During the Middle Ages, the Germanic warriors developed a powerful style of combat that was equally victorious on the battlefield in times of war, on the street in suppressing riots or for personal defense, and in a judicial duels to the death. As the wars raged across Europe, fighting techniques were tempered in the forge of battle, and the German swordsmen perfected the techniques which they would pass on to the next generation.
These killing techniques were originally part of
an older oral tradition passed on from one warrior to another, but
starting in the mid 1300's we find books teaching fighting techniques
being written. These were made in small numbers, each one carefully
reproduced by hand. Some of these books were only text, while
others contained mainly illustrations. Hans Talhoffer, for example,
catalog literally hundreds of individual techniques and counters in
his Fechtbuchen (fighting manuals), even including a
section on siege warfare and special equipment that can be
used.
Most surviving combat manuals contain sections
on combat wrestling, unarmed defense against the dagger, and dagger
fighting. They show a logical system joint locks, breaks, throws,
disarms, counters, ground grappling, strikes, clinches, holds, vital
points, and more. The unarmed system is fully integrated with the
sword and spear work, and the majority of the techniques shown in the
Fechtbuchen involve some degree of "close
work”. You will see the same techniques done with all the
different weapon forms and unarmed, showing the simple yet
sophisticated nature of this system.
The Alliance Medieval German Art Of War Program focuses
on five primary areas of Medieval combat - the spear, longsword, sword &
buckler, dagger, and wrestling as
described in the earliest German fighting manuals. The skills of
masters such as Liechtenauer, Ringeck, Lignitzer, Huntfeltz, Talhoffer, and
others are presented clearly and accurately in this three-level progressive
training program. At each level of the program new skills in wrestling,
dagger, and long weapon skills are developed, building upon what has already
been learned.
Related Medieval Combat Articles:
Pictures and Reports from Medieval German
Close Combat
Seminars
Five Techniques
from the Masters of Medieval Combat
History of the
Medieval Dagger
History of
the Renaissance Dagger
Injury and Safety in Training
By Greg Mele of the Chicago
Swordplay Guild
Solthurner
Fechtbuch Dagger Fighting Techniques