First Position – Two Alternatives

In a previous article I described the most common version of the First Position, the traditional position a fencer assumes on the piste before saluting and guarding at the start of a bout or bout, or before engaging in large military or civilian combat. . greeting. In this upright position, the sword is held in front of the fencer with the point toward the ground. There are three variations of this position which, although less frequent, deserve record: a saber variant by JM Waite (1880), a variation of how the weapon is held found in Italian fencing as described in Holzman’s translations of Parise (1884) and Pecoraro y Pessina (1912), and variations based on a simulated drawing of the sword that I will describe in a future article.

Assume the Preliminary Position before going into Guard as described by English teacher JM Waite (note that Waite’s description of the position of the foot, torso, and head is the same as in the more common version of the First Position):

• The foot of the weapon arm is placed on the line of direction (the line that joins you and your opponent) pointing at your opponent in the middle of the court.

• The heel of the rear foot touches the heel of the front foot with the foot facing 90 degrees to the inside of the line of direction.

• The legs are straight, the torso upright and balanced, turned at an angle of approximately 45 degrees inwards through the hips.

• The head is erect, looking directly at the opponent.

• The hand of the non-weapon-carrying arm is closed and placed on the rear hip, elbow back so it is not visible from the front.

• The weapon is held in the weapon hand with the grip relaxed, the rear edge of the sword resting in the hollow of the lead shoulder, the elbow of the sword arm touching the lead hip, the forearm parallel to the ground, and the guard in the direct address. Line in front of the hip.

The First Position used in some Italian texts, as described by Maestri di Scherma Masaniello Parise and Salvatore Pecoraro and Carlo Pessina, is described:

• The foot placement is the same as described by Waite and used in the most common version of First Position.

• Legs are straight, torso upright and balanced, turned parallel to line of direction, shoulders level.

• The head is upright in the same position as described by Waite and in other versions of First Position.

• The hand of the non-weapon arm is placed on the flank, on the fork between thumb and forefinger, elbow bent.

• The weapon is held in the weapon hand towards the fencer’s inside line, with the blade held diagonally with the point rearward as if in a sheath, the point behind the rear foot just above the ground.

These variants differ in how the sword and rear arm are held, and are generally similar in other ways to the more widely described version of First Position. Its function is also consistent, serving as the basis for the fencer to assume the guard position. As always, you must adopt the First Position described by the Fencing Master whose text you are studying.