Hits only count when the point is placed squarely on the jacket between the neck and the hip. Disarming does not count and is not now practised to any great extent. The Italian foil is a trifle longer than the French one and has a straight handle, a bell guard and quillons. It is held by hooking first and second fingers of the right hand around the quillons, the other fingers being tightly grasped around the handle, while the thumb is placed over the flat piece of the blade which is between the guard and its crosspiece. Further rigidity of the grasp is often assured by binding the foil tightly against the wrist with a long piece of tape. When on guard, the right arm is nearly straight, on a line with the shoulder, with the point directed at the opponent's chest. The body is always more effaced (turned away from the opponent) in the Italian school than in the French. The Italians divide the body into eight lines, as do the French, but as a general rule they use only four of them (quarte, tierce, septime and seconde) in making their attacks. Their par ries are made more forcibly than those of the French; in some of them the movement of the forearm being very pronounced. The Italians fence much more vigorously than do the French and have a number of startling tricks, such as dropping under, or stepping away from the op posing blade, which they have retained from their old rapier play. The dueling sword is a heavier kind of foil, having a triangular blade and a large bell guard. It is used in nearly the same manner as a foil, but a hit may be made with it upon any part of the person.
In the use of the broadsword the attack is delivered with the edge rather than with the point. A limited number of thrusts can be made with it, but it is primarily a cutting weapon. The swords used for this kind of fenc ing are, of various weights and shapes, the majority of them, however, are of the sabre model, with blunted edges and rounded points. Wooden singlesticks are also used. In assum ing the position of guard, the sword is held in the right hand with the thumb extended along the back of the grip, the edge to the right;with the hand at the height of the breast. The posi tions of the body and the feet are the same as in foil fencing, but the left hand is placed at the small of the back instead of behind the head. Attacks with the broadswords are made by giving a cutting blow with the edge. Cuts are made for the head, cheek, chest, girdle, flank, thigh, leg and arm. Thrusts with the point may also be made at the body. Cuts are par ried with the edge ; thrusts, with the back of the blade.
The student corps of Germany have a sys tem of fence with a long straight sharp sword called a schlagen which differs from sabre play, in that the cuts are directed solely against the head. In this kind of fencing, masks are not worn, the eyes, ears and throat alone being protected, the sword arm is heavily padded and the blows are made with a wrist movement only.
The Japanese have a method of sword play which differs greatly from any of the present European systems. Their sword is a weapon some two and a half to three feet in length, having a heavily backed blade, a very sharp edge, a long handle and a small protecting guard. It is wielded with both hands, the right hand being placed close to the guard and the left hand grasping the end of the grip. The first two fingers of both hands control and direct the blow, the grasp of the other fingers being tightened or loosened as occasion requires. The edge is generally kept downward while on guard. Cuts are made for the head, wrist and waist, and thrusts for the throat and abdomen. A marked peculiarity of Japanese fencing is that parries are always made with the back or side of the blade, never with the edge. Bamboo swords are used for practice.
The bayonet attached to the end of a rifle makes a formidable weapon which is wielded in the same general manner as the small sword. In the position of guard, however, the left foot is in front, and the piece is grasped at the small of the stock, with the right hand, and at the balance with the left. When employed against cavalry the footman endeavors if pos sible to attack the horseman from the left side.
Among the famous fencers of the past, four men stand out pre-eminently. These were the Chevalier de Saint Georges; the Chevalier d'Eon de Beaumont; Henry Angelo; and Jean Louis; all of whom lived during the latter part of the 18th or the early part of the 19th cen tury, and were renowned for their great skill at fence. The prominent fencing masters of the modern days are Merignac, Prevost and Rouleau of the French school; and Conte and Pini of the Italian school. In the United States Gousky, Senac and Rondelle are perhaps the best known masters. Contests for the amateur fencing champions of America are held annually under the auspices of the Amateur Fencers League of America, which was organ ized in 1891 and is affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union.
Consult Brock,