Louis Rondelle
The book is published in English. This is not a translated French text but was written in English after Rondelle emigrated to the US.
Overview
- Holding the sabre
- Stance
Engagement
I'll quote this. I cannot sum it up better.
In the engagement the blades should always be placed edge against edge. The Tierce engagement is the only effective one between right-handed fencers. The Quarte engagement is employed only against a left-handed fencer.
- Moulinets (horizontal and vertical)
- Lunge
- Slipping the leg
- Advance and Retreat
- The Salute
- Tactical Advice
Strike | Parry | Riposte
Rondelle's strikes begin with a cut-over from engagement rather than the moulinet dictated by the Amy Manual. His execution of the cuts will be examined as well as they, too, are a little different. Like Brunet, Rondelle includes a strike to the legs not included in the Army Manual.
The Arm Cut is defined as a class consisting of three different applications. One can either:
- Cut down the opponent's blade with opposition,
- Beat the opponent's sword away to provide a tempo for cutting the arm,
- Dropping the point low and cutting up at the opponent's arm from underneath.
Rondelle also notes that the Arm Cut and Point Thrust are much more effective as the second/developed actions of a compound attack or a riposte rather than as an attack of first intention. The Right Cheek Cut (high inside) in not effectively possible from an engagement in *tierce*.
Parries are specifically performed edge on edge and with the strong of the blade.
The riposte may be a simple or compound action, always maintaining blade contact as much as possible – unless the parry has expelled the opponent's blade. This is in order to protect against the opponent's remise as you recover into guard.
| Strike | Parry | Riposte |
|---|---|---|
| Head Cut (cut-over straight strike) | High parry with the blade horizontal and forward | Point Thrust or Flank Cut |
| Chest Cut (diagonal from high outside to low inside) | Hanging parry to the inside | Head Cut |
| Right Cheek Cut (high inside) | High tierce (point high, hilt low) | Left Cheek Cut (high outside) |
| Left Cheek Cut (high outside) | High quarte (point high, hilt low) | Right Cheek Cut (high inside) |
| Flank Cut (low inside) | Hanging parry to the outside | Point Thrust or Head Cut |
| Girdle Cut (low outside) | Hanging parry to the inside | Chest Cut |
| Arm Cut (see above) | Withdraw the arm out of range either as tierce or quarte, depending on the direction of the arm cut. | Brunet and Rondelle agree that the riposte is a Point strike. |
| Point Thrust | Low tierce or quarte (hilt low, point high) or seconde (hilt high, point low) depending on the height of the thrust | Right Cheek Cut, Point Thrust or Arm Cut |
| Thigh Cut (extend to slice on the same side as the engagement) | Slipping the leg, called here the “escape rear”. | None listed |
Compound Attacks, Compound Ripostes
Compound actions fill two main roles in Rondelle's view. Attacks may be compound actions. Ripostes may be compound actions. The lists below show the standard format in the text which outline the demonstrated compound actions. I'm laying things out this way to better see the commonalities and difference between compound attack and compound ripostes.
The words in the table represent the commands given to students by the fencing master. They are all in the format “Action to be performed – Go.” For example, “Feint a Head Cut then a Stomach Cut – Lunge.”
These exercises can be performed solo, and I suspect that this is exactly how they were practiced.
| Attacks Composed of Two Movements. | |
|---|---|
| Feint Head Cut and Stomach Cut — Lunge. | |
| Feint Point Thrust (high) and Flank Cut — Lunge. | |
| Feint Point Thrust (low) and Head Cut — Lunge. | |
| Feint Point Thrust (low) and Right Cheek Cut — Lunge. | |
| Feint Flank Cut and Right Cheek Cut — Lunge. | |
| Feint Left Cheek Cut and Right Cheek Cut — Lunge. | |
| Feint Head Cut and Flank Cut — Lunge. | |
| Compound Parries in Two Movements and Simple Ripostes. | |
| Feint Flank Cut and Head Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Point Thrust. |
| Feint Head Cut and Stomach Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Head Cut. |
| Feint Point Thrust and Right Cheek Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Left Cheek Cut (reversing hand). |
| Feint Head Cut and Flank Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Right Cheek Cut. |
| Feint Left Cheek Cut and Right Cheek Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Forearm Cut (upper). |
| Feint Left Cheek Cut and Right Cheek Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Flank Cut. |
| Simple Parries and Compound Ripostes. | |
| Chest Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Head Cut and Stomach Cut. |
| Chest Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Head Cut and Flank Cut. |
| Stomach Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Head Cut and Flank Cut. |
| Stomach Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Head Cut and Stomach Cut. |
| Flank Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Right Cheek Cut and Flank Cut. |
| Flank Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Point Thrust (high) and Flank Cut. |
| Point Thrust — Parry. | Riposte by Feint Point Thrust and Cut Arm. |
| Simple Parries and Double Ripostes. | |
| Left Cheek Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Right Cheek Cut and Chest Cut. |
| Left Cheek Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Right Cheek Cut and Stomach Cut. |
| Left Cheek Cut — Parry. | Riposte by Right Cheek Cut and Forearm Cut (under). |
Attacks into Preparation
An attack into preparation is a catch-all term for any strike made while the opponent is moving or getting ready to attack.
There are two particular types of attacks into preparation called out in the text. Both of these use either a Point Strike or Forearm Strike to stymie the opponent's action and score a touch on them. The difference between them is one of timing.
- Stop Strikes are applied to the start of the opponent's action, particularly on the first action of a compound attack.
- Timed Strikes are applied on the opponent's actual attacking action, usually accompanied by an evasion, stepping off the line or retreat movement.
