History of English Martial Arts – an article by Terry Brown, English Martial Artist.
England is not the first home of the English; their ancestral home
which was known as Angeln, was situated on the mainland of continental
Europe in an area that roughly corresponds to the southern half of
present day Denmark. The Engle, as the English were then known, were a
Germanic race so it is likely that their culture would have had
something in common with that of other Germanic races who settled the
region. It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose certain likenesses
in the military skills of the early English and the methods of other
early Germanic peoples of Western Europe. In this context it may then be
possible to deduce, or infer, some knowledge of the military practices
of the Engle (English) from classical sources such as Tacitus.It is human nature to improve knowledge and hone skills, attitudes epitomised by martial artists. Each generation of martial artists will avidly absorb instruction from their teachers and then just as avidly pass it on to the next generation. It is likely that the martial knowledge of the English was passed from generation to generation in this way for centuries (as it was/is for example in China). In addition to inherited knowledge there would also have been imported knowledge resulting from, for example, the Danish and Norman
invasions.
In earlier times, when populations were relatively small, martial skills were taught to male children by relatives, family friends, or perhaps even by the tribe's 'champion'. However, as the population and the demand for martial training grew, schools specific to that purpose began to appear (known to the English as Scholes of Fence) We know that such schools were in existence at least as early as the 12th century because of the following legislation (circa 1180 A.D.) recorded in the liber albus (white book).
...And that nobody may hold school of sword and buckler within the city on pain of imprisonment.
The above date is the earliest known evidence of the existence of such schools; even so, it should not be taken to mean that such schools were not in existence before that date. Indeed, the legislation infers that such schools were already prevalent which opens up the possibility of an even earlier origin. Similar legislation was passed a century later (1285 A.D.) during the reign of King Edward I, proving not only the continuing popularity of martial arts in England but also the ineffectiveness of such legislation in the first place.
Schools of martial arts continued to thrive and were still in existence as late as the 19th century. However, a period of particular interest is the 1500's and early 1600's since it is during this period that the Company of the Maisters of the Science of Defence is known to have existed. It is largely from this era onwards that the bulk of {known} methods, principles, and philosophies of English martial arts derive. Although there are earlier written examples, eg. a marvellous English manuscript from the 15th century (Harl. ms.3542) which is a set of instructions for using the two-hand sword.
This has, of necessity, been the briefest of looks at the history of a wonderful system of martial arts, which is the equal of any in the world.
