User:Michael Chidester

Michael Chidester
Occupation	Independent researcher MediaWiki developer
Nationality	American
Education	B.A. Philosophy
Alma mater	Brigham Young University

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This user is a native speaker of American English.

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Michael Chidester is the Editor-in-Chief of Wiktenauer and, as Director of the Wiktenauer, an officer of the Historical European Martial Arts Alliance.

Michael has been studying historical European martial arts since 2001. He was a member of the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts until 2006, where he achieved the rank of general Free Scholar, and he acted as the ARMA Provo Study Group Leader from 2007 until its dissolution in 2009. Michael co-founded the True Edge Academy of Swordsmanship in 2009, and until late 2010 was senior instructor at its Provo, UT branch.

In 2012, Michael was appointed to the newly-established position of Director of the Wiktenauer by the HEMA Alliance general council, formalizing the role of principal designer and editor that he had assumed in early 2010. As Wiktenauer lead, Michael has assembled the most complete catalog of HEMA manuscripts currently available, including such resources as scans, transcriptions, and translations, and is currently laboring to assemble a similar catalog of printed treatises. In 2013, these efforts earned him a HEMA Scholar Award for Best Supporting Researcher.

He has authored or edited various books, including The Flower of Battle: MS M 383 (2021), “…eyn Grunt und Kern aller Künsten des Fechtens”: The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a (2020), The Illustrated Meyer (2019), The Recital of the Chivalric Art of Fencing of the Grand Master Johannes Liechtenauer (2015), and The Flower of Battle of Master Fiore de'i Liberi, Volume I and Volume II (2015). In 2019, he founded the publishing company HEMA Bookshelf, whose primary mission is to produce facsimiles of fencing manuals—to date, MS Thott. 290.2º (1459), MS Ludwig XV 13 (1400), Cgm 582 (1482), Gründtliche Beschreibung der… Kunst des Fechtens (1570), and Cod.I.6.4º.2 (1420s/70s).

Michael has lectured on Medieval and Renaissance martial arts at the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI; Crossing Swords, Crossing Boundaries at the Museo dell'Arte Marziale in Botticino, Italy; the Historical Swordplay Symposium at the Massachusetts Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies in Amherst, MA; Life, the Universe, & Everything: the Marion K. “Doc” Smith Symposium at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT; and numerous HEMA events in Europe and America including the Ars Gladii Open, Blood on the River, Broken Point, Combat Con, Fechtschule America, Fechtschule New York, HEMAG Dijon, the Iron Gate Exhibition, Longpoint, Meyer Symposium, the Purpleheart Armoury Open, Shieldknock, SoCal Swordfight, Swordsquatch, and the Western Martial Arts Workshop.

In 2010, Michael received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Brigham Young University, with a minor degree in Military Science and additional coursework in Italian and Spanish. He developed a degree of fluency in the latter while living abroad in Mexico from 2002–04. He is a Research Scholar of the Meyer Freifechter Guild, a founding member of the Society for Historical European Martial Arts Studies, a member of the Western Martial Arts Coalition, and a Lifetime Member of the HEMA Alliance. He currently trains at Athena School of Arms in Watertown, MA.

Wiktenauer contributions

As principal editor of Wiktenauer, Michael has worked on virtually every article on the site, including writing descriptions, building concordances, and editing the work of others. In addition to these efforts, he has made the following larger contributions.

Translations

The following articles include Michael Chidester's translations.

• Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch (Sloane MS No.5229)
• Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)
• Codex Lew (Cod.I.6.4º.3)
• Peter von Danzig zum Ingolstadt
• Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
• Octavio Ferrara
• Fiore de'i Liberi
• Gladiatoria (MS Germ.Quart.16)
• Paulus Kal
• Kunst des Messerfechtens (Cod.Pal.Germ.430)
• Las reglas del montante (CCPB000152417-8)
• Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (Cgm 1507)
• Paride del Pozzo
• Starhemberg Fechtbuch (Cod.44.A.8)
• Οπλοδιδασκαλια sive Armorvm Tractandorvm Meditatio Alberti Dvreri (MS 26-232)

Transcriptions

Michael Chidester has transcribed some portion of the following texts.

• Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)
• De Nassavsche Wapen-Handelinge (Adam van Breen)
• Fior di Battaglia (MS Ludwig XV 13)
• Fior di Battaglia (MS XXIV)
• Flos Duellatorum (Pisani Dossi MS)
• Goliath Fechtbuch (MS Germ.Quart.2020)
• Gründtliche Beschreibung der… Kunst des Fechtens (Joachim Meyer)
• Hans Medel Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2º.5)
• Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (Cgm 3711)
• Kunst des Messerfechtens (Cod.Pal.Germ.430)
• Lo Schermo (Angelo Viggiani)
• Schermkunst (VAULT Case MS Fol.U.423.792)
• Scienza d’Arme (Salvator Fabris)
• Trattato d'uno Schermo (Cod.10723)
• Tratt‍ato della sch‍erma (MS M.383)
• Wapenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende Spiessen (Jacob de Gheyn II)

Publications

Michael Chidester has produced or contributed to the following books and journal articles.

