Italian Rapier Combat

Rating:
Summary: A remarkable piece of physical scholarship.
Review: First Published in 1610 Capo Ferro's Gran Simulacro was a typically Renaissance piece of work. Attempting to codify and analyse the skills of fencing, the work presents beautiful illustrations of mostly naked figures resembling classical statues, but locked in mortal combat. However fencers, recreationists and historians of swordplay have been hampered in understanding Capo Ferro's intention by the impenetrable historic Italian accompanying the wonderfully graphic artwork. This translation of Capo Ferro's seminal work is long overdue, by almost 400 years.

The layout of this reworking of the Gran Simulacro is refreshingly practical, and Kirby has resisted the temptation to dumb-down the technical terminology, creating an academically useful work. The second part of the book presents the text in as pure a translation as possible, with the accompanying images on facing pages.

There is inevitably a large amount of untranslatable terminology and it is likely that readers will need to keep referring to the glossary for Kirby's explanations, and the text for Capo Ferro's own explanation of his technical language. While this can slow down the reading of the work, it lends the book an academic rigour and practical usefulness it would lack if Kirby had tried to enforce inadequate translations for the sake of readability.

While this is unashamedly a straight translation, with as little modern addition as is commensurate with understanding the text, a little biographical exploration of Capo Ferro, and his world view would have been valuable.

Kirby's task is nothing less than heroic, and has resulted in a document that will become essential reading for the modern practitioner of Renaissance swordplay.

Dr Ian Stapleton
(Holds a PhD in English Renaissance Stage Swordplay)


Rating:
Summary: Italian Rapier Combat - Highly Recommended
Review: Having researched and practiced historical fencing for more than a decade, I can appreciate the hard work and challenge the transcription, translation and interpretation of ancient language pertaining to the historical fighting arts can be. Mr. Kirby has done an exemplary job of making such material available to everyone studying these fighting arts. Along with the scholastic contributions by modern day fencing masters, Maestro Ramon Martinez and Maestro Jeanette Acosta-Martinez, a serious practitioner of this fighting art would be diminished without this particular publication in their library.

Ridolfo Capo Ferro, master of the Italian rapier, whose work is based on over 200 years of Italian fencing tradition, published the original treatise in 1610, almost exactly 200 years after the first known Italian fencing treatise by the great fencing master, Fiore dei Liberi, presents to the practioner, access to the foundations of fencing so difficult to extract from historical treatises. This publication now unlocks the original treatise and makes available to every practitioner the eloquent nature and elements of Italian rapier fencing. A recommended publication that includes the 43 beautiful illustrations from the original treatise, along with the translations of the text offering the student, both visual and textual information which will enhance and refine their own technique and understanding of this art.

David M. Cvet
Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I cannot add much to what Mr. Hand has said above. All I can say is that this is a must have book for practitioners of the rapier and for those with even a passing interest in learning about European martial arts.

A big thanks to Mr. Kirby, maestros Ram?n Martinez & Jeannette Acosta-Martinez, and everyone else who helped make this translation possible.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I cannot add much to what Mr. Hand has said above. All I can say is that this is a must have book for practitioners of the rapier and for those with even a passing interest in learning about European martial arts.

A big thanks to Mr. Kirby, maestros Ramón Martinez & Jeannette Acosta-Martinez, and everyone else who helped make this translation possible.

Rating:
Summary: Italian Rapier Combat
by Ridolfo Capo Ferro
Italian Rapier
Review: I?m sure the task of translating Capo Ferro?s ?Gran Simulacro? must have been immense and certainly a labour of love. In this translation though Mr Kirby has done a great service to historical fencers, re-enactors and stage combat practitioners, as this book is clear and concise.

Having had a copy of this book on my bookshelf for a number of years it is good to at last have an opportunity read it rather than look at the pictures and try to extrapolate meaning. And it is an enthralling read starting with the glossary, which is fascinating and enormously helpful.

