6. The Guard

A fencer well on guard should be able to execute with ease all the different movements of attack and defense.

In order to perform the movements of attack with facility, you must take a correct and rational guard, since these movements demand great speed and stretching.

The body must be placed in such a position that all of its muscles can act with the greatest speed and ease.

All fencing actions develop from the position of the utmost importance to assume a “natural” position, which will give you complete assurance and poise.

From the first position you go into the guard position in two movements:

1. By means of a shoulder movement, place your sabre in line, cutting edge of the blade to the right.

2. Bend your knees so that the left one is perpendicularly over the point of your left foot and the right one perpendicularly over the right heel. Place yoiur right foot forward, about two foot lengths in a straight line; at the same time, for the guard of Tierce (Figs. 3 and 4)

bend the arm, placing the blade in a diagonal position, the point raised to the height of your opponent’s eyes, the cutting edge in a diagonal line to the right.

For the guard of Seconde, direct the point toward your opponent’s hip, the sabre in line as an extension of the arm, the cutting edge of the blade in a diagonal line to the right.

The right foot advances, following an imaginary line which would pas through the two points of contact
of both opponent’s heels; this line is called the line of direction. The left foot rests flat as already indicated for the First Position, forming an angle of 100 degrees with the line of direction.

These two guards are constantly used; the guard of Tierce for the high line and the guard of Seconde for the low line.

The guard of Tierce is particularly indicated during the lesson, but generally you take the guard of Seconde for the assault.

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