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The Cavé in French Swordsmanship
French fencing masters wrote about the cavé (pronounced cahv-ay) as a distinct fencing action. In French, caver means to cave in or collapse. The cavé thus described how a fencer would change or position his wrist or body to create a sharp angle—“caving in” from, … Continue reading
Posted in Theory, Weapons
Tagged 18th Century, Angelo, cavé, Danet, Esquive, Flanconnade, foil, French, Gomard, Gordine, Grisier, La Boëssière, Small Sword, smallsword
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French Authors’ Use of the False Attacks and Feints
I. Introduction Recently, I’ve been trying to drill down on the French authors’ conceptual and mechanical distinctions between fausse attaques—i.e., false attacks—and feints. Although ostensibly different, it appeared to me that the boundaries between false attacks and feints could easily … Continue reading
(Re)Introducing Maître Augustin Grisier (Part 1 of 2)
Augustin Grisier remains one of my favorite French fencing masters. In a time when duels to the death or even first blood were still fought in Europe, fencing masters must have led drama-filled lives. Surely, others’ living during that time … Continue reading
Posted in History
Tagged 19th Century, cavalry, Czar Alexander, foil, French, Grand Duke Constantine, Grisier, Russia, Russie, sabre
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Tromper and Doigté
As we study le trompement this month, we are necessarily focusing on using our fingers and, to a lesser extent, our wrists in steering our blades around attempted parries and engagements. The French had a term for skillful finger-work in … Continue reading
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