Encyclopedia Britannica - Foil-Fencing, E-book, do posegregowania
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FoilFencing
BasedupontheFoilFencingentryoftheEncyclopediaBritannica
EleventhEdition
.
1911
Introduction.
TheFoil
Thewordfoilisusedinseveralspellings(foyle,file,
&c.)bytheEnglishwritersofthelasthalfofthe
16thcentury,butlessinthesenseofaweaponofde-
fencethanmerelyasanimitationofarealweapon.
Bluntswordsforpracticeinfencinghavebeenused
inallages.Forthemostpartthesewereofwood
andflatingeneralform,butwhen,towardsthe
closeofthe17thcentury,allcuttingactionwiththe
small-swordwasdiscarded,foil-bladeswereusually
madeofsteel,andeitherround,three-corneredor
four-corneredinform,withabuttoncoveringthe
point.ThefoiliscalledinFrenchfleuret,andin
Italianfiorelto(literallybud)fromthisbutton.The
classicsmall-swordplayofthe17thand18thcen-
turiesisrepresentedatthepresenttimebyfencing
withtheepeedecombat,whichismerelythemod-
ernduelling-swordfurnishedwithabutton,andby
foil-fencing.Foil-fencingisaconventionalart,its
characteristiclimitationlyingintherulethatno
hitsexceptthoseonthebodyshallbeconsidered
good,andnoteventhoseunlesstheybegivenin
strictaccordancewithcertainstandardprecepts.
Inepee-fencingonthecontrary,atouchonany
partoftheperson,howevergiven,isvalid.Foil-
fencingisconsideredthebasis,sofaraspractice
isconcerned,ofallsword-play,whetherwithfoil,
epeeorsabre.
Therearetworecognizedschoolsoffoil-fencing,
theFrenchandtheItalian.TheFrenchmethod,
whichisnowgenerallyadoptedeverywhereexcept
inItaly,isdescribedinthisarticle,referencebeing
madetotheimportantdierencesbetweenthetwo
schools.
Thefoilconsistsofthebladeandthehandle.The
blade,whichisofsteelandhasaquadrangular
section,consistsoftwoparts:thebladeproper,
extendingfromtheguardtothebutton,andthe
tongue,whichrunsthroughthehandleandisjoined
tothepommel.Thebladeproperisdividedinto
theforte,orthickerhalf(nextthehandle),andthe
foibleorthinnerhalf.Someauthoritiesdividethe
bladeproperintothreeparts,theforte,middleand
foible.Thehandleiscomprisedoftheguard,the
gripandthepommel.Theguardisalightpieceof
metalshapedlikethefigure8(Fr.lunettes,spec-
tacles)andbackedwithapieceofstileatherof
thesameshape.Thegrip,whichisgraspedby
thehand,isahollowpieceofwood,usuallywound
withtwine,throughwhichthetongueoftheblade
passes.Thepommelisapieceofmetal,usually
pear-shaped,towhichtheendofthetongueis
joinedandwhichformstheextremityofthehandle.
Thebladefromguardtobuttonisabout33in.long
(No.5),thoughasomewhatshorterandlighter
bladeisgenerallyusedbyladies.Thehandleis
about8in.longandslightlycurveddownwards.
ThegenuineItalianfoildiersfromtheFrenchin
havingthebladeatriflelongerandmorewhippy,
andintheformofthehandle,whichconsistsofa
thin,solid,bell-shapedguardfrom4to5in.indi-
ameter,astraightgripandalightmetalbarjoining
thegripwiththeguard,beyondtheedgeofwhich
itextendsslightlyoneachside.Oflateyearsmany
ItalianmastersuseFrenchbladesandevendiscard
thecross-bar,retaining,however,thebell-guard.
Inholdingthefoil,thethumbisplacedonthetopor
convexsurfaceofthegrip(thesidesofwhicharea
triflenarrowerthanthetopandbottom),whilethe
palmandfingersgrasptheotherthreesides.This
isthepositionofsupinationorthumb-up.Prona-
WithadditionaltypesettingandrewordingbyNeville
Gawley,2003.
1
FoilFencing
2
tionisthereverseposition,withtheknucklesup.
TheFrenchlaystressuponholdingthefoillightly,
thenecessarypressurebeingexertedmostlybythe
thumbandforefinger,theotherfingersbeingused
moretoguidethedirectionoftheexecutedmove-
ments.Thisisinordertogivefreescopetothe
doigt´e(fingering),orthefacultyofdirectingthe
pointofthefoilbytheactionofthefingersalone,
andincludesthepossibilityofchangingtheposition
ofthehandonthegrip.Thus,inparrying,theend
ofthethumbisplacedwithinhalfaninch,oreven
less,oftheguard,whileinmakingalunge,thefoil
isheldasnearthepommelaspossible,inorderto
gainadditionallength.Itwillbeseenthatdoigt´e
isimpossiblewiththeItalianfoil,inholdingwhich
theforefingerisfirmlyinterlacedwiththecross-
bar,preventinganymovementofthehand.The
lightnessofgraspinculcatedbytheFrenchisillus-
tratedbytheruleofthecelebratedmasterLafau-
gre:Holdyourswordasifyouhadalittlebirdin
yourhand,firmlyenoughtopreventitsescape,yet
notsofirmlyastocrushit.Thislightnesshasfora
consequencethatadisarmamentisnotconsidered
ofanyvalueintheFrenchschool.
