FAQs
Are your books available in English?
My main work, the so-called Fechtbuch Fabian is available in English. If the English version of my page didn’t load for you by default, you can switch to it in the Menu – just press EN. I don’t plan to translate my other books at this moment but who knows what the future might bring.
Your shop doesn't offer a delivery for my country. Is there something we can do?
Please contact me at shop@martinfabian.sk. I will check the settings for bugs and glitches and check the available means of transport. It’s possibly a human error.
I am interested in ordering more books. What about shipping costs etc.?
The prices in the e-shop are set according to the real prices and costs of the carriers. If you are interested in a larger number of books or have your own carrier, feel free to contact me and we will try to find the ideal way to deliver the books.
What is a fechtbuch?
A fechtbuch, or fencing book, is a specific type of German medieval literature in which fencing masters wrote down instructions on how to conduct various types of combat. Dozens of fencing books have survived, giving us an extraordinary insight into the mentality and customs not only of knights, but also of civilians who practiced fencing to prepare themselves for hard times or to strengthen their body and mind.
Can I learn to fence from a book?
It’s certainly possible – after all, that’s how all of HEMA, or historical fencing, started. My books are written and annotated to convey as much as possible to the reader. In the end however, you will also need to practice what you will learn from it 🙂
I am interested in a seminar or workshop. How can I proceed?
Contact me at info@martinfabian.sk and we’ll try to find an available date and work out terms.
Can I pick up books in person?
You can by prior arrangement. Please contact us at shop@martinfabian.sk
Are there other, alternative modes of transport?
If you are interested in another form of transportation, contact me via shop@martinfabian.sk or via social media and we’ll see what we can do.
I would like to learn to fence. Where can I find a club?
There are many HEMA clubs around the world. The best start would be to google for “HEMA [your country]”.
Is your book going to be available in e-book format?
Eventually yes though I can’t say when.
Why does your book cost so much?
Apart from being professional literature, the book is self-published and fencing is still a relatively niche hobby. The costs of publishing such an extensive, hardcover, full color book in high quality paper are quite big. Furthermore, I have devoted more than 2000hs of work into just this book. Understanding medieval texts written in Old German is also rare nowadays.