pocket. But he picked the wrong fellow on the wrong night, for he chose a quarrel with me, and I have finished Simund Ringeck’s Knightly Art Of The Longsword. “Not so, ruffian!” I cry, and draw my razor sharp longsword from the scabbard that I keep tucked away in my backpack next to my laptop and my D&D sourcebook. “Prepare to face the king’s justice!” I bellow. I proceed forward with a well practiced downward cut, and the rapscallion takes a step back. But he is a poor swordsman, and he trips himself up. My next slash opens a deep wound on his shoulder. He turns to flee and I chase him down, taking up the mordhau grip (which, as Simund Ringeck’s Knightly Art Of The Longsword teaches us, provides an advantage in close quarters) and bury the crossguard in the skull of the unseemly knave, scattering his brains all over the face of an elderly Ukrainian woman commuting home from work. Mad with glory, I rear my head back and laugh. Another victory of good over evil. Another victory for the king’s men! There will be a feast, no doubt. At the 14th street station, a quartet of police officers taze and pepper spray me the moment the doors open, and I am brought to Ryker’s Island in handcuffs only a few hours later. In an unprecedented display of mercilessness, the District Attorney has me sentenced to the electric chair within the week, and I die crying out for the glory of kings. Is there any justice left in this accursed land? Nay. Nay, I say.

[Drew Lackovic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a couple medieval sword work manuals now, and while this book provides very good practice attacks/parries, it lacks in a number of important basics -- footwork, and solo drills. Granted, this book is a more or less direct translation of the original 15th century text, which had none of these things, but for my situation -- practicing alone, the teachings of this book aren't really all that useful since I don't have a partner to practice with. To be fair, the drawings and descriptions are fairly straight forward--some of the directional arrows are confusing, but I think a lot of that would come out in practicing the maneuvers with another person.