4.Carrythefoil,withoutalteringthepositionof
thehands,abovetheheaduntilthearmsare
fullyextended,thefoilbeingkepthorizontal
andclosetothebodyasitislifted.
5.Lettheleftarmfallbackbehindtheheadto
acurvedposition,thehandbeingoppositethe
topofthehead;atthesametimebringthe
righthanddownoppositetherightbreastand
about8in.fromit;keepingtheelbowwellin
andthepointofthefoildirectedtowardsthe
opponentseye.
6.Bendthelegsbyseparatingthemattheknees
butwithoutmovingthefeet.
7.Shifttheweightofthebodyontotheleftleg
andadvancetherightfootashortdistance
(from14to18in.,accordingtotheheightof
thefencer).
IntheItalianschoolthefencerstandsonguard
withtherightarmfullyextended,thebodymore
eaced,i.e.theleftshoulderthrownfartherback,
andthefeetsomewhatfartherapart.Atthe
presenttime,however,manyofthebestItalian
fencershaveadoptedtheguardwithcrookedsword-
arm,owingtotheirabandonmentoftheoldlong-
foilblade.
Preliminaries
ToComeonGuard.Thepositionofonguard
isthatinwhichthefencerisbestpreparedbothfor
attackanddefence.Itistakenfromthepositionof
attention;thefeettogetherandatrightangleswith
eachother,headandbodyerect,facingforwardin
thesamedirectionastherightfoot,leftarmand
handhangingintouchwiththebody,andtheright
armandfoilformingastraightlinesothatthe
buttonisabout1yd.infrontofthefeetand4in.
fromthefloor.Fromthispositionthemovements
tocomeonguardareseveninnumber:
1.Raisethearmandfoilandextendthemto-
wardstheadversary(ormaster)inastraight
line,thehandbeingoppositetheeye.
TheRecover(atthecloseofthelessonoras-
sault).Torecoverinadvance:extendtherightarm
atrightangleswiththebody,droptheleftarm
andstraightenthelegsbydrawingtherearfoot
uptotheOneinadvance.Torecovertotherear
extendtherightarmanddroptheleftasbefore,
and.straightenthelegsbydrawingtheforward
footbacktothatintherear.
TheSalutealwaysfollowstherecover,thetwore-
allyformingonemanœuvre.Havingrecovered,
carrytherighthandtoapositionjustinfrontof
thethroat,knucklesout,foilverticalwithpointup-
wards;thenlowerandextendthearmwithnailsup
untilthepointis4in.fromthefloorandslightlyto
theright.
2.Dropthearmandfoilagainuntilthepointis
about4in.fromthefloor.
3.Swingthebuttonroundsothatitshallpoint
horizontallybackwards,andholdthehiltto
theleftthigh,theopenfingersofthelefthand
beingheld,knucklesdown,againsttheguard
andalongtheblade.
ToAdvanceBeingonguard,takeashortstep
forwardwiththerightfootandlettheleftfoot
followimmediatelythesamedistance,theposition
ofthebodynotbeingchanged.Howeverthestep,
FoilFencing
3
orseriesofsteps,ismade,therightfootshould
alwaysmovefirst.
Defence
Forthepurposeofnomenclaturethespaceonthe
fencersjacketwithinwhichhitscountisdivided
intoquarters,thetwoupperonesbeingcalledthe
highlines,andthetwoloweronesthelowlines.
Thusathrustdirectedattheupperpartofthe
breastiscalledanattackinthehighlines.Inlike
mannertheparriesarenamedfromthedierent
quarterstheyaredesignedtoprotect.Thereare
fourtraditionalparriesexecutedwiththehandin
supination,andfourothers,practicallyidenticalin
execution,madewiththehandheldinpronation.
Thustheparriesdefendingtheupperright-hand
quarterofthejacketaresixte(sixth;withthehand
insupination)andtierce(third;handinprona-
tion).Thosedefendingtheupperleft-handquarter
arequarte(fourth;insupination)andquinte(fifth;
inpronation).Thosedefendingthelowerright-
handquarterareoctave(eighth;insupination)and
seconde(second;inpronation).Thosedefending
thelowerleft-handquarterareseptime(seventh;
insupination),moregenerallycalleddemi-cercle,
orhalf-circle;andprime(first;inpronation).
ToRetreatThisisthereverseoftheadvance,
theleftfootalwaysmovingfirst.
TheCalls(deuxappels)Beingonguard,tapthe
floortwicewiththerightfootwithoutalteringthe
positionofanyotherpartoftheperson.Theobject
ofthecallsistotesttheequilibriumofthebody,
andtheyareusuallyexecutedasapreliminaryto
therecover.
TheLungeisthechiefmeansofattack.Itisim-
mediatelyprecededbythemovementofextension,
infactthetworeallyformonecombinedmove-
ment.Extensionisexecutedbyquicklyextending
therightarm,sothatpoint,handandshoulder
shallhavethesameelevation;nootherpartofthe
personismoved.Thelungeisthencarriedoutby
straighteningtheleftlegandthrowingforwardthe
rightfoot,sothatitshallbeplantedasfarforward
aspossiblewithoutlosingtheequilibriumorpre-
ventingaquickrecoverytothepositionofguard.
