About Ars Gladii

AG is both a study group and a "traditional" school.The nature of Western Martial Arts (WMA) requires every practitioner to constantly reevaluate the techniques they practice. New research is continuously refining or even wholesale changing our understanding of the texts. It is not uncommon for us to change our minds totally on a certain matter and retrain to the new method. This is not done frivolously, but only as the result of continued research. Therefore, though we have "instructors", even they are still students.

Historical Sources

The primary weapon of Ars Gladii is the Longsword, This weapon is well represented in most known historical treatises from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its use as a sporting weapon even continued after it was no longer used on the battlefield. In the German works that Ars Gladii studies this is referred to as Bloßfechten and Harnischfechten respectively. The method in which the weapon is employed is different for each depending on the context of the fight.

Ars Gladii works from what is now referred to by many practitioners as the "Liechtenauer" lineage, taking its name from the master Johannes Liechtenauer. His teachings where first written down in the form of Zettel or cryptic verses in c. 1389 Hausbuch HS.3227a. Several other authors from that point on wrote glosa or commentary on what these verses mean and how one performs the various techniques referenced in them. Other authors that either comment directly on Liechtenauer's verses or are identified as using techniques matching those put down in the Zettel include Sigmund Ringeck, Peter Von Danzig, Joachim Meyer , and Hans Talhoffer.

In addition to the Longsword, Ars Gladii also works with various other weapons found in the medieval German treatises including:

• Sword and Buckler [small hand held shield] using Tower Manuscript I.33
• Dagger
• Ringen , wrestling/grappling, both armed and unarmed, armored and unarmored.