the classic Western approach to learning, modern practitioners can exam-
ine methods of the Masters of Defence from their own words and pictures.
The old schools of the Noble Science, as the martial art of fencing be-
came known, relied on time-honored lessons of battlefield and street duel,
but due to historical and social forces (e.g., introduction of firearms and in-
dustrialization) the traditional teachings of European masters fell out of
common use. With each generation, fewer students arrived, and the old ex-
perts died off. As a fighting tradition in Europe, the Renaissance martial
arts that had descended from those of medieval warriors became virtually
extinct, and no direct lineage back to historical teachings or traditional in-
structors exists. Later centuries in Europe saw only limited and narrow ap-
plication of swords and traditional arms, which survived to become mar-
tial sports. What survives today of the older teachings in the modern poised
sport of fencing is only a shadow, which bears little resemblance to its Re-
naissance street-fighting predecessor and is far removed from its martial
origins in the early Middle Ages. Although, unlike many Asian arts, no true
schools survive, many enthusiasts are hard at work reconstructing Euro-
pean martial traditions. Through the efforts of modern practitioners study-
ing the works of the masters and training with replica weapons, the her-
itage of the Masters of Defence is slowly being recovered.
John Clements
See alsoChivalry; Europe; Knights; Swordsmanship, European Medieval;
Swordsmanship, European Renaissance; Wrestling and Grappling:
Europe
References
Anglo, Sydney. 1988. “How to Kill a Man at Your Ease: Chivalry in the
Renaissance.” Antiquaries Journal67: 1–4.
———. 1989. “How to Win at Tournaments: The Techniques of Chivalric
Combat.” Antiquaries Journal68: 248–264.
Aylward, J. D. 1956. The English Master of Arms, from the Twelfth to the
Twentieth Centuries. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Castle, Egerton. 1969. Schools and Masters of Fence: From the Middle Ages
to the Eighteenth Century.1885. Reprint, London: Arms and Armour
Press.
Chronik alter Kampfkünst: Zeichnungen und Texte aus Schriften alter Meis-
ter, entsanden 1443–1674. 1997. Berlin: Weinmann.
Clements, John. 1998. Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Techniques and
Methods.Boulder, CO: Paladin Press.
———. 1997. Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use of Rapiers
and Cut and Thrust Swords.Boulder, CO: Paladin Press.
di Grassi, Giacomo. 1594. His True Arte of Defence.London: I. G. Gentleman.
Galas, S. Matthew. 1997. “Kindred Spirits: The Art of Sword in Germany
and Japan.” Journal of Asian Martial Arts6, no. 3: 20–47.
Hutton, Alfred. 1892. Old Swordplay: The System of Fence in Vogue during
the XVIth, XVIIth, and XVIIIth Centuries, with Lessons Arranged from
the Works of Various Ancient Masters.London: H. Grevel.326 Masters of Defence