Expert Voices

The Western Martial Art of the Sword (Gallery)

From sword to page

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

Sebastien de Castell contributed these images to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
Sebastien de Castell recently published his first novel, "Traitor's Blade," which incorporates a tremendous amount of armed combat. As the director of strategic program development at the Vancouver Film School and a former fight choreographer and actor, de Castell brought his knowledge of swordfighting technique to the pages of the novel, capturing the art and science of swordplay.
See images from his colleagues at the Academie Duello below, and read more about his approach to choreographing swordplay on the page and on stage in his essay, "Storytellers of the Blade: Accuracy in Swordplay," and this excerpt from "Traitor's Blade."Author's Note: Photos provided by Academie Duello - Centre for Swordplay & Western Martial Arts - academieduello.com

A strong female warrior

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blad

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

Mastery of the sword is as complex an art as any martial art known today.

Alternative weapons

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

Many sword techniques became used in cane fighting — a part of the Victorian martial art, Bartitsu, after swords fell out of common use.

Design matters

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade, axe

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

The weight and structure of warhammers give them devastating striking power.

Defense and protection

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

The rapier's hilt provided protection for the hand, as well as ways of trapping an opponent's blade.

Going through the paces

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

Rapier combat demands speed, balance and tremendous precision.

Staged battle

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

The term swashbuckler comes, in part, from the sound of a rapier sweeping against the small hand-shield known as a buckler.

For the highly skilled

swords, swordplay, Traitor's Blade

(Image credit: Academie Duello )

In the right hands, a two-handed sword can take down even the most well-armored knight.
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