The primary system that is taught in all three T.A.S. branches is that of George Silver, an English Gentleman who wrote Paradoxes of Defence in 1599 and the undated Bref Instructions Upon my Paradoxes of Defence which was probably penned in around 1605. Silver’s system uses a mix of Medieval guards and ones that were more common in later centuries. It is based around an intimate understanding of timing and distance and despite Silver stating that “no fight is complete without both blow and thrust”, his system is predominantly based around cuts.
We also teach a contemporary method of British backsword/broadsword from Joseph Swetnam's The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence. (1617). Contrary to Silver, Swetnam's method primarily favors the thrust over the cut and uses the more extended guards common to renaissance swordsmanship.
TAS also teaches the late 17C backsword method of Zachary Wylde, detailed in his 1711 work The English Master of Defence. This is an interesting work that presents smallsword, backsword, quarterstaff and wrestling. Wylde's method is easily learned and uses many of the fencing terms and guards used in later British military swordsmanship.
The backsword methods we teach at TAS cover a period of over 100 years, yet the three authors are clearly writing from a common tradition. The works are idiosyncratic but rarely contradictory- each author adding value to the teaching of the others.
Stephen Hand has written extensively on the system of George Silver, with a few publications listed below,
Wagner, Paul with Hand, Stephen and Hillyard, Mark 2003, Master of Defence: The Works of George Silver. Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado
This is a modern transcription of Silver’s works and includes essays on Silver’s system and weapons.
Hand, Stephen 2006, English Swordsmanship: The True Fight of George Silver, Volume I: Single Sword, Chivalry Bookshelf, Dallas, Texas
Stephen’s 2006 book on the system of George Silver is largely still relevant and explains Silver’s principles and practise in great depth.
Hand Stephen, 2018, Swordplay in the Age of Shakespeare, Lulu
This book examines all of the systems of swordsmanship in use in England at Silver’s time and includes a detailed chapter on Silver and his system.
Hand, Stephen 2020, Will the Real George Silver Please Stand Up, https://www.academia.edu/43902030/Will_the_Real_George_Silver_Please_Stand_Up 47p.
This is a paper that outlines Silver’s system and argues against some interpretations of Silver that contradict Silver’s writings and are unable to create a viable combat system.
Stephen has published two instructional videos on Silver's system at,
Hand, Stephen 2016, Swordplay in the Age of Shakespeare, instructional video, volume 1: George Silver's single sword at https://stephenhand.gumroad.com/
Hand, Stephen 2019, SITAOS, instructional video, volume 2: George Silver's single sword: Advanced Concepts at https://stephenhand.gumroad.com/
There are also numerous videos (too many to list individually) on Silver’s system at https://www.youtube.com/@PaulWagnerSwords/videos
Matthew Boyd has made several videos on Zachary Wylde's work:
Zachary Wylde- Critical Concepts of Swordsmanship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28Hh_cptOM
Zachary Wylde Broadsword Method- Stand Your Line!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KcOaVGOdEg
Holding the Sword- Wylde Stlye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIgx4_CM5BY
Zach Wylde's Throwing the Guards drill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Vlt80Wz2A
We also teach a contemporary method of British backsword/broadsword from Joseph Swetnam's The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence. (1617). Contrary to Silver, Swetnam's method primarily favors the thrust over the cut and uses the more extended guards common to renaissance swordsmanship.
TAS also teaches the late 17C backsword method of Zachary Wylde, detailed in his 1711 work The English Master of Defence. This is an interesting work that presents smallsword, backsword, quarterstaff and wrestling. Wylde's method is easily learned and uses many of the fencing terms and guards used in later British military swordsmanship.
The backsword methods we teach at TAS cover a period of over 100 years, yet the three authors are clearly writing from a common tradition. The works are idiosyncratic but rarely contradictory- each author adding value to the teaching of the others.
Stephen Hand has written extensively on the system of George Silver, with a few publications listed below,
Wagner, Paul with Hand, Stephen and Hillyard, Mark 2003, Master of Defence: The Works of George Silver. Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado
This is a modern transcription of Silver’s works and includes essays on Silver’s system and weapons.
Hand, Stephen 2006, English Swordsmanship: The True Fight of George Silver, Volume I: Single Sword, Chivalry Bookshelf, Dallas, Texas
Stephen’s 2006 book on the system of George Silver is largely still relevant and explains Silver’s principles and practise in great depth.
Hand Stephen, 2018, Swordplay in the Age of Shakespeare, Lulu
This book examines all of the systems of swordsmanship in use in England at Silver’s time and includes a detailed chapter on Silver and his system.
Hand, Stephen 2020, Will the Real George Silver Please Stand Up, https://www.academia.edu/43902030/Will_the_Real_George_Silver_Please_Stand_Up 47p.
This is a paper that outlines Silver’s system and argues against some interpretations of Silver that contradict Silver’s writings and are unable to create a viable combat system.
Stephen has published two instructional videos on Silver's system at,
Hand, Stephen 2016, Swordplay in the Age of Shakespeare, instructional video, volume 1: George Silver's single sword at https://stephenhand.gumroad.com/
Hand, Stephen 2019, SITAOS, instructional video, volume 2: George Silver's single sword: Advanced Concepts at https://stephenhand.gumroad.com/
There are also numerous videos (too many to list individually) on Silver’s system at https://www.youtube.com/@PaulWagnerSwords/videos
Matthew Boyd has made several videos on Zachary Wylde's work:
Zachary Wylde- Critical Concepts of Swordsmanship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28Hh_cptOM
Zachary Wylde Broadsword Method- Stand Your Line!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KcOaVGOdEg
Holding the Sword- Wylde Stlye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIgx4_CM5BY
Zach Wylde's Throwing the Guards drill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Vlt80Wz2A