Theleftfootremainsfirmlyinitsposition,theright
shoulderisadvanced,andtheleftarmisthrown
downandback(withhandopenandthumbup),
tobalancethebody.Therecoverytotheposition
ofguardisaccomplishedbysmartlythrowingthe
bodybackbytheexertionoftherightleg,untilits
weightrestsagainontheleftleg,therightfootand
armsresumingtheiron-guardpositions.Thepoint
uponwhichtheFrenchschoollaysmoststressis,
thatthemovementofextensionshall,ifonlybya
fractionofasecond,actuallyprecedetheadvance
oftherightfoot.Theobjectofthisistoensure
theaccuracyofthelunge,i.e.thedirectionofthe
point.
TheParries
ThetendencyoftheFrenchschoolhasalwaysbeen
towardssimplicity,especiallyofdefence,andatthe
presentdaytheparriesmadewiththeknucklesup
(pronation),althoughrecognizedandtaught,are
seldomifeverusedagainstastrongadversaryin
foil-fencing,owingprincipallytothetimelostin
turningthehand.Thetheoryofparryingistoturn
asidetheopponentsfoilwiththeleastpossibleex-
penditureoftimeandexertion,usingthearmas
littleaspossiblewhilelettingthehandandwrist
dothework,andopposingtheforteofthefoilto
thefoibleoftheadversarys.Thefoiliskeptpointed
asdirectlyaspossibletowardstheadversary,and
theparriesaremaderatherwiththecornersthan
thesidesoftheblade.Theslightestmovementthat
willturnasidetheopponentsbladeisthemostper-
fectparry.Therearetwokindsofparries,sim-
ple,inwhichtheattackiswardedobyasingle
movement,andcounter,inwhichanarrowcircle
isdescribedbythepointofthefoilroundthatof
theopponent,whichisthusenvelopedandthrown
aside.Therearealsocomplexparries,composed
TheGainThisconsistsinbringinguptheleft
foottowardstheright(thebalancebeingshifted),
keepingthekneesbent.Inthismannerastepis
gainedandanexceptionallylonglungecanbemade
withouttheknowledgeoftheadversary. Itisa
commonstratagemoffencerswhosereachisshort.
FoilFencing
4
ofcombinationsoftwoormoreparries,whichare
usedtomeetcomplicatedattacks,buttheyareall
resolvableintosimpleparries.Inparrying,thearm
isbentaboutatrightangles.
ParryofSixte(againstthrustsattheup-
perright-handside)Thisparryis,togetherwith
quarte,themostimportantofall.Itisexecuted
withthehandheldinsupinationoppositetheright
breast,aquick,narrowmovementthrowingthead-
versarysbladetotheright.
SimpleParries
Theoriginofthenumericalnomenclatureofthe
parriesisamatterofdispute,butitisgenerally
believedthattheyreceivedtheirnamesfromthe
positionsassumedintheprocessofdrawingthe
swordandfallingonguard.Thusthepositionof
thehandandblade,themomentitisdrawnfrom
thescabbardontheleftside,ispracticallythatof
thefirst,orprime,parry.Togofromprimetosec-
ondeitisonlynecessarytodropthehandandcarry
itacrossthebodytotheleftside;thencetotierce
isonlyamatterofraisingthepointofthesword,
&c.
ParryofSeptimeorHalf-Circle(towardo
thrustsatthelowerleft-handside)isexecutedby
describingwiththepointofthefoilasmallsemicir-
cledownwardandtowardstheleft,thehandmov-
ingafewinchesinthesamedirection,butkept
thumbup.
ParryofOctave(againstthrustsatthelower
right-handside)isexecutedbydescribingwiththe
pointofthefoilasmallsemicircledownwardand
towardstheright,thehandmovingafewinchesin
thesamedirection,butkeptthumbup.
ParryofPrime(towardoattacksusuallyon
thelowerleft-handsideofthebody).Holdthe
hand,knucklesup,oppositethelefteyeandthe
pointdirectedtowardstheopponentsknee.This
parryisnowregardedmoreasanelegantevolu-
tionthanasoundmeansofdefence,andislittle
employed.
CounterParries
(Fr.contre).Althoughthesimpleparriesarethe-
oreticallysucientfordefence,theyaresoeasily
deceivedbyfeintsthattheyaresupplementedby
counterparries,inwhichthebladedescribesnar-
rowcircles,followingthatoftheadversaryand
meetingandturningitaside;thusthepointde-
scribesacompletecirclewhilethehandremains
practicallystationary.Eachsimpleparryhasits
counter,madewiththehandinthesameposition
andonthesamesideasinthesimpleparry.The
twomostimportantarethecounterofquarteand
thecounterofsixte,whilethecountersofseptime
andoctavearelessused,andtheotherfouratthe
presenttimepracticallynever.
ParryofSeconde(againstthrustsatthelower
right-handside).Thisisexecutedbyaquick,not
toowidemovementofthehanddownwardsand
slightlytotheright,knucklesup.
ParryofTierce(againstthrustsattheupper
right-handside).Aquick,drybeatonthead-
versarysfoibleisgiven,forcingittotheright,the
hand,inpronation,beingheldoppositethemiddle
oftherightbreast.Thisparryhasbeenpractically
discardedinfavorofsixte.
