There is some difference between the varieties of head parries used in sabre in the classical period. Maitre d'Armes Clovis Deladrier in his 1948 text Modern Fencing not only describes a variant, but also provides a detailed explanation of its use and advantages. Maitre Deladrier served as the Fencing Master of the United States Naval Academy, and his book was issued in multiple new printings through at least 1973, making it a long lived and influential book.
The basic position:
- Weapon hand above the weapon arm shoulder at the height of the forehead with the arm extended forward for three-quarters of its length.
- Hand in pronation (described as thumb down and nails forward in relation to the downward slope of the blade).
- Forearm is protected behind the guard.
- Blade slants diagonally across the body with the cutting edge up.
- Tip of the blade is slightly below the weapon hand and just within the inside limit of the body.
In taking the parry, the fencer bends backward slightly to force the opponent to commit to a deeper lunge and, therefore a slower recovery. The force of the opponent's attack is met either with a beat or an opposition parry, preferably with the forte of the blade. The riposte is slightly slower than if the body is held erect, but, if the attacker attempts to deceive the parry, the lower point allows a shorter arc of movement to deflect the actual attack. In contrast, the parry executed with the point raised and no backwards bend of the body has a faster riposte, but is more easily deceived.
If a thrust is executed under the head parry position, the fencer may use a counter head parry. This is executed with the fingers and wrist as a very small clockwise circular movement.
Further coverage of Deladrier's sabre parries will appear in subsequent posts.
Source
Deladrier, Clovis; Modern
Fencing; [fencing manual]; United States Naval Institute, Annapolis,
Maryland, United States of America; 1948.
Copyright 2020 by Walter G. Green III
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