Kung Fu is not the only form of martial arts. The Europeans had their
own martial arts history in the form of sword arts. In some of the
Western cultures, sword arts are just as recognized as martial arts in
many of the Eastern cultures. "The Art of War," which is the literal
meaning of martial arts, is not restricted to what we normally see on
television or in movies.
During 12th Century Europe, the sword arts flourished in the form of
many fencing schools throughout the continent. Many of these schools
produced numerous manuals on the sword arts that have survived the
ages. These manuals have proven to be valuable resources as martial
arts history of western sword arts. Without them, many of the finer
techniques might have been lost.
The western sword arts weren't limited to blades alone: many aspects
included grappling and wrestling techniques as well. Other weapons
(daggers, axes, pole arms, and shields) were also a part of the
training. A wide variety of swords were created to accommodate the foot
soldier and mounted rider....

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