CounterofQuarte.Beingonguardinquarte
(withyouradversarysbladeontheleftofyours),
ifhedropshispointunderandthrustsinsixte,in
otherwordsatyourrightbreast,describeanarrow
circlewithyourpointroundhisblade,downward
totherightandthenupovertotheleft,bringing
handandfoilbacktotheirpreviouspositionsand
catchingandturningasidehisbladeontheway.
ParryofQuarte(againstthrustsattheupper
left-handside).Thisparry,perhapsthemostused
ofall,isexecutedbyforcingtheadversarysbladeto
theleftbyadrybeat,thehandbeinginsupination,
oppositetheleftbreast.
ParryofQuinte(againstthrustsattheleft-
handside,likequarte).Thisispracticallyalow
quarte,andislittleused.
TheCounterofSixteisexecutedinasimilar
manner,butthecircleisdescribedintheoppo-
FoilFencing
5
sitedirection,throwingotheadversebladetothe
right.
TheCountersofSeptimeandOctavearesimilar
totheothertwobutareexecutedinthelowlines.
SimpleAttacks.Thecharacteristicofwhich
ispace,arethosemadewithonesimplemove-
mentonlyandarefourinnumber,viz,the
StraightLunge,theDisengagement,theCounter-
disengagementandtheCut-over.TheStraight
Lunge(coupdroit),usedwhentheadversaryis
notproperlycoveredwhenonguard,isdescribed
aboveunderLunge.TheDisengagementismade
bydroppingthepointofthefoilundertheoppo-
nentsbladeandexecutingastraightlungeonthe
otherside.Itisoftenusedtotakeanopponent
unawaresorwhenhepressesundulyhardonyour
blade.TheCounter-disengagementisusedwhen
theadversarymoveshisblade,i.e.changestheline
ofengagement,uponwhichyouexecuteanarrow
circle,avoidinghisblade,andthrustinyourorig-
inalline.TheCut-over(coup)isadisengagement
executedbypassingthepointofthefoiloverthat
oftheadversaryandlungingintheoppositeline.
Thepreliminarymovementofraisingthepointis
madebytheactionofthehandonly,thearmnot
beingdrawnback.
ComplexorCombinedParriesaresuchasare
composedoftwoormoreparriesexecutedinimme-
diatesuccession,andaremadeinanswertofeint
attacksbytheadversary(seebelow);e.g.being
onguardinquarte,shouldtheadversarydrophis
pointunderandfeintattherightbreastbutde-
flectthepointagainandreallythrustontheleft,
itisevidentthatthesimpleparryofsixtewould
covertherightbreastbutwouldleavetherealpoint
ofattack,theleft,entirelyuncovered.Thesixte
parryisthereforefollowed,asacontinuationofthe
movement,bytheparryofquarte,oracounter
parry.Thecomplexparriesarenumerousandde-
pendupontheattacktobemet.
Engagement isthejunctionoftheblades,the
dierentengagementsbeingnamedfromthepar-
ries.Thus,ifbothfencersareinthepositionof
quarte,theyaresaidtobeengagedinquarte.To
engageinanotherline(ChangeofEngagement)
e.g.fromquartetosixte,thepointisloweredand
passedundertheadversarysblade,whichispressed
slightlyoutward,soastobewellcovered(calledop-
position).DoubleEngagementiscomposedoftwo
engagementsexecutedrapidlyinsuccessioninthe
highlines,thelastwithopposition.
FeintAttacks.deceptiveincharacter,arethose
whichareprecededbyoneormorefeints,orfalse
thrustsmadetoluretheadversaryintothinking
themrealones.Afeintisasimpleextension,often
withaslightmovementofthebody,threatening
theadversaryinacertainline,forthepurposeof
inducinghimtoparryonthatsideandthusleave
theotheropenfortherealthrust.Atthesame
timeanymovementofthebladeoranypartofthe
bodytendingtodeceivetheadversaryinregardto
thenatureoftheattackabouttofollow,mustalso
beconsideredaspeciesoffeint.Theprincipalfeint
attacksaretheOne-Two,theOne-Two-Threeand
theDouble.
TheOne-Twoisafeintinoneline,followed(asthe
adversaryparries)byathrustintheoriginalline
ofengagement.Thus,beingengagedinquarte,you
dropyourpointundertheadversarysbladeandex-
tendyourarmasiftothrustathisleftbreast,but
insteadofdoingthis,theinstantheparriesyou
moveyourpointbackagainandlungeinquarte,
i.e.onthesideonwhichyouwereoriginallyen-
gaged.Infeintingitisnecessarythattheextension
ofthearmandbladebesocompleteasreallyto
compeltheadversarytobelieveitapartofareal
thrustinthatline.
Attack.
Theattackinfencingcomprisesallmovementsthe
objectofwhichistoplacethepointofthefoilupon
theadversarysbreast,body,sidesorback,between
collarandbelt.Thespaceuponwhichhitscountis
calledthetargetanddiersaccordingtotherules
prevailingintheseveralcountries,butisusuallyas
abovestated.InGreatBritainnohitsabovethe
collar-bonescount,whileinAmericathetargetis
onlytheleftbreastbetweenthemedianlineand
alinerunningfromthearmpittothebelt.The
reasonforthislimitationistoencourageaccuracy.
Attacksareeitherprimaryorsecondary.Primary
Attacksarethoseinitiatedbyafencerbeforehis
adversaryhasmadeanyoensivemovement,and
aredividedintoSimple,FeintandForceattacks.
