In early 1409, Fiore del Liberi da Premariacco, master-at-arms to the Marquise de Ferrara, sat down to compose an illustrative treatise summarizing all he had learned of fighting in his 40 years of combat on the battlefield and in the lists. The result is one of the earliest and most systematic martial arts treatises ever written. Long-time martial artist and mediaevalist Bob Charron presents not only translations of the text, but also includes photographic sequences reconstructing each technique, unlocking the secrets of this Italian swordmaster. Fiore's work represents a complete Western martial art, which stands on a par with its Eastern counterparts, and this is sure to nurture a whole new generation of Western martial artists.