New publication: Of the Single Rapier

[KeithFarrell]

In 1671, Johannes Georgius Bruchius published the Grondige Beschryvinge van de Edele ende Ridderlijcke Scherm- ofte Wapen-Konste in Leiden, in the Netherlands. In his work, Bruchius described a style of rapier fencing that evolved from the teachings of Fabris. He presents this style through a brief explanation of the principles of fencing followed by 212 lessons.

Bruchius' weapon was the rapier: a dangerous yet elegant sword of the 17th century. Its usage was dynamic and effective, with a focus on personal safety through controlling the opponent's blade. Not only does this treatise discuss bladework by way of thrusts and parries, Bruchius teaches grappling and disarming techniques, and provides many solutions to common problems that occur during fencing practice.

Reinier van Noort first made a draft English translation of Bruchius' treatise available in 2009. In this new book, he presents his fully reworked and improved English translation of this important treatise, along with a detailed biographical study on the fencing master Bruchius.

Reinier van Noort has been researching and teaching rapier fencing since 2010, focusing mainly on the single rapier as used in the Netherlands and Germany in the late 17th century. He has translated the anonymous Vechtboek (UBL BPL 3281), Jéann Daniel L'Ange's Deutliche und gründliche Erklärung der adelichen und ritterlichen freyen Fecht-Kunst, Johann Georg Pascha's Kurtze iedoch Deutliche Beschribung handlend von Fechten auff den Stoß und Hieb, and more. Reinier has been a member of HEMAC since 2010. He received a Best Researcher Award at the 2014 HEMA Scholar Awards.

Book Details:
- Original Author: Johannes Georgius Bruchius
- Translator: Reinier van Noort
- Editors: Alwin Goethals, Keith Farrell
- Illustrators: Reinier van Noort, Ivan Čurić
- Publisher: Fallen Rook Publishing
- Date of Publication: 9th July 2015
- ISBN: 978-0-9926735-8-1
- Binding: Perfect-Bound Paperback
- Pages: 151
- Height: 17.78 cm
- Width: 22.86 cm
- Language: English

Available to purchase through the Corsair's Wares online store.

[Stacy Clifford]

Excellent! We in ARMA Houston got a lot of mileage out of Mr. van Noort's earlier translation, so it will be interesting to see what improvements he's made. This is very good manual for beginning your study of rapier, and we greatly appreciate his hard work in making it available.

[KeithFarrell]

Excellent! We in ARMA Houston got a lot of mileage out of Mr. van Noort's earlier translation, so it will be interesting to see what improvements he's made. This is very good manual for beginning your study of rapier, and we greatly appreciate his hard work in making it available.

That's wonderful to hear - I'm glad that you have been able to use this source to help with your studies! Apologies for not responding before now, I didn't receive an email to tell me that a reply had been posted.

Now that a few months have passed, do you have any further thoughts on this publication and the source material within?