Treatise on the Subject of Fencing: Marco Docciolini?s 1601 Fencing Treatise

Marco Docciolini's text is one of the most understudied in historical European martial arts (HEMA) because it lacks the pictures of later works like Capo Ferro or Fabris, which help facilitate understanding. This makes Piermarco Terminiello's translation all the more crucial, because without instructions in clear, readable prose, turning the text on the page into a practical art of fencing would be an immensely difficult task. Having now read Terminiello's translation, I am thrilled to say that Docciolini's instructions have been brought to life in clear, readable English. Anyone who has had a little bit of prior experience in the fencing arts should be able to pick up this book and bring to life a style of fencing that hasn't been seen in over four-hundred years. It will take time for the influence of Docciolini's text to really be felt in the HEMA community, and in rapier-fencing tournaments, but I suspect that we will be seeing more and more Docciolini-influenced fencers as a result of this clear, concise translation.

I'm just gushing over Piermarco and Steven's new translation of Docciolini. There's tons of overlap here with how I understand and teach Liechtenauer. As a 15thC guy, its nice to see something so familiar coming out of the 17thC. What's also nice are the later chapters:Two Swords, Sword and Buckler, Sword and Targe, Sword and Rotella. I think the word sword here is appropriate. It doesn't really read like a rapier text.This treatise is a real gem. Early German practitioners, don't shrug it off because of the Italian name and the year 1601. You'll see nachreisen, ansetzen, durchwechsel, versetzen and absetzen to name a few Liechtenauer concepts off of the top of my head along with a very simple and clear footwork.

I'd say a 4.5 perhaps the original text only had one diagram but in this day and age it would help with the explanation of the system if a few more diagrams were added.

Docciolini's approach is clean, straight forward, but still unique. Piermarco's translation makes this an awfully easy and pleasant read. A fantastic airplane read for anyone interested in fencing, both historical and modern.

Excellent book for doing research.

A really interesting take on the rapier. Very different than the four guards system you see in other manuals from that time period.

Fantastic and important new work

The translation is clear and concise and the advice reminds me more of an early german treatise vs the often very complex treatises of the italians or spanish that I have read (caveat). Would've loved some online resources and videos to explain some of this but there is a paucity of videos showing Docciolini in action though I found an article on HROARR with more tangential info by the authors.

Following his previous publication of translations of works by Alfieri and Giganti, Piermarco Terminiello has now turned his attention to the manual of Marco Docciolini, this time in the company of Steven Reich. Docciolino's text lacks the illustrations seen in many 17th Century Italian fencing manuals, but this is not as much of a loss as one might expect as Docciolino prefers to emphasise simpler blade work that can be easily described in prose. The one image that is present (and repeated multiple times throughout the book as well as on the cover) is a circular diagram used as a reference on how and where to step during the various actions. The inclusion of such a clear method of demonstrating footwork is unusual in contemporary fencing manuals and this alone marks the work out as notable. When we add the broad array of companion weapons covered in addition to the sword alone (two swords, sword and dagger, sword and cape, sword and buckler, sword and targa, sword and rotella, and even a brief discussion on the considerations of armoured fencing) it quickly becomes apparent why the translators chose to focus on Docciolini rather than one of the better-known texts that remain without a good-quality English translation.Piermarco and Steven have successfully rendered the original text into clear modern English, allowing the reader to easily follow the actions described despite the lack of illustrations. A number of technical terms with no clear English equivalent remain untranslated in the text (e.g. mandritto, imbroccata); these will be familiar to those with some prior knowledge of contemporary Italian fencing manuals, but a glossary is provided for the novice. There is also some discussion of related texts in both the introduction and the footnotes that help place Docciolini in context within the wider context of Italian Renaissance swordsmanship. All in all, this volume is a worthy contribution to the study of Historical European Martial Arts.

A few things worth noting that make this book particularly exciting:1) This is the first time Docciolini's text has been translated into English. The Florentine school had as distinct a style and as long a history as other contemporary systems (such as the more widely studied Bolognese school) and as such this book is a welcome resource to those wishing to study that don't have a good enough grasp of Italian. Hopefully this version will open the Florentine style up to study for a broader international audience.2) As historical fencing treatises go this one is noteworthy for the technical precision with which the author approaches the topic. Unlike other manuals which rely on illustrations Docciolini's treatise relies on detailed description illustrated using a single diagram. The level of detail examined is extraordinary - we are, for example, given a specific measurement of how wide our stance and steps should be in relation to our height. I don't think I've ever encountered another text that does this. Further to this (and as noted by other reviewers) the translation is excellent and renders these descriptions in a clear and precise modern English.3) Docciolini's treatise occupies an interesting position in the historical European martial arts tradition. Published in 1601 when Docciolini could well have been in his late 60's or early 70's, the text both reaches back to an earlier age of more 'cut and thrust' oriented fencing and forward to the thrust oriented 'rapier' era of the 17th century. An interesting selection of weapons is also covered, including a chapter on the use of two swords together for which the Florentines were renowned, and there are also various grappling techniques - once again given in detailed description.To summarise then, there is much here for the HEMA practitioner both in terms of general interest and as a fantastic resource for those wishing to take a new opportunity to study this often overlooked school of fencing.There is also a great deal here for the general reader, historian or students of modern fencing interested in the lost arts of swordsmanship in the European tradition and the good translation makes it particularly appealing for this purpose too.One last aside - one other reviewer gave a low rating for the format, I really have no idea what they are talking about, this is total nonsense the format is fine!

This is a great treatise, as a relative newcomer to rapier and sidesword I really enjoyed how the book eases you in to the system using easy to understand terminology with a chapter dedicated to each topic, this allowes you to work through the guards and cuts one at a time instead of being overloaded.Content aside, as this is a translation, I must say it flows great and is very easy to read, this coupled with the footnotes that explain connections to other sources, spelling complexities and where mistakes in the printing of the original may have been make this a great and smooth read.

I've just received this book and as a self taught sidesword Fencer I am glad to finally have a physical copy of a translated manuscript. I am impressed at the clear layout which will make study easier as well as the glossary at the beginning which will help with the Italian phrasing I may be unfamiliar with.I look forward to learning from this new manuscript.

This is very nicely done! The text flows naturally and the concepts and techniques described make sense as opposed to other similar translations. The translators also provide valuable information on Docciolini 's life and his system comparative to other masters of the time. Highly recommended!!