Dr. Guy Windsor is a world-renowned instructor and a pioneering researcher of medieval and renaissance martial arts. He has been teaching the Art of Arms full-time since founding The School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki, Finland, in 2001. His day job is finding and analysing historical swordsmanship treatises, figuring out the systems they represent, creating a syllabus from the treatises for his students to train with, and teaching the system to his students all over the world. Guy is the author of numerous classic books about the art of swordsmanship and has consulted on swordfighting game design and stage combat. He developed the card game, Audatia, based on Fiore dei Liberi's Art of Arms, his primary field of study. In 2018 Edinburgh University awarded him a PhD by Research Publications for his work recreating historical combat systems. When not studying medieval and renaissance swordsmanship or writing books Guy can be found in his shed woodworking or spending time with his family.
The Scoliotic Knight- and a free mechanics course!
|
Hi! Exciting times at Swordschool this week... first up, renowned historian, curator, arms and armour expert, and jouster Dr. Toby Capwell has released his famous lecture "The Scoliotic Knight: Encounters with Richard III" on video for the first time. The discovery in Leicester of the grave of King Richard III (1452-85) raised many new questions. The skeleton’s severe scoliosis revealed that the twisted physique of William Shakespeare’s ‘Black Legend’ was based on fact. But how could someone with such a spinal condition have worn armour and mastered the art of combat? What did his armour look like? To explore these and other many other fascinating questions, Toby traces the unlikely (but true) story of his involvement in the investigation of Richard III’s remains, the Channel 4 documentaries, the reburial in 2015, and the 2022 feature film The Lost King. Sound like fun? You can buy the 100+ minute lecture here for just £25. And, as if that wasn't enough, you can get my new Mechanics course free from the same platform. Members of the Mastering the Art of Arms subscription have had access to it for a while now, but it's time for everyone else to have a go too. This course is a deep dive into how I examine positions and movements, for research purposes, and to develop martial skill. Enrol in Fundamentals: Body Mechanics free here. Well, that should keep you busy! cheers, Guy |
Guy Windsor's Swordschool
Dr. Guy Windsor is a world-renowned instructor and a pioneering researcher of medieval and renaissance martial arts. He has been teaching the Art of Arms full-time since founding The School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki, Finland, in 2001. His day job is finding and analysing historical swordsmanship treatises, figuring out the systems they represent, creating a syllabus from the treatises for his students to train with, and teaching the system to his students all over the world. Guy is the author of numerous classic books about the art of swordsmanship and has consulted on swordfighting game design and stage combat. He developed the card game, Audatia, based on Fiore dei Liberi's Art of Arms, his primary field of study. In 2018 Edinburgh University awarded him a PhD by Research Publications for his work recreating historical combat systems. When not studying medieval and renaissance swordsmanship or writing books Guy can be found in his shed woodworking or spending time with his family.
Hi! Thanks to everyone who bought the new Vadi Longsword Course. It was great fun to make it, but even more satisfying when people actually want it. I’m happy to report that Jo York and I are recording the rest of my interpretation this very week! Which leads to a good day at the office: Followed by an even better day at the office! There will be some bonus material added to the Longsword course in due course, and probably an entire separate course with Vadi's dagger plays. We're also...
Hi! Oh my did my last email ever fall foul of the deliverability gods. It had about a quarter of the expected open rate, and several regular subscribers got in touch to say it had landed in the "this is crap" folder. I had a word with support and I think it's the link formatting that's done it. So, if you're looking for the new Vadi course, it's here. The discount will expire on Monday. The point I was trying to make in my last, totally useless, email was that the course covers the full...
Hi! Every martial art is a way of moving and a set of tactical preferences. A martial artist fails under pressure when the pressure prevents them from moving correctly, or applying the correct tactic. There's a huge gap between knowing the choreography of a movement, or the basic position represented by one of Vadi's guard illustrations, and actually being able to apply the technique or concept. In the new Vadi course we establish the way of moving (as I see it), and go through all of Vadi's...