PLATE III.—FEINT AT THE HEAD.
PLATE III.
Feinting.
A feint is a threatened attack made to induce your adversary to guard one part while you deliver the real attack on another. It is made by suddenly straightening the arm, without any movement of the body or feet, and directing the point at the place you wish him to guard.
Feints are also made to find out a man’s method of defence and general style of play; when done for that purpose you should watch carefully what he does, and instantly return to your guard, but when it is your intention to follow up the feint with an attack the cut should follow the feint with the greatest rapidity.
An attack preceded by a feint is done thus: Make the feint as directed above, then longe, and by a quick and close action of the wrist, deliver the real attack, taking care not to draw back the hand as you do so.
This is called “Deceiving a Guard.”
Guards.
All guards should be made with the edge of the forte of the sword, that is, the half of the blade next to the hand (the other half is called the feeble), and with the wrist well sunk. A firm guard is thus formed, and consequently a quick return can be given.
Too much force should not be used, so that a second guard may be readily made should the first be deceived. The sword should never be moved one inch more than is necessary to defend the part attacked.
