What is Classical Fencing?
Classical fencing is the final development of European swordsmanship, which came into its full form during the last half of the 19th century. Classical fencing consists of three weapons, namely the foil, the sabre, and the épée, and two primary schools , the Italian and the French. These two schools differ in their mental approach, weapon design, technique and form. Each school has a distinct pedagogy that defines its character.
When you think about swords, you might think of either literature or theatrical features like The Three Musketeers, The Prisoner of Zenda, Zorro…or even more flashy sci-fi implementations like Star Wars. It’s important to note that the art of fencing goes beyond what we see in the movies. To quote famed Hollywood fencing master, Fred Cavens, “All movements – instead of being as small as possible as in competition fencing – must be learge but nevertheless correct.” There are different types of fencing, and one such path is Classical Fencing. While the Olympic/sport style fencers are rewarded by the hit, classical fencers are rewarded by the means. Following the rule of “What if it were sharp?,” classical fencing strives towards the goal of “killing without being killed.” One must practice good defense to protect themself, as well as practice good technique in order to outsmart their opponent and deliver the killing blow. Because there is so much to think about during a match, fencing
There are many different definitions of classical fencing, and that can make life very confusing when you are trying to figure out what to expect from any particular school or event. In a broad sense, classical fencing references the study of the Art of Defense in Europe and America (more specifically the study of the Foil or Fleuret, Spada de Duello or Epee, and the Duelling Sabre or Academic Sabre) from somewhere around 1800 AD to around 1950 AD, and the mentality that fencing swords are weapons, and should always be considered as such during their study. It should be obvious however that the way those weapons were used, and even the weapons themselves, were subject to significant changes during such a long time-period. Moreover, the mentalities of their users, both across time and across political boundaries, varied and changed. Those three things together make it very difficult to put together a cohesive definition of classical fencing. So, instead of trying to lay a definition in
Classical fencing is a Western martial art that focuses on the practical application of the sword and its use in preparation for self-defense and personal combat. It differs from modern fencing in which the martial aspects of the weapon have been largely forgotten. As a student of classical fencing, you will learn to use a sword as it was used in the 19th century when fencing was practiced as an art and science, as preparation for a duel, and as a recreational pasttime. While the focus is on realism, all modern safety precautions are used; weapons are blunt and students wear protective gear (glove, jacket, and mask). Classical fencing stresses control, both of yourself and of your weapon, and it is this focus on self-discipline and awareness which makes it similar to Eastern martial arts.
Classical Fencing is a subdivision of Traditional fencing. Traditional Fencing is the study of the western martial art of self-defense utilizing weapons; swords in particular. Classical Fencing focuses on the weapons and techniques as perfected during the 19th century (or classical age) of fencing. Traditional Fencing also includes Historical Fencing which focuses on fencing from the 14th-18th centuries. While a student of Classical Fencing may study a broader range of weapons, the three most common weapons studied are the foil, the epee and the sabre. The following is the definition of classical fencing, as used by the International Masters at Arms Federation: The second half of the 19th Century is historically the classical period, in which the art of fencing reached its furthest development, but we may include the whole of the 19th century in this era, as this was the age when fencing was formally codified, systematized, and fully expressed in complete systems and styles. “Classical
