Joseph Tinguely

Original text for French readers (Google Books):

• Manuel d'escrime à la contre-pointe composé pour les officiers de toutes armes

Translation for English readers (LongEdge Press):

• Manual of Contre-Point Fencing

Tinguely is unusual in that he took a French system of sabre fencing, based predominantly on moulinets and imported it into French-speaking Switzerland, and in the process transformed it into a style based predominantly on thrusts. In this way, he provides a kinaesthetic counterpoint to the traditional French style of sabre fencing. By manipulating the standard vocabulary of French sabre from cuts to thrusts, he provides a way of getting under the covers of the words used to describe the French style.

Hold the sabre “flat in the hand” with the thumb along the back of the handle. The pommel should protrude past the wrist.

The basic stance has the forward foot about 15cm from the rear foot, the heels in line and the weight on the rear leg. The sword hand should be “on the same line as the lowest part of the chest” and the point of the sword “must be elevated around 15 degrees” and directed toward the top of the opponent's chest. The off hand is placed on the hip.

• In quarte, the fingernails are turned upwards and the true edge facing towards the inside line to cover it.
• In tierce, the fingernails are turned downwards and the true edge facing and protecting the outside line.

If you engage the blade in quarte, cover your inside line a little and if you engage the blade in tierce, cover your outside line to prevent straight strikes from these engagements.

Tinguely describes a stepping exercises of half a dozen steps forward then half a dozen backwards. The stepping is fairly standard: expand then contract, by moving the front foot first then bringing the rear foot up to resume the basic stance. The retreat works in the same way with the rear foot moving first.

Engagement is either in quarte or tierce with the true edges in contact. Engagement in tierce is preferred.

• Quarte and tierce to defend the chest
• Seconde to defend against flank strikes to your outside line
• Prime to defend against low strikes to the outside (?)
• Low quarte and low tierce to defend against the forearm strike to either the outside or inside.
• Quinte to defend the head

Tinguely's primary attacks appear to be via the thrust and cuts appear relegated to strikes in riposte. Not sure. I may have this wrong.

Primary strikes:

• Lunge in quarte
• Lunge in tierce
• Lunge in seconde
• Strike in prime (confused what exactly this is)
• Disarm by expulsion (envelope and throw to the outside in seconde)

Other strikes:

• Face cuts to the inside and outside of the opponent
• Cuts to the thighs
• Forearm cut
• Flank strike

Take a bold air and an assured position. Fix your eyes on those of your opponent so that he cannot penetrate your plans. Keep a measured and a convenient distance. These dispositions are things very essential in sparring.

There certainly is a lot of it. I reckon Tinguely's text in invaluable for this, if nothing else. i could just copy pasta this entire page and a half here. It's all wonderful stuff.

We recommend to our readers to practice their exercises with gentleness towards each other.

• List of parry and riposte pairs. This provides the key insight into how to fence.