Guy Windsor is a swordsmanship practitioner, instructor, researcher, and writer. He has a broad and deep training in Western swordsmanship, and has conducted research into most of the recorded swordsmanship styles between 1300 and 1800. He is a specialist in the works of Fiore dei Liberi, Ridolfo Capoferro, the anonymous I.33, and Domenico Angelo.

He was born in Cambridge, England in 1973. His first fencing lesson was from his grandfather, Dr. Hector Apergis, from whom he learned that most vital skill: extension first!

He began regular martial arts lessons in 1985, and took up sport fencing at school in 1987, specialising in the foil for four years before adding the sabre. In 1992 he enrolled at Edinburgh University, where his studies  took a back seat to his immersion in martial arts. He also studied fencing at the University club, and represented the University on a few occasions. In 1993-4 he was in charge of sabre training for the club. During his first year at Edinburgh University, Mr Windsor met fellow sword enthusiasts, and in 1994 they formed the Dawn Duellists Society. He was also instrumental in setting up the British Federation of Historical Swordplay in 1999.

Later, Mr Windsor completed his MA in English Literature, and began work as a cabinet maker and antiques restorer, while teaching fencing at the DDS. In September 2000 he decided to teach swordsmanship full-time and in March 2001 he opened The School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki. The school now has branches and study groups all over the world.

In 2018,Guy published The Art of Sword Fighting in Earnest, a new improved academic translation of De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi. This, combined with The Duellist’s Companion, The Medieval Dagger, and a critical review of these three books, earned him a PhD from Edinburgh University.

His considerable bibliography can be found here and includes:

The Swordsman’s Companion, a training manual for medieval Italian longsword (2004)

The Duellist’s Companion, a training manual for 17th century Italian rapier (2006)

The Armizare Vade Mecum: mnemonic verses for Fiore’s art of Arms (2011)

Mastering the Art of Arms vol 1: the Medieval Dagger (2012); a training guide to Fiore’s dagger material

Veni Vadi Vici: a transcription, translation and commentary on Philippo Vadi’s De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi(2013)

Advanced Longsword: Form and Function (2016)

The Theory and Practice of Historical Martial Arts (2018)

He is currently based in Suffolk in the United Kingdom.

This year Guy is offering