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FoilFencing
BasedupontheFoilFencingentryoftheEncyclopediaBritannica
EleventhEdition
.
1911
Introduction.
TheFoil
Thewordfoilisusedinseveralspellings(foyle,file,
&c.)bytheEnglishwritersofthelasthalfofthe
16thcentury,butlessinthesenseofaweaponofde-
fencethanmerelyasanimitationofarealweapon.
Bluntswordsforpracticeinfencinghavebeenused
inallages.Forthemostpartthesewereofwood
andflatingeneralform,butwhen,towardsthe
closeofthe17thcentury,allcuttingactionwiththe
small-swordwasdiscarded,foil-bladeswereusually
madeofsteel,andeitherround,three-corneredor
four-corneredinform,withabuttoncoveringthe
point.ThefoiliscalledinFrenchfleuret,andin
Italianfiorelto(literallybud)fromthisbutton.The
classicsmall-swordplayofthe17thand18thcen-
turiesisrepresentedatthepresenttimebyfencing
withtheepeedecombat,whichismerelythemod-
ernduelling-swordfurnishedwithabutton,andby
foil-fencing.Foil-fencingisaconventionalart,its
characteristiclimitationlyingintherulethatno
hitsexceptthoseonthebodyshallbeconsidered
good,andnoteventhoseunlesstheybegivenin
strictaccordancewithcertainstandardprecepts.
Inepee-fencingonthecontrary,atouchonany
partoftheperson,howevergiven,isvalid.Foil-
fencingisconsideredthebasis,sofaraspractice
isconcerned,ofallsword-play,whetherwithfoil,
epeeorsabre.
Therearetworecognizedschoolsoffoil-fencing,
theFrenchandtheItalian.TheFrenchmethod,
whichisnowgenerallyadoptedeverywhereexcept
inItaly,isdescribedinthisarticle,referencebeing
madetotheimportantdierencesbetweenthetwo
schools.
Thefoilconsistsofthebladeandthehandle.The
blade,whichisofsteelandhasaquadrangular
section,consistsoftwoparts:thebladeproper,
extendingfromtheguardtothebutton,andthe
tongue,whichrunsthroughthehandleandisjoined
tothepommel.Thebladeproperisdividedinto
theforte,orthickerhalf(nextthehandle),andthe
foibleorthinnerhalf.Someauthoritiesdividethe
bladeproperintothreeparts,theforte,middleand
foible.Thehandleiscomprisedoftheguard,the
gripandthepommel.Theguardisalightpieceof
metalshapedlikethefigure8(Fr.lunettes,spec-
tacles)andbackedwithapieceofstileatherof
thesameshape.Thegrip,whichisgraspedby
thehand,isahollowpieceofwood,usuallywound
withtwine,throughwhichthetongueoftheblade
passes.Thepommelisapieceofmetal,usually
pear-shaped,towhichtheendofthetongueis
joinedandwhichformstheextremityofthehandle.
Thebladefromguardtobuttonisabout33in.long
(No.5),thoughasomewhatshorterandlighter
bladeisgenerallyusedbyladies.Thehandleis
about8in.longandslightlycurveddownwards.
ThegenuineItalianfoildiersfromtheFrenchin
havingthebladeatriflelongerandmorewhippy,
andintheformofthehandle,whichconsistsofa
thin,solid,bell-shapedguardfrom4to5in.indi-
ameter,astraightgripandalightmetalbarjoining
thegripwiththeguard,beyondtheedgeofwhich
itextendsslightlyoneachside.Oflateyearsmany
ItalianmastersuseFrenchbladesandevendiscard
thecross-bar,retaining,however,thebell-guard.
Inholdingthefoil,thethumbisplacedonthetopor
convexsurfaceofthegrip(thesidesofwhicharea
triflenarrowerthanthetopandbottom),whilethe
palmandfingersgrasptheotherthreesides.This
isthepositionofsupinationorthumb-up.Prona-
WithadditionaltypesettingandrewordingbyNeville
Gawley,2003.
1
FoilFencing
2
tionisthereverseposition,withtheknucklesup.
TheFrenchlaystressuponholdingthefoillightly,
thenecessarypressurebeingexertedmostlybythe
thumbandforefinger,theotherfingersbeingused
moretoguidethedirectionoftheexecutedmove-
ments.Thisisinordertogivefreescopetothe
doigt´e(fingering),orthefacultyofdirectingthe
pointofthefoilbytheactionofthefingersalone,
andincludesthepossibilityofchangingtheposition
ofthehandonthegrip.Thus,inparrying,theend
ofthethumbisplacedwithinhalfaninch,oreven
less,oftheguard,whileinmakingalunge,thefoil
isheldasnearthepommelaspossible,inorderto
gainadditionallength.Itwillbeseenthatdoigt´e
isimpossiblewiththeItalianfoil,inholdingwhich
theforefingerisfirmlyinterlacedwiththecross-
bar,preventinganymovementofthehand.The
lightnessofgraspinculcatedbytheFrenchisillus-
tratedbytheruleofthecelebratedmasterLafau-
gre:Holdyourswordasifyouhadalittlebirdin
yourhand,firmlyenoughtopreventitsescape,yet
notsofirmlyastocrushit.Thislightnesshasfora
consequencethatadisarmamentisnotconsidered
ofanyvalueintheFrenchschool.
