About the AHF
The Association for Historical Fencing is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit educational corporation founded to meet the needs of the classical- and historical-oriented fencing community.
The AHF exists to encourage and preserve the arts of classical and historical fencing. To these ends, the AHF is organizing seminars, lectures, workshops and similar programs, and disseminating knowledge and basic factual material to its membership. To raise public awareness we are hosting exhibitions and demonstrations. The AHF, to the extent practicable, will ensure the availability of qualified masters and instructors in order to teach workshops, etc. We hope to promote the growth of schools and academies both nationally and internationally, but most importantly, we are providing a venue where practitioners and interested parties can unite to foment the growth of the classical and historical fencing community.
Fencing Throughout History
The Association for Historical Fencing has developed a system of classification of the eras of the history of fencing based on the various periods in the development of the art. They are:
Historical Fencing Early Period -- 14th and 15th Centuries
Historical Fencing Middle Period -- 16th Century
Historical Fencing Late Period -- 17th and 18th Centuries
Classical Fencing -- 19th Century
Modern Fencing -- 20th Century
These time periods are, of course, somewhat artificial classifications used to facilitate discussion, just as we may speak of vague periods such as "the Middle Ages" and "the Modern Era." Styles and weapons did not, of course, abruptly change from one time period to the next, just as other artifacts of human culture do not suffer sudden transformations. Rather, there was always an overlap of weapons, styles, and techniques within each era. Nonetheless, the different eras of the development of fencing can clearly be distinguished from each other, as each era has its own distinct characteristics. Comprehension of these developments and their ramifications is necessary for the informed practice thereof.
Historical Fencing Early Period
Though we may trace the art of defense back to the 14th century, it is difficult to talk about fencing before that time since there is simply no surviving documentation, save for anecdotal evidence. The fechtbuch known as I-33, penned circa 1300, is the first known treatise on Western swordsmanship. However, specifics on styles, techniques, or methods that predate this are, due to the lack of documentation, open to speculation. Most importantly, there was no clear distinction between civilian and military use of the sword. The early treatises do, however, contain clear descriptions of timing, distance, binding, engagements, parries, feints, voiding actions, and footwork. The basics of the styles within the "middle historical" period can be traced to this time period.
The I-33 fechtbuch is also the earliest known documented evidence of the use of the sword for personal self-defense or for monomachia (that is, dueling), though the distinction between civilian swordsmanship and military swordsmanship was just beginning to be recognized in this period. These two aims—self-defense and dueling—have guided the development of the art of fence through the centuries. The attitude and techniques that are necessary to these ends differ in many ways from those of military swordsmanship. Thus this distinction is of no small importance.
Historical Fencing Middle Period
The 16th century may, in fact, be considered to be a long transitional period. It is to this period that the basics of the "late historical" period can be traced, as well as the final developments of the styles and schools of the "early historical" period. It is within this period that the use of the sword as a civilian side arm became common practice, first appearing in fifteenth-century Spain. However, though we have texts on swordsmanship from the fifteenth century, it is not until the sixteenth century that we find numerous surviving treatises clearly documenting civilian systems of swordsmanship. In this period we find both the explication and definition of a system that already existed in the 15th century in the work of Achille Marozzo, and, seventeen years later, the explication of a new approach and system in the writings of Camillo Aggrippa. The sixteenth century also saw the birth of an entirely new civilian school in Spain with the writings of Don Jeronimo de Carranza.
Historical Fencing Late Period
The late historical period may be distinguished from the early and middle periods by the fact that we may directly trace the origins of the traditional schools, styles, and techniques of the classical era to this time period. This development can be attributed to several factors: the growing influence of the printing press, the beginnings of a modern mentality that included national consciousness and a "scientific" mindset, the rise of the middle class, and the wearing of the sword as an everyday article of dress. These social changes had their affect on fencing, as they did on other areas of human endeavor. Specifically, the printing press and the greater ease of long-distance travel helped the transmission of both first-person and vicarious knowledge, while the growth of the urban leisure class gave the fencing master a steady stream of willing patrons.
