Is it just sword fighting for pussies?
Modern Olympic fencing is not sword fighting. It is a martial sport descended from sword fighting. Now, with adjustments, it can be an effective martial art for duelling (which is what Classical Fencing is). If you want real, honest to goodness sword fighting with European weapons, then you’re asking for Historical Fencing, which is a group of complete martial arts including armed, unarmed, armoured and unarmoured and even mounted combat. The difference between sword fighting “for real” and modern fencing is that the basis of sword fighting is actually GRAPPLING… the tactile sensitivity for blade preassure and the ability to take your opponent down and hit him on the ground, or dislocate a joint are vital, in addition to being able to work the blade well. The basis of sport fencing is all centred on bladework and its attendant footwork, and no wrestling or blade grabbing is allowed. In a real sword fight, anything goes, and the goal is to kill the opponent, not score a touch that in