Author

• Chidester, Michael (2020). "Codicological Description." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 3-8. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Chidester, Michael (2020). "The Bellifortis of Konrad Kyeser of Eichstätt." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 113-150. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Chidester, Michael (2020). The Illustrated Meyer: A Visual Reference for the 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer. Illus. by Tobias Stimmer. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-00-7.
• Chidester, Michael (2021). The Flower of Battle: MS M 383. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-07-6.
• Chidester, Michael (2021). "Codicological Description." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 1-10. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Chidester, Michael; Dierk Hagedorn (2021). 'The Foundation and Core of All the Arts of Fighting': The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-05-2.
• Chidester, Michael (2021). The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-13-7.
• Chidester, Michael (2022). "Codicological Description." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 1-12. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.

Editor

• Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º (2020). Trans. by Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. by Michael Chidester; Dieter Bachmann. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582 (2021). Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2 (2022). Trans. by Christian Henry Tobler; Jessica Finley. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Becker, Paul (2020). "Hans Talhoffer: Insights into the Life of a Fencing Master in the 15th Century." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 47-68. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Burger, Daniel (2021). "Hans Lecküchner of Nuremberg and His Fencing Treatise in the Long Knife." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 121-140. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Dupuis, Olivier (2021). "Fighting with Long Knife for Leisure or Self-Defense: Discussions Around the Production Contexts of Lecküchner's Fencing Manuscript." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 191-202. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Fabris, Salvator (2022). Fencing or the Science of Arms: Illustrated Edition. Trans. by A. F. Johnson. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-23-6.
• Fabris, Salvator (2022). Fencing or the Science of Arms: Unillustrated Edition. Trans. by A. F. Johnson. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-21-2.
• Finley, Jessica (2021). "'What's in a Name?' A Comparative Analysis of the Nomenclature of Johannes Lecküchner and Johannes Liechtenauer." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 157-174. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Finley, Jessica; Christian Henry Tobler (2022). "Warp and Weft: The Bauman Fight Book's Place in the Tapestry of German Fechtkunst." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 85-102. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Flatscher, Elias (2022). "das Ringen will haben dreyerlay, sterc, masß, vnd phentikait: Comparing the Ringen of Bauman's Fight Book to Modern Grappling Styles." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 157-184. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Franti, Adam (2021). "Art and Symbolism in the Genre of Fechtbücher." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 229-240. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Fritz, Falko (2021). "The Messer and Its Use in Lecküchner's Teachings." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 141-156. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2020). "Talhoffer Galore." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 69-88. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2021). "Many Magnificent Messer Manuscripts (Plus Plentiful Picturesque Prints)." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 175-190. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2022). "Joining the Dots: Additional Comments on the Connection Between Bauman's Fight Book, the Gladiatoria Group, and Fiore de'i Liberi." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 195-210. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Lee, Lucien (2022). "Messerfechten from the Augsburg Tradition." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 129-156. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Lin, Charles; Marlene Hurst (2022). "Nonlethal Tecniques in the Bauman Fight Book: Context and Application." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 185-194. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Meyer, Joachim (2023). Foundational Description of the Art of Fencing: The 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer (Reference Edition) (2 vols.). Illus. by Hans Christoph Stimmer. Trans. by Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-30-4 (Vol 1); 978-1-953683-32-8 (Vol 2).
• Meyer, Joachim (2023). Foundational Description of the Art of Fencing: The 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer (Reading Edition). Illus. by Hans Christoph Stimmer. Trans. by Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-34-2.
• Tobler, Christian Henry (2020). "Addenda and Esoterica in the Thott Talhoffer Codex." Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º: 179-186. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Van Dijk, Casper J.; Oskar ter Mors (2021). "'The Art that Hans Lecküchner Made and Devised Himself': The Martial Arts Tradition of a Fifteenth Century Bavarian Priest." Kunst und Zettel im Messer: Bavarian State Library Cgm 582: 203-228. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-16-8.
• Van Noort, Reinier; Oskar ter Mors (2022). "Transcription and English Translation of Vechtboek, Ms. BPL 3281." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 211-230. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.
• Walczak, Bartłomiej (2022). "Bauman Dagger Techniques and the Augsburg Group." Bauman's Fight Book: Augsburg University Library Ⅰ.6.4º 2: 103-128. Ed. by Michael Chidester. Medford, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-27-4.

Contact

For questions about the Wiktenauer or his research, or to inquire about donating content to the wiki, Michael can be contacted either via email or on his talk page.