Welcome to swordschool!
Where historical accuracy meets practical training. Learn Historical Martial Arts from world-renowned instructor and pioneering researcher of medieval and renaissance martial arts Dr Guy Windsor.
Listen to podcast episodes or audiobooks on all your favourite platforms – perfect for aural learners, and to supplement our other resources.
Brush up on your theory and terminology as if by magic with Guy’s fun, tactical and secretly educational duelling card game.
Guy frequently keeps his blog updated with thoughts, challenges, interviews and more!
latest news - 11 April '25
Hi!
The cherry blossom bloomed in my garden a week ago.
A useful reminder that things can be beautiful, and nothing lasts forever.
I’ve been eyes-deep into editing the new Vadi course for the last couple of weeks. There is a TON of material- three full days of shooting video. The course is almost ready to launch, and I’ve already added it to the Mastering the Art of Arms packages on Teachable and Sword People. Expect a full launch maybe end of next week. Hurrah!
The course covers everything you need to learn to fence with a longsword in the style of Philippo Vadi, based on my interpretation of his book De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi. The main sections are:
1. Introduction, with safety briefing, kit requirements, and my book The Art of Sword Fighting in Earnest.
2. Warm up, Footwork, and Sword Handling drills.
3. The Blows of the Sword
4. The Twelve Guards
5. Basic Training and Setting up the Plays
6. The 25 Plays of the Longsword
7. Plays from Chapters 11 and 15
8. Skill Development
So far we’re at over 70 video clips, and there’s a way to go yet. Would you like a sample? I thought so…
Here’s one of the footwork videos:
https://vimeo.com/1071693412/cb5884fb8d
And here’s one of the plays of the sword:
https://vimeo.com/1073158320/887367e819
Keep an eye out for the launch emails (there will be a limited-time discount), or get access now by subscribing to the Mastering the Art of Arms package (on Teachable and Sword People).
