Training techniques for swordshmanship/archery?

[Dreamer1206]

In my work in progress, I have a mentor, who is a veteran general, who is training a young woman in swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship. I've ridden horses for years myself, so I know how you would go about training someone to ride... but what sorts of exercises or techniques are used to train someone to fight with a sword or a bow? My story has medieval-era technology. I think it would be especially interesting to pull from the training techniques of warrior races, such as the Samurai or the Spartans, even though other parts of the culture I am developing are Celtic.

Thanks!

[The Master]

One idea for research would be to see if you can find a renaissance fan club in your area that might be able to help you out. A friend of mine was in one that did mock battles and swordplay with medieval style weapons. If you can find one perhaps they can give you some good information.

[RHFay]

but what sorts of exercises or techniques are used to train someone to fight with a sword or a bow? My story has medieval-era technology. I think it would be especially interesting to pull from the training techniques of warrior races, such as the Samurai or the Spartans, even though other parts of the culture I am developing are Celtic.

Thanks!

I know something about how the medieval knight was taught to fight. They used practice at the pell for swordsmanship, and practice at the quintain for skill with the lance. Young lads would even run at the quintain without a horse to practice the skill of handling the lance (I think the Luttrell Psalter shows something like this, or was it the Romance of Alexander?).

There are a couple of web sites that might discuss the sorts of information you seek:

http://www.thearma.org/

http://www.aemma.org/

Plus there are a couple manuscripts that might aid you. One by Hans Talhofer shows scenes with various medieval sword fighting positions:
http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/Talhoffe ... itions.htm

(Also available from Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 0114&itm=2)

And one that shows medieval sword and buckler fighting, Royal Armouries MS. I.33: http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/i33/i33.htm

(Also available as a fascimile copy from Barnes & Noble:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 8386&itm=1)

Exercise with the bow (assuming you are talking about the longbow) would be practice at the butts, in other words, target practice. Someone would start training young, and gradually move up to more and more powerful bows.

This is a pretty good book about the longbow, again available at Barnes & Noble:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 6206&itm=4

This has a little information, with some interesting-looking links:
http://www.aemma.org/training/archery/a ... ining2.htm

I hope this helped to set you on the right path. The topic can be very complex. My response was admitedly quite simplified. Check out the links, though, and you may be able to find more in-depth information.

P.S. The Luttrell Psalter at the British Library has a good period image of medieval archers practicing at the butts. The Romance of Alexander shows young knights-in-training running at the quintain on a wheeled horse.

[kodiesmith]

thank u for this informative post..this sites here will help me a lot coz im also interested in archery..again thanx

____________________
“A man of courage never needs weapons like camillus, but he may need bail.”
Man Of Courage: ninjakid

[waytanblee]

In the Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy she has Fitz, the main character, training with Hod, the swordmaster, (swordmaster in itself may be a usefull term,) but in that series she uses relatively simple terms for the whole procedure. She is renown for research herself, but you cold get away with a lot.