Masters of Defense!

[Guest]

I just got the Masters of Defense video with John Waller. While I did disagree on one or two small points, I must say that I throughly enjoyed it, and recommend it wholeheartedly to all. It's amazing that in just over a half hour so much about European swords and swordsmanship could be summed up so succinctly. The whole production was wonderfully atmospheric and tantalising to the last. Their fantastic garb, the beautifully lush outdoor English settings, and the interior settings all helped to bring a terrific gravity and an essential reality to the swordmanship and the facts surrounding it. Beautiful, just beautiful! Such a shame more could not have been said about Silver, but then one can't have everything.
I learned a lot I did not know about the machanics of armour in the "How a Man Schall be Armyd" portion as well. Wonderful.

Oh, and I'm also very happy to say that I'm now officially a member of the ARMA! <img src="/forum/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

I agree, that tape is one of the all time bests. Not been surpassed. The amount of info, the scenes, the choreography, techniques, costumes, all first rate. Too bad it was not longer or have more material from the texts though. I'd love to see an update or expanded version from them.

[Brian Hunt]

I have owned both of those tapes for several years. They both a large influence on how I viewed training with swords, and what armor is supposed to be like. I have never regretted purchasing them. In fact, I think a rewatch is now in order. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Brian Hunt.

[JeanryChandler]

Where are these tapes available for purchase? I haven't been able to find it ...

JR

[Guest]

Hmmm...I wasn't aware there were two videos! Now I must have the other! <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Brian Hunt]

I got mine from museam replicas. That was a few years ago, don't know if they still sell them or not.

Brian.

[Brian Hunt]

That is a good idea Stew, an ARMA video party. Sounds like fun.

Brian.

[Brian Hunt]

I believe they used to be sold as two seperate tapes, then were later consolidated into one. . . . I have both versions here somewhere . . . . Darn the put it in a pile organization system . . . .

Brian.

[Jamie Fellrath]

I've found just one place that has it for sale now - couldn't find it at all at Museum Replicas:

http://www.leonpaul.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Videos__59.html

[JeanryChandler]

Keep in mind though, I think the tape sold at that site is on a PAL format, I believe that's unreadable by an American VCR. I know I once bought a tape from Australia which I never was able to watch...

JR

[Jamie Fellrath]

Good eye, Jeanry. It does say that right there in Black and White... "Please note this video is in VHS Pal format and will only work in a standard UK machine."

Oh well... anyone else find anything?

[Dave Housteau]

I also enjoy watching the fighting sequences on this video. It helps me when I can actually see motion as opposed to just reading and trying to piece things together. It is also a great help in seeing how different types of swords were used and how those styles varied, because of the differences in their designs.

What sticks out in my mind is his chosen choreography dealing with the rapier. I thought it looked wonderful, yet very Hollywood to me. In that I mean it seems similar to what I think of when watching some of the older screen epics. It is the footwork that impressed me the most, but I couldn't place it with a particular Master. In all my rapier sparring and videos of others, I have to say that I don't recall ever seeing anyone actually fighting in that manner, but I do like the look of it. It has style. Is it more like what Terry Brown does, basically just John Wallers own style? I have to admit that I am not very familiar with many of the rapier Masters much after Cappo Ferro though.

[Jonathan Waller]

Brandon,
I'll do my best to answer for Dad! <img src="http://www.thearma.org/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> Glad that you liked the film. I know things that Dad would like done differently, but over all he is still happy with it in the context of what it was made for.
One thing that has to be remembered with MoD, is that it was made a film, to be shown originally at The Tower of London, before the Armouries mved up to Leeds, so they were working on a limited time scale, people visiting the museum would not want to sit around for too long watching a film, so the aim was to get enough information in a short time frame.

All the best

[Jonathan Waller]

I know that both PAL and VHS versions are available of the tapes.