The authoritative definition of technique in the French School at the start of the classical period is the Manual d'Escrime, published in 1877 by the Ministere de la Guerre (the French Ministry of War). Chris Slee's translation is the source for this discussion.
The text is divided into two sections, one for the sword and one for the sabre (see discussion in the post C.2. Foil Actions from the 1877 Manuel d'Escrime). The Manual serves as a marker for French Contre-Pointe (sabre) technique at the start of the classical period. Its contents are important in serving as a baseline for comparison for the evolution of French sabre technique up to the 19o8 Reglement d’Escrime.
The technical material in the sabre section of the Manual includes:
(1) nomenclature of the sabre
(2) the manner of holding the sabre
(3) preparatory movements
(4) guard
(5) step (by reference to the sword portion of the manual)
(6) appels (by reference to the sword portion of the manual)
(7) gathering (by reference to the sword portion of the manual)
(8) lunge (by reference to the sword portion of the manual)
(9) voiding the leg
(10) moulinets
(11) engagement and lines
(12) attacks, including both simple and compound of not more than 3 movements including feints. The attacks (12a) through (12d) are executed by moulinet, and (12e) through (12g) are by cut.
(12a) head cut
(12b) banderole cut
(12c) face cut to the right
(12d) face cut to the left
(12e) flank cut
(12f) stomach cut
(12g) forearm cut
(12h) point thrust
(13) parries, including the head parries (13a) through (13c) and the body parries (13d) through (13g)
(13a) head parry
(13b) face parry to the right
(13c) face parry to the left
(13d) banderole parry
(13e) stomach parry
(13f) flank parry
(13g) point parry
(14) riposte and counterriposte with the same strikes as the attacks
The Manual provides a teaching progression. These are all simple or compound actions, with the exception of one reference to a beat executed by turning the hand in the fourth lesson.
Sources:
France. Ministry of War; Fencing Manual; translation by Chris Slee; [fencing manual];
reprint by Long Edge Press, no place; 1877 reprinted 2017.
France. Ministere de la Guerre; Reglement d’Escrime (Fleuret – Epee – Sabre); Librairie Militaire Berger-Levrault & Co., Paris, France; 1909.
Copyright 2021 by Walter G. Green III
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