Classical Academy of Arms: C.6. Siebenhaar's Sabre Curriculum

Sergeant Fencing Master Christian Siebenhaar was the founder of the relatively short-lived Dutch Method, a distinctly nationalistic school of fencing that was restricted to the Netherlands in the period approximately 1858 to approximately 1888. Siebenhaar's Manual for the Instruction in the Art of Fencing (the 1861 edition) included the Sword (which in the illustrations appears to be a foil), Sabre, Long Stick, and the Rifle (the bayonet).

The Dutch Method was distinguished by two elements. The first was a vocabulary all in Dutch, so that Dutch fencers would not have to use French terms. The second was a rather unusual method of fencing in which the fencers took turns, mobility was largely restricted to the lunge, and there was a somewhat odd target (a potato or apple fixed to the uniform).

The sabre curriculum included the following techniques (note that the descriptions assume a right handed fencer). The introduction of each technique depended on its placement in a series of 3 sections, each composed of 8 lessons, and although plates illustrate key elements of the techniques, there is only limited discussion of how the techniques were executed.

(1) The Fighting Position

(2) Hand Positions (all techniques can be executed with the hand in any of the three positions)

(2a) With the hand in supination
(2b) With the hand in pronation
(2c) With the hand inverted thumb down

(3) Footwork

(3a) Lunge
(3b) Double pass forward (this is the complete modern pass ending in a normal guard position)
(3c) Double pass backwards (this is the complete modern pass ending in a normal guard position)
(3d) Withdrawal of the right foot

(4) The Cuts

(4a) To the head with lunge
(4b) To the left cheek without lunge
(4c) To the right cheek
(4d) To the belly with lunge
(4e) To the right thigh with lunge
(4f) To the foot with lunge

(5) Point Thrust

(6) The Parries

(6a) Against the cut to the head
(6b) Against the left cheek cut
(6c) Against the right cheek cut
(6d) High left against the thrust

(7) Compound Attacks

(7a) Feint cut to the head, cut to the head with lunge
(7b) Feint cut to the head, cut to the right thigh
(7c) Feint cut to the head, feint cut to the right side, cut to the belly with lunge
(7d) Feint cut to the right cheek, cut to the belly with lunge
(7e) Feint cut to the right cheek, feint cut to the left cheek, cut to the side with lunge
(7f) (Double pass forward) Feint cut to the right cheek, feint cut to the left cheek, cut to the arm with lunge
(7g) Feint cut to the right cheek, feint cut to the left cheek, feint cut to the side, cut to the head with lunge
(7h) Feint cut to the left cheek, cut to the right cheek
(7i) Feint cut to the left cheek, cut to the right cheek without lunge
(7j) Feint cut to the left cheek, cut to the right side with lunge
(7k) Feint cut to the left cheek, cut to the right side without lunge
(7l) Feint cut to the left cheek, feint cut to the right cheek, cut to the belly with lunge
(7m) Feint cut to the left cheek, feint cut to the side, cut to the head with lunge
(7n) Feint cut under the arm, cut to the head with lunge
(7o) Feint cut under the arm, feint cut to the head, cut to the belly with lunge
(7p) Feint cut to the belly, cut to the right side with lunge
(7q) Feint cut to the belly, feint cut to the right side, cut to the head with lunge
(7r) Feint cut to the belly, feint cut to the right side, feint cut to the head, cut to the right thigh with lunge
(7s) Feint cut to the left thigh, cut to the right thigh with lunge
(7t) Feint cut to the right thigh, cut to the head with lunge
(7u) Feint thrust to the belly, cut to the head with lunge
(7v) Feint thrust to the belly, feint cut to the head, thrust to the belly with lunge
(7w) Feint thrust left, feint thrust right, and thrust left with lunge

(8) Compound Parries

(8a) Against the feint cut to the left cheek, and then cut to the right cheek
(8b) Against the feint cut to the left cheek, and then cut to the right thigh
(8c) Against the feint cut to the left cheek, and then cut to the right side
(8d) (Double pass backward) against the feint cut to the left cheek, and then cut to the right thigh
(8e) Against the feint cut to the head, and then cut to the right thigh

(9) Attack-Parry Sequence