FENCING may be described, for a general definition, as the art of defending one's own body or assailing another person's in fair fight by the aid of a side-weapon—i.e., by a sword, rapier, or bayonet. Technically, F. is usually limited to the second of these; and works on the art touch only on attack and defense with the foil in pastime, and the rapier in actual personal combat. The present opportunity will, however, be taken to introduce the elements of single combat with foil, sword, and bayonet. The objection formerly existed that instruction in F. encouraged a propensity to dueling; but as that absurdest of absurd customs has entirely ceased—at least in Britain—to demand its annual victims, no such objection now holds. F. may therefore be safely learned and taught as an elegant and manly accomplishment, developing gracefulness and activity, while it imparts suppleness to the limbs, strength to the muscles, and quickness to the eye. This regards F. with the foils (the rapier has disappeared with the duels which employed it): but instruction in F. with the sword and bayonet, while conferring the same advantages, has in addition the recommendation of helping to fit the student for taking an active part in any general national defense that political cir cumstances might render necessary. The foil (q.v.) is a circular or polygonal bar of pliable and very highly tempered steel, mounted as any other sword, and blunted at the point by a " button," to prevent danger in its use. From its nature, the foil can only be employed in thrusting, and, being edgeless, it can be handled without liability to cutting wounds. The length of the blade should be proportioned to the height of the person using it-31 in. being the medium length for men, and 38 in. from hilt to point the maximum allowable. AS a protection against accidental thritst,l, the face is gener ally guarded by a wire-mask. The two portions of the blade are known as the "forte" and the " feeble;" the first extending from the hilt to the center, and the other from the center to the point.
In drawing, advance the right foot slightly to the front, take the scabbard with the left hand, raise the right elbow as high as the shoulder, seize the hilt with right hand, nails turned inward, and having drawn the foil, pass it with vieacity over the head in a semicircle, and bring it down to the guard (of which presenly) with its point towards the adversary, not higher than his face, nor lower than his lowest rib. Simultaneously
with the weapon being brought into position, the left hand with fingers extended should be raised to a level with the head, as a counterpoise in the various motions to ensue. In establishing the position of guard, the right foot must be advanced 24 in. before the left, the heels in a straight line, and each knee slightly bent, to impart elasticity to the move ments, but not too much, lest the firmness of the position be diminished.
In F., there are three openings or entrances—the inside, compromising the whole breast from shoulder to shoulder; outside, attackable by all the thrusts made above the wrist on the outside of the sword; and the tow parts, embracing from the arm pits to the hips. For reaching and guarding these entrances, there are five positions of the wrist—prime, seconde, tierce, carte (quarto), and quinte. The most important, and those to commence with, are carte and tierce, from which are derived the subordi nate positions of carte over the arm, low carte, and flanconnade or octave.
To engage is to.cross swords with your adversary, pressing against his with sufficient force to prevent any maneuver taking you unawares. To disengage is to slip the point of your sword briskly under his blade, and to raise it again on the other side, pressing in a direction opposite to that of the previous case.
The guard in each position is a passive obstruction to the opposing thrust; the parade is an active obstruction, in which the guard is first assumed, and the blade then pressed outward or inward by a turn of the wrist against the adversary's sword, so that when thrust at your body it shall be diverted from its aim, and held off. The parade may therefore be regarded as a mere extension of the Omni. If the parade were called the "parry," it would convey its meaning more readily to English cars. Another, and perhaps more appropriate name for thrust, is the "lunge" or " lunge," as the thrust is almost always accompanied by a lunge forward of the right foot, to give at once greater force and longer command to the blow.