Timed Strike and Stop Strike Exercises
Note: The Left Cheek cut is defined here as a strike to the target's high inside line and the Right Cheek cut is defined as a strike to the target's high outside line.
| Opponent's Attack | Timed Strike, Stop Strike |
|---|---|
| Head cut | Point strike to forearm while retreating |
| Head cut | Forearm strike from below in quarte |
| Left Face cut | Point strike to forearm while retreating |
| Left Face cut | Forearm strike from below in quarte |
| Right Face cut | Point strike to forearm while retreating |
| Right Face cut | Forearm strike from below in tierce |
| Thigh cut | Forearm cut from above while retreating |
| Flank cut | Point strike to the chest, ensuring the blade is opposed to the opponent's blade |
| Flank cut | Point strike to the head while retreating |
| Flank cut | Forearm cut in quarte to the inside of the opponent's arm |
Attack into Preparation Exercises
| Opponent's Action | Attack into Preparation |
|---|---|
| Against a press or beat | Disengage and make a Point strike |
| Against an advance (or “menace”) | Forearm strike |
Teaching Progression
Rondelle develops these actions in this way, going through each in turn. It's quite an extensive set of exercises when you multiple out each of these formats for each combination. He suggests that each individual exercise needs to be performed as many times as necessary to get it right.
Each exercise set has a name followed by a set of called out commands to initiation the action. Parries are named after the attack they defend against.
Even more confusingly, some of these exercises appear to be solo practice and some appear to be paired or partner drills. There is no indication which is which and this requires some thought.
I'll need to make a table of each of these but that's a mañana job.
- Simple Attacks and Parries (“<Attack name> – Lunge. <Attack name> – Parry. On guard.”)
- Compound Attacks (“<Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name> – Lunge. On guard.”). Rondelle calls these “attacks composed of two movements”.
- Simple Parries and Ripostes (“<Attack name> – Parry. Riposte by <attack name>. On guard.”)
- Compound Parries and Simple Ripostes (“<Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name> – Parry. Riposte by <attack name>. On guard.”).
- Simple Parries and Compound Ripostes (“<Attack name> – Parry. Riposte by <Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name>. On guard.”)
- Simple Parries and Double Ripostes (“<Attack name> – Parry. Riposte by <Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name>. On guard.”). In these, Rondelle states that the sword hand is in tierce for the first riposte and in quarte for the second riposte.
- Compound Parries and Ripostes (“<Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name> – Parry. Riposte by <Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name>. On guard.”)
- Compound Parries and Double Ripostes (“<Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name> – Parry. Riposte by <Attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name>. On guard.”)
There's another group of exercises which need to be worked through because the name of the exercise set does not seem to match the called out directions.
- Simple Parries, Ripostes and Counter-ripostes (“<Attack name> – Lunge. <Attack name> – Parry. Counter-riposte by <attack name>. On guard.”)
- Simple Parries, Ripostes and Compound Counter-ripostes (“<Attack name> – Lunge. <Attack name> – Parry. Counter-riposte by <attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name>. On guard.”)
- Simple Parries, Ripostes and Double Counter-ripostes (“<Attack name> – Lunge. <Attack name> – Parry. Counter-riposte by <attack 1 name> and <attack 2 name>. On guard.”)
Tactical Advice
It has been demonstrated that one cannot score a hit frequently without deceiving the adverse blade. (III.3)
Point Thrusts and Arm Cuts, as simple attacks, are much more effectual when executed upon preparatory attacks or as ripostes. (III.11)
The riposte can also be easily made by merely turning the hand over in its extended position after a parry, without quitting the adverse blade. (III.15)
The sabre Time Thrust is especially directed against the part of the enemy's body which is nearest, the forearm, and is executed by an Arm Cut or a Point Thrust. When an enemy attempts a Head Cut, the Time Thrust cam be executed directly against his forearm, making an escape to the rear or a retreat. Or he can be attacked with an Arm Cut on the left and under side of the forearm by turning the hand in Quarte with nails up. Avoid his Head Cut by an escape or retreat. When he attempts a Left-Cheek Cut, the Time Thrust can be applied in the same manner as a Head Cut. Likewise when he attempts a Right-Cheek Cut the Time Thrust by the Point is similarly executed; but the Arm Cut is directed to the right and under side of the forearm, the hand being turned with nails downwards. (III.22-23)
The attack on preparations – is executed on any movements of the adversary having as their end the preparation of an attack. To a Press or a Beat it is applied by a Point Thrust by disengaging. To an Advance or a Menace it is applied by an Arm Cut. (III.24)
Each time he enters within [measure] it is necessary to be prepared to a parry a Point Thrust. (III.25)
In every attack he should take the greatest pains to preserve Opposition, and thus, guarantee himself against Point Thrust upon the body, which the adversary might make. This precept is absolute. (III.25)
Every movement of the sabre either in attack or parry should be made very contractedly. The sabre is a heavy weapon, and always has the tendency to beat the hand too far in the lateral movements. (III.25)
The Riposte by the Point Thrust is the most terrible for the adversary and the most advantageous for the one who employs it, for it is the most rapid attack and it maintains the adverse blade in Opposition. (III.25-36)
It is incontestably true that in the case of sabre a good parrier always wins. Strong in parries, he never fears the adverse attack. He waits for it and even provokes it, that he may have the advantage of a Time Thrust of good Riposte. (III.27)
The assailant after every attack, whether successful or not, should retreat slightly out of distance and at the same time hold the adverse blade outside the line of his body. (III.27)