Introduction to English Martial Arts
English Martial Arts is a combination of a number of styles from different time periods all originating in England. Together they form a single system all drawn together by underpinning principles of combat. The system includes striking with hands and feet, grappling, joint locks and throws as well as a variety of different weapons.
Unlike many Oriental martial arts English martial arts have no living lineage and as such have been recreated from existing source material over the last few decades. The writings of Daniel Mendoza, Sir Thomas Parkyns and George Silver all form part of the modern system. The recreation of European fighting systems is a growing part of the martial arts community with a number of systems showing the complexity and sophistication many people only ascribe to more traditional, eastern martial arts. English Martial Arts are unique even in this group for the variety of techniques and the effectiveness of those techniques in the modern world.