4.Carrythefoil,withoutalteringthepositionof
thehands,abovetheheaduntilthearmsare
fullyextended,thefoilbeingkepthorizontal
andclosetothebodyasitislifted.
5.Lettheleftarmfallbackbehindtheheadto
acurvedposition,thehandbeingoppositethe
topofthehead;atthesametimebringthe
righthanddownoppositetherightbreastand
about8in.fromit;keepingtheelbowwellin
andthepointofthefoildirectedtowardsthe
opponentseye.
6.Bendthelegsbyseparatingthemattheknees
butwithoutmovingthefeet.
7.Shifttheweightofthebodyontotheleftleg
andadvancetherightfootashortdistance
(from14to18in.,accordingtotheheightof
thefencer).
IntheItalianschoolthefencerstandsonguard
withtherightarmfullyextended,thebodymore
eaced,i.e.theleftshoulderthrownfartherback,
andthefeetsomewhatfartherapart.Atthe
presenttime,however,manyofthebestItalian
fencershaveadoptedtheguardwithcrookedsword-
arm,owingtotheirabandonmentoftheoldlong-
foilblade.
Preliminaries
ToComeonGuard.Thepositionofonguard
isthatinwhichthefencerisbestpreparedbothfor
attackanddefence.Itistakenfromthepositionof
attention;thefeettogetherandatrightangleswith
eachother,headandbodyerect,facingforwardin
thesamedirectionastherightfoot,leftarmand
handhangingintouchwiththebody,andtheright
armandfoilformingastraightlinesothatthe
buttonisabout1yd.infrontofthefeetand4in.
fromthefloor.Fromthispositionthemovements
tocomeonguardareseveninnumber:
1.Raisethearmandfoilandextendthemto-
wardstheadversary(ormaster)inastraight
line,thehandbeingoppositetheeye.
TheRecover(atthecloseofthelessonoras-
sault).Torecoverinadvance:extendtherightarm
atrightangleswiththebody,droptheleftarm
andstraightenthelegsbydrawingtherearfoot
uptotheOneinadvance.Torecovertotherear
extendtherightarmanddroptheleftasbefore,
and.straightenthelegsbydrawingtheforward
footbacktothatintherear.
TheSalutealwaysfollowstherecover,thetwore-
allyformingonemanœuvre.Havingrecovered,
carrytherighthandtoapositionjustinfrontof
thethroat,knucklesout,foilverticalwithpointup-
wards;thenlowerandextendthearmwithnailsup
untilthepointis4in.fromthefloorandslightlyto
theright.
2.Dropthearmandfoilagainuntilthepointis
about4in.fromthefloor.
3.Swingthebuttonroundsothatitshallpoint
horizontallybackwards,andholdthehiltto
theleftthigh,theopenfingersofthelefthand
beingheld,knucklesdown,againsttheguard
andalongtheblade.
ToAdvanceBeingonguard,takeashortstep
forwardwiththerightfootandlettheleftfoot
followimmediatelythesamedistance,theposition
ofthebodynotbeingchanged.Howeverthestep,
FoilFencing
3
orseriesofsteps,ismade,therightfootshould
alwaysmovefirst.
Defence
Forthepurposeofnomenclaturethespaceonthe
fencersjacketwithinwhichhitscountisdivided
intoquarters,thetwoupperonesbeingcalledthe
highlines,andthetwoloweronesthelowlines.
Thusathrustdirectedattheupperpartofthe
breastiscalledanattackinthehighlines.Inlike
mannertheparriesarenamedfromthedierent
quarterstheyaredesignedtoprotect.Thereare
fourtraditionalparriesexecutedwiththehandin
supination,andfourothers,practicallyidenticalin
execution,madewiththehandheldinpronation.
Thustheparriesdefendingtheupperright-hand
quarterofthejacketaresixte(sixth;withthehand
insupination)andtierce(third;handinprona-
tion).Thosedefendingtheupperleft-handquarter
arequarte(fourth;insupination)andquinte(fifth;
inpronation).Thosedefendingthelowerright-
handquarterareoctave(eighth;insupination)and
seconde(second;inpronation).Thosedefending
thelowerleft-handquarterareseptime(seventh;
insupination),moregenerallycalleddemi-cercle,
orhalf-circle;andprime(first;inpronation).
ToRetreatThisisthereverseoftheadvance,
theleftfootalwaysmovingfirst.
TheCalls(deuxappels)Beingonguard,tapthe
floortwicewiththerightfootwithoutalteringthe
positionofanyotherpartoftheperson.Theobject
ofthecallsistotesttheequilibriumofthebody,
andtheyareusuallyexecutedasapreliminaryto
therecover.
TheLungeisthechiefmeansofattack.Itisim-
mediatelyprecededbythemovementofextension,
infactthetworeallyformonecombinedmove-
ment.Extensionisexecutedbyquicklyextending
therightarm,sothatpoint,handandshoulder
shallhavethesameelevation;nootherpartofthe
personismoved.Thelungeisthencarriedoutby
straighteningtheleftlegandthrowingforwardthe
rightfoot,sothatitshallbeplantedasfarforward
aspossiblewithoutlosingtheequilibriumorpre-
ventingaquickrecoverytothepositionofguard.
