The German sources start
with Johannes Liechtenauer and Die Zettel, or “The Recital” - a poem written sometime in the mid 1400s. No direct record of him exists, but many of the early German fencing masters refer to him and cite “The Recital”, offering interpretations, or “glosses” on its meaning.
If you would like to study the fencing manuals yourself, Wiktenauer has many of them translated online, or you can purchase physical copies of the books. Do be aware that there are limited printings of some of these manuals and so they may be difficult to find. Interpretation and translation of the original manuscripts is ongoing and we are always making new discoveries.
In class, we refer mostly Johachim Meyer’s The Art of Combat 1570, but can also find inspiration from Sigmund ain Ringeck, Peter von Danzig, Paulus Kal, Paulus Hector Mair and Lew. We encourage all fencers to study the masters and to bring their own interpretations to class where you will find ample opportunity to test them out.