The direction from Capo Ferro is plain, direct and practical in nature and in this he (Ferro) is much better than many of other manuals of fence, which often include a diatribe against other masters of fence.

The book itself is easy to read and Mr Kirby?s stated aim of giving the reader Capo Ferro?s as literal a translation as possible rather than an interpretation means we get an insight into what it was to live in the seventeenth century.

This is a must have book for anyone interested in swordplay.

Rating:
Summary: italian rapier combat
Review: Just freakin' incredibile!!! the whole thing has been translated in such a way as to make the whole text perfectly clear and still retains the flavoure of the original instruction, seems very old but understandable.Like reading a historical text in old english without the slow disemation from old to new english.A monumental work by an outstanding author. My highest recommendations, if you do not have this manual, and you fence, you are in trouble from those that have it. Salute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A must have for fencing enthusiasts
Review: Ridolfo Capo Ferro has been lauded by generations of fencing authors as the man who perfected rapier fencing and who laid the foundations for much of the thrust based fencing that followed. Until now, most people had to rely on the word of these authors as they "looked at the pictures". This translation changes that. Made by three very fine rapier fencers, the Maestri Martinez and their student Jared Kirby, the translation shows a familiarity with the subject material as well as with the language. Those people like myself, who had looked at the pictures will be pleased to see the range of possibilities presented with each of Capo Ferro's 43 beautiful plates. Not only are the techniques leading to the demise of the fellow in the plate detailed, but what he should have done to avoid being skewered. This gives any student of the rapier a plethora of plainly explained drills to use, and anyone else a clear picture of the sophistication of fencing in this period.

If you are at all interested in the history of fencing or rapier fencing in particular, then you must get this book.

Stephen Hand
Author - Medieval Sword and Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33

Rating:
Summary: A must have for the renaissance martial artist
Review: The translation is straightforward, retaining the original terms, and the original artwork is some of the best, leaving little room for error and omitting any dubious modern interpretation or commentary by any self proclaimed masters.
It is also a good work for beginning students of the rapier. Master Capo Ferro includes his basic guards and stances, and explanation of many basic concepts. The techniques are also viciously effective and economical, and well described. Many of the plates include a grid on the floor for even more exact interpretation of the techniques. Definitely a must have for anyone interested in this deadly and inovative western weapon.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Have for any Historical Fencer
Review: This is an excellent work! Mr. Kirby mentions in the introduction the difficulties of translating not only a work from one language to another, and the nuances therein, but how this particular work, being written in the 17th century offers even more challenges. I am in the midst of translating an 18th century German work, and I understand these difficulties of which he speaks. To attempt a literal translation of a foreign language, and one almost four hundred years old is a bold undertaking to say the least. Yet his philosophy was to give to the reader Capo Ferro's own ideas, not those as interpreted by him. This is a noble concept, and one that I feel he carries out extremely well.
The glossary is immensely helpful. Many fencing terms either differ from one master to another, or have very gray areas within their meanings. The glossary of terms is indispensable for determining what Capo Ferro means when he uses these terms. I also agree with Kirby's concept of leaving the Italian fencing terms in their native language. The glossary aids those who do not have a fencing background and may not understand them, and fencers who are already familiar with these terms would find any English translation of them confusing at best.
The layout of the book is very clear and makes it easy to read. The interspersing of 1629 plates with those from the 1610 edition is interesting to the reader who has been familiar with one edition or the other over the years. I cannot comment decisively as to the translation of the language in itself, as I do not speak enough Italian to praise or condemn it. However, having worked on papers that deal with Italian treatises, and speaking to Maestri Martinez and Acosta-Martinez, as well as others who are fluent in Italian during the course of my research, I feel comfortable that the collaboration of Mr. Kirby, Maestri Martinez and Acosta-Martinez has produced a very solid translation.
I have been studying historical fencing for the past five years and I feel that the translation of this particular work will have an enormous impact on the historical fencing community. Hopefully we will see other masters translated in the near future.