Venetian Rapier

by Tom Leoni

Perhaps no other weapon represents Renaissance Italian fencing like the rapier. But do we know how it was used and how it was taught? This book takes you to the fencing School, or Salle of celebrated renaissance rapier Master Nicoletto Giganti of Venice, one among the period teachers leaving instructions on the use of this weapon. More uniquely, his 1606 text The School, or Salle is a veritable training curriculum, with its stepwise lessons and easy-to-follow explanations on the use of the rapier alone and rapier and dagger. This faithful translation of Giganti’s The School, or Salle by internationally-known rapier teacher Tom Leoni includes the complete text, original illustrations, and an introduction on rapier fencing that will make Giganti’s text easy to follow. If you are a martial artist, a fencer, or have an interest in European martial culture, this book belongs on your shelf.

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource on rapier & Dagger. Gigante probably gives the most intense explanation of two-handed fencing out there, and his lessons are compact, thorough, and terse enough for legitimate learning to take place. Interestingly, he regularly points out that he's teaching you a maneuver specifically because it's the showiest way to answer an attack, which to me is just delightful.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I decide to start drilling rapier for real, I'll probably have this book in hand. Clear, useful instruction in single rapier and rapier and dagger.