In 1882 Ward, Lock, and Company of London published a short manual, The Handbook of Fencing, written by Ramon Castellote. Castellote was Professor of Fencing, Gymnastics, and other sports at University College London, know known as UCL. University College was founded in 1826 and is now one of the largest universities in the United Kingdom.
We do not know very much about Professor Castellote. The Handbook of Fencing appears to have been his only publication (it is the only title under his name in Thimm's 1896 A Complete Bibliography of Fencing & Duelling). His text has been reprinted at least once by Sagwan Press and may be available in reprint from Amazon.com.
Although The Handbook of Fencing has the appearance of a beginner's manual, it contains a solid description of a well developed curriculum:
(1) First Position
(2) On Guard
(3) Fundamental footwork:
- (3a) Advance
- (3b) Retreat
- (3c) Lunge
- (3d) Recovery
(4) Parries:
- (4a) Carte (a simple parry)
- (4b) Tierce (a simple parry)
- (4c) Circle (a simple parry)
- (4d) Demi-Circle (a simple parry)
- (4e) Seconde
- (4f) Octave
- (4g) Prime (high and low)
- (4h) Round or counter in Carte
- (4i) Round or counter in Tierce
- (4j) Round or counter in Demi-Circle
- (4k) Round or counter in Octave or Seconde
- (4l) Combinations of the Parries
(5) Engagement
(6) Thrusts
(6a) Straight Thrusts
(6b) Simple disengagements
(6c) One, Two
(6d) One, Two, Three
(6e) Double or Duplex (the Deceptions of the Counterparries of Carte and Tierce)
(6f) Deception of the counterparry of Demi-Circle
(6g) Deception of counterparry of Seconde
(6h) Coupes (Cut over Point)
(6i) Bindings of the Blade
(6j) Time Thrusts
(6k) Ripostes
(7) The Salute
Although Castellote does not specifically indicate that one should take the engagement routinely in carte (as Dunn does), he uses it as the basis for examples of at least three attacks. In general, Castellote provides illustrations of many of the actions and describes them concisely but understandably. His volume provides a very useful supplement to the 1877 French fencing regulations.
Sources:
Castellote, Ramon; The Handbook of Fencing; [fencing manual]; Ward, Lock, and Company, London, United Kingdom; 1882.
Collmore Dunn, H. A.; Fencing; [fencing manual]; George Bell and Sons, London, United Kingdom; 1889.
France. Ministry of War; Fencing Manual; translation by Chris Slee; [fencing manual];
reprint by Long Edge Press, no place; 1877 reprinted 2017.
Thimm, Carl A.; A Complete
Bibliography of Fencing & Duelling; [bibliographical catalog]; reprint
by Benjamin Bloom, Inc., Bronx, New York, United States of America; 1896,
reprint 1968.
Copyright 2021 by Walter G. Green III
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