In a previous article I described the most common version of First Stand, the traditional position a fencer assumes on the piste before saluting and taking guard at the start of an assault or combat, or before engaging in large military or civil . greeting. In this upright position, the sword is held in front of the shooter with the point facing the ground. There are three variations of this position which, although less frequent, deserve record: a saber variant by JM Waite (1880), a variation of how the weapon is held found in Italian fencing as described in Holzman’s translations of Parise (1884) and Pecoraro and Pessina (1912), and variations based on a simulated drawing of the sword that I will describe in a future article.

Assume the Preliminary Position before entering Guard as described by English Professor JM Waite (note that Waite’s description of foot, torso, and head position is the same as in the more common version of First Position):

  • The foot of the weapon arm is placed on the direction line (the line that joins you and your opponent) pointing at your opponent in the middle of the court.

  • The heel of the rear foot touches the heel of the front foot with the foot facing 90 degrees to the inside of the line of direction.

  • Legs are straight, torso upright and balanced, rotated approximately 45 degrees inward through the hips.

  • The head is upright, looking directly at the opponent.

  • The hand of the non-weapon arm is closed and placed on the rear hip, with the elbow back so that it is not visible from the front.

  • The weapon is held in the weapon hand with the grip relaxed, the rear edge of the sword resting in the hollow of the forward shoulder, the elbow of the sword arm touching the forward hip, the forearm parallel to the ground, and the guard on the forearm. direct address. Line in front of the hip.

The First Position used in some Italian texts, as described by Maestri di Scherma Masaniello Parise and Salvatore Pecoraro and Carlo Pessina, is described:

  • The foot placement is the same as described by Waite and used in the most common version of First Position.

  • Legs are straight, torso upright and balanced, turned parallel to the direction line, shoulders level.

  • The head is upright in the same position described by Waite and in other versions of First Position.

  • The hand of the non-weapon arm is placed at the flank, on the fork between the thumb and forefinger, and the elbow bent.

  • The weapon is held in the weapon hand towards the fencer’s inside line, with the blade held diagonally with the point to the rear as if in a scabbard, the point behind the rear foot just above the ground.

These variants differ in how the sword and rear arm are held, and are generally similar in other respects to the more widely described version of First Position. Its function is also consistent, serving as the base for the fencer to assume the guard position. As always, you must adopt the First Position described by the Sword Master whose text you study.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *