Book Review– Art in Combat: Collection of reference and teaching tools
Hey all. Amazingly this review Is about a book on SCA armored combat I learned about at the demo Lonely Tower did recently. And yes, I read the whole thing and enjoyed it totally! Let me tell you why.
I’ve been around SCA armored combatants for decades and heard fighters talk about their armor bites, bruises, and legendary tales. When I first joined the SCA I even thought I might try it myself. Art in Combat describes in detail the reasons learning to fight wasn’t a good idea for me. The awareness a quality fighter must have of their body position, stance, and even facial expressions takes extensive practice. And Art in Combat describes those techniques in an engaging style.
But the book is more than a how-to manual. It offers personal perspectives from people of different kingdoms, ages, and sizes. In only 77 pages and many whole pages of drawings, it captures in words the SCA’s devotion to honor, service, and learning by doing. As Art in Combat says “Come for the combat stay for the Camaraderie!”
Besides providing information on armor, pell work, shot terminology, and more it shares a few SCA legendary fighting stories you will love. Three guest writers round out its fighting skills stories. And cautions you that “The most important thing is to be safe; being pretty will come in time.”
While I paid a whopping $7.99 for it on Amazon, once I received it and turned it over the back gave me a big surprise. You can download Art in Combat online for free for SCA training and recruitment purposes. Just go to Facebook -@Ink to Edge.
Describing the support a consort provides the fighter, Jarlkona Staeina Halfdanrdottir’s comment could apply to non-combatants as well. “It is important to always remember that you are an inspiration to ALL.”