The classic cut-and-thrust of the Hollywood movies had a basis in reality. The cup-hilt rapier, with its light and flexible blade, did not require a left-hand dagger for defense.

​This was the sword of the French Musketeers and of the Spanish Conquistadors--the most feared swordsmen in Europe. Our team shows how the art and sport of fencing began with this weapon, and compares the reality of the weapon with the myth of its use. Hosted by actor and fight master Peter Woodward. 

One of the quintessential images of medieval life, the tournament lasted well into Tudor times. Actor and fight master Peter Woodward investigates the purpose of these extraordinary and colorful events and how its many forms--the foot tourney, joust on horseback, the melee--developed from the ancient trial of combat. Our team experiments with weapons and armor designed for tournament, examines the rules of combat and the notion of chivalry, and joins a medieval tournament team for a joust on horseback!

Conquest is a documentary show by the History Channel, which demonstrates the technologies and tactics used by conquering armies over the centuries. In Roman Weapons, the Conquest team uses detailed replicas of the weapons used by the Ancient Romans, along with re-enactments, to show how the Romans achieved their victories. ​

Actor and fight master Peter Woodward guides viewers back to a time when knowing how to swing an ax meant the difference in life and death. Our experts practice with the Viking single- and double-headed types and learn that in the right hands these difficult and exhausting weapons had no equal. We also examine the berserker, an ax-wielding Viking warrior who worked himself into a state of concentrated fury. Finally, we look at the double-headed Saxon ax that was nearly the size of a man. ​

Actor and fight master Peter Woodward teaches the Conquest Team a brief history of pirates. The team learns about the weapons of 17th-century Caribbean pirates and various combat techniques with them, both offensive and defensive. Then the team members face off against the crew of a merchant vessel to find out if they have learned how to win with pirate weapons.
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Actor and fight master Peter Woodward returns to the days of chivalry to find out why personal armor developed--from horn and linen to chain mail to full plate. We visit an armorer's workshop to see how it was made, and our expert team tries on various types, including the classic medieval plate armor, to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and tests fighting techniques with various knightly armor-piercing weapons. Then, we put the armored knight in his proper place--mounted on a charger!

The Roman Empire seemed destined to conquer the world. Their relentless march was tested time and again against the unorthodox weaponry of the Celtic and Germanic Barbarian hordes. Join Peter Woodward and his Conquest team as they explore the weapons and strategies employed by the Barbarians to stand and triumph against the Roman tide.