

THE NEW METHOD OF FENCING. 
the useful points of both the old styles 
and eliminating the awkwardness of 
the left hand over the head and the 
stiffness of the legs. 
Another important distinction be- 
tween the old and the new method of 
sabre fencing is the use in the latter of 
a remarkably light weapon, avoiding 
thereby the fatigue which results from 
even a short bout with the old style 
sabre. The modern blade is hardly 
one-third the weight of the older kind, 
the hilt is proportionately lighter and 
a fencer, after a little training, will be 
able to manipulate his weapon a long 
time without fatigue. Aside from the 
reduction in weight, there is an in- 
conceivable advantage of more subtle 
manipulation, permitting a much more 
accurate direction of cuts and thrusts. 
The grip on the sabre is not in the 
palm of the hand, as with the old 
clumsy weapon, but between the index 
finger and the thumb, the other 3 
fingers simply steadying the hilt 
against the palm of the hand. In this 
way the fencer has the point of his 
blade under perfect control. He can 
feel it, so to speak, and can direct it 
with an accuracy unattainable with the 
old style grip This sensation of accu- 
407 
racy is called the doigté, and when 
once acquired will allow of the most 
subtle sword play. As a blow with 
the flat of the blade would count for 
nothing in an actual contest it should 
be the fencer’s endeavor to prevent 
the flat blows with the sword, but with 
the old style grip it is almost impos- 
sible to avoid them, while with the 
modern weapon they occur but seldom 
and are considered a disgrace to the 
fencer who perpetrates them. The 
true art in fencing is the placing of a 
cut or thrust accurately and in cor- 
rect form. The clumsy tyro will hit 
as hard as he can, while the master of 
the art will touch gracefully and with 
just sufficient force to inflict a serious 
wound were the affair in good earnest. 
The points of the body to be at- 
tacked are 5 cardinal and 7 minor 
ones. The top of the head is the first 
point, and is reached by the straight 
downward cut; the sides of the face 
on the right and left are the next 2 
important points of attack; then the 
flank, that is, the right side of the 
body, and last the front of the body, 
which is turned to the left, down to 
the waist. 
The minor points to be reached are 

THRUST. 
