If I may borrow a line from The Bard, "Brevity is the soul of wit."

A definition is best kept short, simple -- and therefore memorable. This
definition is more a treatise.

It's all really very simple.
Bear in mind that until circa 1980 there was no such thing as "classical"
fencing as distinguished from "sport" fencing. There was only "fencing." This is
because, while styles varied from French, to Italian to Thousand Island, they
all accepted the same real-combat principles and therefore rules as
foundational. Certainly, some were said to fence more or less "classically" but
the rules were clear and constant. Thus, time and again the classical form was
proven superior over idiosyncratic athleticism.
Much to the ire of the modern "athletic" disciples, I would imagine.
There is a popular myth that the classical fencers fell prey to the "new"
athleticism.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
For example, I personally witnessed aged old duffers -- that is,
classically-trained old duffers -- whip the proverbial chittlin's out of college
age harder-faster fencers. One of these old gentlemen had degenerative bone
disease to the extent that he could barely manage to STAND, let alone lunge. He
made it to the finals past "athletic" lads 1/3 his age.

There were times when incompetent directors might err -- but it was broadly
agreed they had erred. No one ever argued that a hawk was actually a handsaw.
(I seem to be in a Shakespearean mood.)

Unfortunately, the "modern, athletic" people moved into positions of power in
fencing politics and you all know, I trust, that power attracts the very people
who should never have any.
The gradual "interpretation" of the rules, that is to say, their
Orwellian-style re-definition of things to mean the EXACT OPPOSITE of their
original, traditional meaning, made it necessary to distinguish fencing, based
on the realities of actual combat, from fencing, based on ----well, whatever it
is that olympic fencing is now supposed to be based on.


I think the old definition of "fencing" now applies to classical fencing and
it's the one I still use:
The purpose of classical fencing is to simulate as closely as possible a
"frank and courteous encounter," ie, a duel.

I think this says it all.
With this definition you may include whatever manner of swords from whatever
nations during whatever time period -- as indeed we always did before --
provided you obey the premise of it all -- "What if they were sharp?"

I hope these comments may be in some small way helpful.


Adam Adrian Crown, Maitre d'Armes
In Ferro Veritas
www.classicalfencing.com




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