Nigel Pennick

This book is an introduction to the basic principles that underly the perception of the human body in the European tradtion, with regard to the fighting traditions of the Pagan north. It is from this tradition, that the true understanding of the nature of the human can be gained. This tradition has been recognised and honoured throughout history, by Pagan , Muslim, Christian and Atheist alike. It has served people well, in spirituality and medicine, as well as the fighting arts that are one of the distinguishing characeristices of the human being. The book features cerain less prominent, yet significant, themes from European history which include both texts and artefacts, chronicles, history, ledgendary history, myth, prophetic and symbolic writings, propaganda and ancient fiction. Even when the raw facts or data may be recorded more or less accurately, the meanings, functions and contemporary interperetations are not preserved with the artefacts. Historical records are drawin on to give an understanding of the mentality, world-view, traditons and customs of their times. From the late Middle Ages, texts exist that teach both theory and practice of various kinds of European martials arts. They encompass both the spiritual and practical aspescts, for , in truth, these must be interwoven if true principles are to be practicsed. This book is not a manual of the martial arts, for as in all crafts, one can only learn by doing. The bibliography provides ample texts from the English tradition of the last 400 years, manuals of fencing, stick-fighting, boxing and wrestling.

Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1 Cosmic physiology
The four elements
The four organs
The four humours
The sanguine temperament
The phlegmatic temperament
The melancholic temperament
The choleric temperament
The seasons and the weather
The animating spirits
The breath of life
The elixier of life
The ancient medics
Megin in North and North-Western Europe
Belief in a bodily fire
The fire of the heart
Animal magnetism
Chapter 2 The nature of the human being
Human correspondences according to Byrhtferd
Human nature according to the Welsh Bards
The basic elements
Nwyvre
The materials of the world
The eigghth part of man
Ancient Welsh medicine and the physicians of Myddfai
Physiognomy and metoposcopy
Chapter 3 In one is all
The human place in the cosmos
Spiritual oneness
Space and spiritual geometry
Pythagoras, the boxing philosopher
The pythagorean system
Sacred geometry on teh physical pllane
The spiritual body
Human biodily geometry
Dynamic body geometry
Chapter 4 The basic human warrior
A hunting they would go
Empty hand fighting
The true principles of fighting
The way of the woman warrior
The warrior's afterlife
Chapter 5 Beasts in the European martial arts
Animal warriors
Warrior fraternities in antiquity
Monkish violence
Fly characters
The risks and problems of animal warriors
Warrior animals in kingship
The passing of the day of the animal warrior
Likened to beasts
Relict fragments of the animal warrior tradition
Chapter 6 Principles and traditions of formal combat
Ceremonial combat in Western Europe
The Northern tradition judicial duel
An account of fighting on an island
The enhazelled battlefield
Noted single combats
Chapter 7 The crisis of the medieval christian knight
The retresat from nature
Ckhairstina soldies
The tainng of a mediaval knight
Initiation into knighthood
Chivalric obligations
The code of chivalry
The reversal of the accolade
The grail castle
The way out
Modern ideals
Chkapter 8 Space, time and movemnt
The geometry of land and sky
exercise
Chapter 9 Sword magic of the North
The medieval sword
Chapter 10 Shields and handled weapons
A short historiy of Ekuropean shields
Chapter 11 Magical objects and places of the warriors
Banners and battle standards
Chapter 12 The art of archery
Postscript
Glossary of terms
Bibliography… (mehr)