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Elemental Fencing treatise on the Use of the Small Sword

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The Small Sword This book is intended as a compilation of the treatise of various masters of fencing schools throughout Europe dating from the early 1500’s AD, to the mid 1800’s AD. The focus of this treatise was the use of the small sword, fioretta or spadolino in Italian, the epee du cour in France, or the dress-sword in England

It is thought that with the urbanization of Europe during this time-period, civil policies such as weapons laws prohibiting the common citizenry from carrying soldierly weapons on city streets (much as today’s large urban centers) gave rise to a weapon that could be carried for adornment, used for self-defense, but not of any use to a soldier in the battle-field; The small sword.

The weapon’s weight averaged no more than a kilogram. Its features were recognizable as a sword, with a pommel counterweighing the blade, a hilt, guard, and blade. However, unlike the typical sword, the small sword had no sharp cutting edge, other than perhaps at or near the tip. This helped its primary purpose, the thrust and penetration of the opponent’s body.

Its use was precise, as per many of the treatise, to be utilized to pierce vital organs for a crippling or mortal blow or to “blood” the opponent. This was a common intent in the art of dueling to adjudicate a tort or personal offence, where typically neither opponent desired the death of the other but rather wished to prove a ‘point’ (to coin a phrase perhaps.)

Because of the lack of cutting edge, the martial use, and actions applied to this weapon include “binding of the blade”, which is the act of locking the opponent’s blade so they may not use it, and the disarm, which is the act of taking the blade from the opponent’s grasp. We have found that both of these cases are equally as determined in a one on one duel as the action of the blade. Equally, in combat where both opponents are only armed with a blade, the grappling action that often ensues when binding and disarms are employed show us a resemblance to eastern martial arts involving grappling, throws, arm-guards, and wrist guards. In some cases, some of the treatises actually show western European equivalents to the Eastern Martial arts for the above.

Reading through the treatise has not been easy, mostly because they are typically written in arcane languages not commonly known today. However, with patience, and determination we have been able to utilize two of these treatise’ coupled with our own studies of the modern sport of athletic fencing, and the martial arts of Ju-Jutsu, Kung Fu, Aikido, and other forms to understand the outcomes. The first was The School of Fencing, written by Domenic Angelo in the early 1700’s. Master Angelo published his treatise complete with wood-carvings that show some depth, and dimensional imagery. His purpose is to expose the use of the Small Sword to English nobility of the day. The style he favored was from his home country of Italy. Known in his day for a style that utilized a particularly aggressive ‘binding hand’. Something the English nobility preferred in their time, complete with grapples, throws, and disarms.

Another was the Art of Defense, by Edward Blackwell, an Englishman. It was published in Williamsburg, USA, during the mid to late 1700s, and popular among the founding fathers of the country. Although written as an interview between student and master, we can see the similarity in styles with Angelo’s treatise. Apparently Master Blackwell studied in a school, or with a master that had learned from Master Angelo.

So we launched our own study of the art-form by utilizing the modern day Epee, as our weapon of choice, occasionally utilizing the Foil to replicate the Italian fioretta, a smaller lighter weapon. We have investigated the usage of the Spadolino, the fioretta, the dagger, the cape, two swords, many to many combat. We have even tested the use of a heavier blade against the small sword, and have found as Angelo and Blackwell both advise, “this will surely lead to the demise of the fencer.”

We have found evidence that in Europe during the 1500’s through the 1800’s, all matter of other assorted supporting weapons and attire were available for the casual fencer. In Milan and Rome, during the 1,600’s a popular garment set might include a high or ruffled collar (to avoid a back slash cut across the neck), a glove with a chainmail inner layer on the palm side for the left hand (to allow one to hold onto a blade without fear of a damaging cut), a cape fastened on the shoulders, and back, with a decorative hem in which was a chain, and lead ball at the end (which allowed the cape to be swung as a screening blind, or to grapple the opponent’s blade), a jacket with a right arm that had steel plating stitched into the inside of the sleeve (to protect the fencer from on coming attacks to his sword arm), a lantern with a thumb activated vent (which was used to blind opponents during a night fight), and finally a broche about the size of a small plate, that fastened to the upper left arm, (and could be used as a buckler, or small shield.) All these items were fashionable, as well as the sword, and found in nearly every noble-man’s (or assassin’s, or hired duelists) attire.

The Martial Art of Fencing developed from the use of the Small Sword, first for self-defense on the mean streets of most urban centers in Europe, then as a dueling art, and finally into the modern athletic art form we know today as Olympic Fencing. However, Angelo and Blackwell would have a hard time recognizing the Olympic form of fencing as having originated in the martial art form. For example, the primary action of the small sword is a thrust, the primary action of many Olympic fencer’s today instead is a whipping action. This is because in order to actually cause damage to an opponent, the martial fencer had to be able to have the point of his weapon penetrate the opponent’s armor, and skin. The Olympic fencer must only depress the indicator at the end of his blade, or connect with the other fencer’s electronic harness in order for a touch to be scored on the scoring machine.

This has developed into a sport that involves high action and whipping attacks that typically end in a blink of an eye, as two opponent’s close distance and one out matches the other’s assault. In contrast the Martial Fencer would rarely assault or perform a whipping attack. After all, it is called the art of Self-Defense for a reason. Another difference is the use of the Piste or fencing platform in the sport of fencing. Athletic fencers meet and must fence on a track that measures approximately two yards wide, and 15 long. If the fencers exceed these bounds they are judged against. By contrast the martial fencer must be ready to fence in the town square, on a flight of stairs, on the village green, in the church, in short, wherever he may be threatened.

Because of these differences we have found that the enormity of what a martial fencer must learn is an order of magnitude above what the athletic fencer must master. However because of the perfection of the athletic form, the strength, stamina, and vitality of the athletic fencer probably exceeds that of the martial fencer who learned the form only to survive per chance, and not to compete. There were undoubtedly those among the martial fencing community, like those who could be hired to fight duels, or those that had a passion for the art-form that would have reached the same level of perfection in their physical form.

In reviewing the martial form as described by Angelo, and Blackwell, we have developed a treatise that sets up a progression of learning, through four levels reminiscent of the levels of learning found in many of the arms treatise published by places of martial learning in Europe during the time period. We have utilized the elements commonly found in the asian martial art philosophies to describe the various physical, and philosophical precepts of the use of the Small Sword.

The Page shows a passion for learning, and rehearses the basics, until they master them. At this point the Page has what they need to commence competing in the Athletic form of Fencing. As a Squire the fencer masters the movements and freedoms of lateral movement, the fluidity of the parries, the various angled attacks, and defenses. The Fencer masters the complete compass of movements, multiple attacks, the use of grapples, throws, binds and disarms. As a Senior Fencer they master use of two swords, dagger, lantern, cape, broche, and reversals. At this point they exhaust the treatise’ that are available, and are considered a Master Fencer, along the way having been tested against up to four opponents, armed with a multitude of weaponry.

And so, our promise is to continue to explore the Arms and Weaponry treatises presented by the ancestors to the art form of the small sword. We will incorporate our findings, as they are discovered in later versions of this document.

For now, we present you the Elemental Fencing treatise based on the works of Angelo, and Blackwell, and our own experiences under Ju-Jutsu, Kung-Fu, and studies of Za.

And so, we embark on the martial art we have rediscovered, and continue to expand upon. Read on, and feel free to contribute!