Theleftfootremainsfirmlyinitsposition,theright
shoulderisadvanced,andtheleftarmisthrown
downandback(withhandopenandthumbup),
tobalancethebody.Therecoverytotheposition
ofguardisaccomplishedbysmartlythrowingthe
bodybackbytheexertionoftherightleg,untilits
weightrestsagainontheleftleg,therightfootand
armsresumingtheiron-guardpositions.Thepoint
uponwhichtheFrenchschoollaysmoststressis,
thatthemovementofextensionshall,ifonlybya
fractionofasecond,actuallyprecedetheadvance
oftherightfoot.Theobjectofthisistoensure
theaccuracyofthelunge,i.e.thedirectionofthe
point.
TheParries
ThetendencyoftheFrenchschoolhasalwaysbeen
towardssimplicity,especiallyofdefence,andatthe
presentdaytheparriesmadewiththeknucklesup
(pronation),althoughrecognizedandtaught,are
seldomifeverusedagainstastrongadversaryin
foil-fencing,owingprincipallytothetimelostin
turningthehand.Thetheoryofparryingistoturn
asidetheopponentsfoilwiththeleastpossibleex-
penditureoftimeandexertion,usingthearmas
littleaspossiblewhilelettingthehandandwrist
dothework,andopposingtheforteofthefoilto
thefoibleoftheadversarys.Thefoiliskeptpointed
asdirectlyaspossibletowardstheadversary,and
theparriesaremaderatherwiththecornersthan
thesidesoftheblade.Theslightestmovementthat
willturnasidetheopponentsbladeisthemostper-
fectparry.Therearetwokindsofparries,sim-
ple,inwhichtheattackiswardedobyasingle
movement,andcounter,inwhichanarrowcircle
isdescribedbythepointofthefoilroundthatof
theopponent,whichisthusenvelopedandthrown
aside.Therearealsocomplexparries,composed
TheGainThisconsistsinbringinguptheleft
foottowardstheright(thebalancebeingshifted),
keepingthekneesbent.Inthismannerastepis
gainedandanexceptionallylonglungecanbemade
withouttheknowledgeoftheadversary. Itisa
commonstratagemoffencerswhosereachisshort.
FoilFencing
4
ofcombinationsoftwoormoreparries,whichare
usedtomeetcomplicatedattacks,buttheyareall
resolvableintosimpleparries.Inparrying,thearm
isbentaboutatrightangles.
ParryofSixte(againstthrustsattheup-
perright-handside)Thisparryis,togetherwith
quarte,themostimportantofall.Itisexecuted
withthehandheldinsupinationoppositetheright
breast,aquick,narrowmovementthrowingthead-
versarysbladetotheright.
SimpleParries
Theoriginofthenumericalnomenclatureofthe
parriesisamatterofdispute,butitisgenerally
believedthattheyreceivedtheirnamesfromthe
positionsassumedintheprocessofdrawingthe
swordandfallingonguard.Thusthepositionof
thehandandblade,themomentitisdrawnfrom
thescabbardontheleftside,ispracticallythatof
thefirst,orprime,parry.Togofromprimetosec-
ondeitisonlynecessarytodropthehandandcarry
itacrossthebodytotheleftside;thencetotierce
isonlyamatterofraisingthepointofthesword,
&c.
ParryofSeptimeorHalf-Circle(towardo
thrustsatthelowerleft-handside)isexecutedby
describingwiththepointofthefoilasmallsemicir-
cledownwardandtowardstheleft,thehandmov-
ingafewinchesinthesamedirection,butkept
thumbup.
ParryofOctave(againstthrustsatthelower
right-handside)isexecutedbydescribingwiththe
pointofthefoilasmallsemicircledownwardand
towardstheright,thehandmovingafewinchesin
thesamedirection,butkeptthumbup.
ParryofPrime(towardoattacksusuallyon
thelowerleft-handsideofthebody).Holdthe
hand,knucklesup,oppositethelefteyeandthe
pointdirectedtowardstheopponentsknee.This
parryisnowregardedmoreasanelegantevolu-
tionthanasoundmeansofdefence,andislittle
employed.
CounterParries
(Fr.contre).Althoughthesimpleparriesarethe-
oreticallysucientfordefence,theyaresoeasily
deceivedbyfeintsthattheyaresupplementedby
counterparries,inwhichthebladedescribesnar-
rowcircles,followingthatoftheadversaryand
meetingandturningitaside;thusthepointde-
scribesacompletecirclewhilethehandremains
practicallystationary.Eachsimpleparryhasits
counter,madewiththehandinthesameposition
andonthesamesideasinthesimpleparry.The
twomostimportantarethecounterofquarteand
thecounterofsixte,whilethecountersofseptime
andoctavearelessused,andtheotherfouratthe
presenttimepracticallynever.
ParryofSeconde(againstthrustsatthelower
right-handside).Thisisexecutedbyaquick,not
toowidemovementofthehanddownwardsand
slightlytotheright,knucklesup.
ParryofTierce(againstthrustsattheupper
right-handside).Aquick,drybeatonthead-
versarysfoibleisgiven,forcingittotheright,the
hand,inpronation,beingheldoppositethemiddle
oftherightbreast.Thisparryhasbeenpractically
discardedinfavorofsixte.