The late historical period is the era in which fencing evolved into distinct schools specifically intended for civilian use. This development resulted in schools and styles that remained intact for long periods of time, and a direct line that may be drawn from the classical techniques to the systems already in use in this era. In short, this is the era in which a differentiation between military and civilian styles were clearly established, and national styles, such as the Spanish, Italian, and French schools, became clearly defined. Finally, the schools of thought regarding the subject, which may be documented through the printed materials left to us, can be discerned, and the origin of traditions that have come down to this very day may be positively identified.
We know, for example, that rapier technique had its birth in the late 16th century, while the 17th century was the golden age of this weapon. The 17th century also saw the development of the smallsword, but it wasn't until the 18th century that we see the full development of l'escrime français, in which, primarily under the leadership of French masters, the smallsword developed into its own distinctive system. The Italian school also developed greatly during the 18th century, but continued to adhere to the method of the striccia, or thrusting rapier, as the basis of its system.
Classical Fencing
The second half of the 19th Century is historically the classical period, in which the art of fencing reached its highest development, but we may include the whole of the 19th century in this era, as this was the age when fencing was formally codified, systematized, and fully expressed in complete systems and styles. "Classical," in this sense, means "the golden age," the period when the art saw its highest peak. Clear distinctions between the French and Italian schools can be seen in this era, and national "academies" were established. A "super-national" approach established commonality in fencing language, as well as codes and rules for dueling. It is also within the classical period that the great rivalries between both schools were constantly put to the test through professional bouts and, in some cases, duels between masters of each school.
The use of the sword as a sidearm, for personal self-defense, was no longer a concern of fencers during this era. Rather, they focused on training in fencing for its own sake as an art form and personal accomplishment, in addition its use in personal combat. This age is distinguished by the art of the foil, which masters thought to be the fencing "weapon" par excellence. With this refined tool, the most sophisticated and artistic maneuvers are possible. However, the use of the sword as a killing weapon was always borne in mind, and the training was serious in nature.
However, earlier, more combative, techniques did not die out. In the early part of the 19th century, methods such as the use of the unarmed hand, strikes with the pommel, disarms, arm locks, and the like could be found in such works as Rosaroll and Grisetti's treatise of 1803 and Maestro Brea's book of 1805. It is also well known that methods of rapier and dagger, as well as other "historical" weapons, were practiced through the 19th century and into the 20th.
Modern Fencing
This brings us to the era we term "modern." This period has seen the gradual disappearance of the duel and, with the lack of a need to prepare for mortal combat, the transformation of the discipline into a sport. Although there have been occasional duels within the 20th century, modern fencing is solely concerned with the "sport" aspect. This development was aided by the inclusion of fencing into the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Furthermore, the founding of the Federation Internationale d'Escrime in 1913 saw a growth of "technicism" and the loss of the principles that are first and basic to the practice of fencing in a martial context. These principles are, namely, self-preservation, conservation, and defense. Fencing pedagogy has also changed with this. The fleche, the fouettee ("flick"), and similar actions, along with the use of the electrical scoring system and orthopedic grips, have no relation to preparation for lethal combat. These innovations, along with the constantly changing and subjectively reinterpreted rules, have resulted in the metamorphosis of the art and science of the sword into an athletic game. The final moments of the 20th century therefore find fencing severely altered from its original form and intent from a killing art, where the stakes are life and death, into a game, where losing a bout is the worst that can happen.
To conclude, it must be said that we have seen many misapprehensions such as classical fencing being confused with historical fencing, or anything that is not modern fencing classified as classical fencing, or, worse, theatrical swordplay. We hope everyone will now understand what context we are referring to when we speak of a specific era. It is important not only that we differentiate time periods, but also that we know the historical and technical reasons for these categorizations. Thus, we can use the same terminology and avoid unnecessary confusion.
