The School of Fencing is essential reading for any historical swordfighter or student of martial arts or military history as it allows the reader to access the knowledge of one of the masters of the art. The book is also sure to give the modern fencer new insights into technique and a greater appreciation of the history of this exciting art. This new edition is completely annotated by Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martinez, who is currently the foremost expert in French smallsword. Her additions to this edition help clarify Domenico Angelo's text for the modern reader.
(1)Iaido is the classical Japanese discipline of drawing and cutting with the long sword in defense of an unanticipated attack, throwing off the blood and returning the sword to its sheath. It is the direct inheritor of techniques perfected by centuries of samurais whose lives and honor depended on their spirit and prowess. Babin brings together all the information needed to pursue a formal study of this art, including how to choose a sword, cut with it, take care of it and assume the clothing. He covers not only the basic moves and positions, but the entire curriculum of forms of the muso shinden ryu of iaido. Equally important, the author puts the art in its historic and social perspective, helping clarify for the reader the spiritual pathway the way of the sword offers. If you want to learn iaido, this is your textbook.
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This beautifully illustrated and detailed manual gives a very real flavor of the panache of this expert in swordsmanship and mastery of that most lethal of weapons--the rapier.