CounterofQuarte.Beingonguardinquarte
(withyouradversarysbladeontheleftofyours),
ifhedropshispointunderandthrustsinsixte,in
otherwordsatyourrightbreast,describeanarrow
circlewithyourpointroundhisblade,downward
totherightandthenupovertotheleft,bringing
handandfoilbacktotheirpreviouspositionsand
catchingandturningasidehisbladeontheway.
ParryofQuarte(againstthrustsattheupper
left-handside).Thisparry,perhapsthemostused
ofall,isexecutedbyforcingtheadversarysbladeto
theleftbyadrybeat,thehandbeinginsupination,
oppositetheleftbreast.
ParryofQuinte(againstthrustsattheleft-
handside,likequarte).Thisispracticallyalow
quarte,andislittleused.
TheCounterofSixteisexecutedinasimilar
manner,butthecircleisdescribedintheoppo-
FoilFencing
5
sitedirection,throwingotheadversebladetothe
right.
TheCountersofSeptimeandOctavearesimilar
totheothertwobutareexecutedinthelowlines.
SimpleAttacks.Thecharacteristicofwhich
ispace,arethosemadewithonesimplemove-
mentonlyandarefourinnumber,viz,the
StraightLunge,theDisengagement,theCounter-
disengagementandtheCut-over.TheStraight
Lunge(coupdroit),usedwhentheadversaryis
notproperlycoveredwhenonguard,isdescribed
aboveunderLunge.TheDisengagementismade
bydroppingthepointofthefoilundertheoppo-
nentsbladeandexecutingastraightlungeonthe
otherside.Itisoftenusedtotakeanopponent
unawaresorwhenhepressesundulyhardonyour
blade.TheCounter-disengagementisusedwhen
theadversarymoveshisblade,i.e.changestheline
ofengagement,uponwhichyouexecuteanarrow
circle,avoidinghisblade,andthrustinyourorig-
inalline.TheCut-over(coup)isadisengagement
executedbypassingthepointofthefoiloverthat
oftheadversaryandlungingintheoppositeline.
Thepreliminarymovementofraisingthepointis
madebytheactionofthehandonly,thearmnot
beingdrawnback.
ComplexorCombinedParriesaresuchasare
composedoftwoormoreparriesexecutedinimme-
diatesuccession,andaremadeinanswertofeint
attacksbytheadversary(seebelow);e.g.being
onguardinquarte,shouldtheadversarydrophis
pointunderandfeintattherightbreastbutde-
flectthepointagainandreallythrustontheleft,
itisevidentthatthesimpleparryofsixtewould
covertherightbreastbutwouldleavetherealpoint
ofattack,theleft,entirelyuncovered.Thesixte
parryisthereforefollowed,asacontinuationofthe
movement,bytheparryofquarte,oracounter
parry.Thecomplexparriesarenumerousandde-
pendupontheattacktobemet.
Engagement isthejunctionoftheblades,the
dierentengagementsbeingnamedfromthepar-
ries.Thus,ifbothfencersareinthepositionof
quarte,theyaresaidtobeengagedinquarte.To
engageinanotherline(ChangeofEngagement)
e.g.fromquartetosixte,thepointisloweredand
passedundertheadversarysblade,whichispressed
slightlyoutward,soastobewellcovered(calledop-
position).DoubleEngagementiscomposedoftwo
engagementsexecutedrapidlyinsuccessioninthe
highlines,thelastwithopposition.
FeintAttacks.deceptiveincharacter,arethose
whichareprecededbyoneormorefeints,orfalse
thrustsmadetoluretheadversaryintothinking
themrealones.Afeintisasimpleextension,often
withaslightmovementofthebody,threatening
theadversaryinacertainline,forthepurposeof
inducinghimtoparryonthatsideandthusleave
theotheropenfortherealthrust.Atthesame
timeanymovementofthebladeoranypartofthe
bodytendingtodeceivetheadversaryinregardto
thenatureoftheattackabouttofollow,mustalso
beconsideredaspeciesoffeint.Theprincipalfeint
attacksaretheOne-Two,theOne-Two-Threeand
theDouble.
TheOne-Twoisafeintinoneline,followed(asthe
adversaryparries)byathrustintheoriginalline
ofengagement.Thus,beingengagedinquarte,you
dropyourpointundertheadversarysbladeandex-
tendyourarmasiftothrustathisleftbreast,but
insteadofdoingthis,theinstantheparriesyou
moveyourpointbackagainandlungeinquarte,
i.e.onthesideonwhichyouwereoriginallyen-
gaged.Infeintingitisnecessarythattheextension
ofthearmandbladebesocompleteasreallyto
compeltheadversarytobelieveitapartofareal
thrustinthatline.
Attack.
Theattackinfencingcomprisesallmovementsthe
objectofwhichistoplacethepointofthefoilupon
theadversarysbreast,body,sidesorback,between
collarandbelt.Thespaceuponwhichhitscountis
calledthetargetanddiersaccordingtotherules
prevailingintheseveralcountries,butisusuallyas
abovestated.InGreatBritainnohitsabovethe
collar-bonescount,whileinAmericathetargetis
onlytheleftbreastbetweenthemedianlineand
alinerunningfromthearmpittothebelt.The
reasonforthislimitationistoencourageaccuracy.
Attacksareeitherprimaryorsecondary.Primary
Attacksarethoseinitiatedbyafencerbeforehis
adversaryhasmadeanyoensivemovement,and
aredividedintoSimple,FeintandForceattacks.
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