Book Review: Ultima Custodia by Bettina Miriam Sehner and Michael Lammer

Today, we will be reviewing Bettina Miriam Sehner and Michael Lammer’s book Ultima Custodia, which was published in 2023. This book covers their translation and interpretation of the I.33 techniques and features custom art by Bettina Sehner throughout.

I will primarily focus on the book’s value as an interpretation source for new fencers getting started with I.33. I will focus on three major areas: structure, presentation of techniques, and value. I will not comment on the interpretation itself. The validity of the interpretation is up to the reader to decide as they journey down their own research on I.33.
​
Please note, I interviewed Sehner late in 2023 to help promote her book. While I purchased the book myself, I am certainly grateful to Sehner for taking the time to interview me. While I believe my review is objective, it is worth pointing out any bias I may have regarding this book.

Structure

​The book is broken up into two major focuses. The first is the history of the manuscript and their translation. The second part is their interpretation of the techniques. For the interpretation section, the authors introduce the equipment for learning I.33 and the geometric basics of sword fighting, such as the center line and angles of attack. Next, the wards are introduced, including footwork and other fundamentals of swordsmanship. The interpretation section then covers the counters to the wards and specific attacks in the manuscript.

Presentation of Techniques

The translation section of I.33 includes the images of the manuscript itself which is an incredible inclusion in this book. While this does mean that there is a fair amount of white space in the book, the translations are shown with the page they are from which makes it easy to follow for a reader unfamiliar with I.33.
​
The interpretation section includes descriptive text as well as images to support their descriptions. It also includes three-dimensional renderings of the I.33 technique to add depth to the otherwise two-dimensional art of I.33.

Value

At the time of writing this blog, the book can be purchased at bladenswords.com for about $60. Because this book is a custom project of the site, you must submit a form to order it. While pricier than other interpretations on the market, the book is also hardcover and in color. This color is critical because the book also includes artwork from Sehner which makes the book also an art book, not just a translation and interpretation book.

One negative I do have with the book is the purchasing process. Many potential readers may be hesitant to purchase from their site, especially given the cost of the book. However, I purchased my copy of the book this way and had it damaged and lost during shipping. Blade and Swords promptly responded to the issue and re-shipped me a new copy without additional charges. I believe they have also improved their packaging process since then to reduce the chance of that occurring again. Many others have received their copies of the book as well which speaks to the safety of the purchasing process.

​Who I Recommend It To

This book is a great I.33 primer book for anyone looking to start their journey into I.33. While on the more expensive side for interpretations, it also doubles as a work of art that can be displayed on coffee tables and around the house. Furthermore, one of the things that forces the book to be more expensive is their inclusion of the pages of I.33, which requires royalty fees to be paid to Royal Armouries. Very few interpretation books doubles as a translation book. If you include the cost of a translation book of I.33 and the cost of a soft-covered interpretation book, you will pay around $60, which helps put into perspective the value of this book.