It is often a kind of trap, to put the right leg more forward than usual, in order to induce the adversary to make a cut at it. When he does so, the leg is drawn back, the stroke passes harmless, and the deceived striker gets the stick of his opponent on his head or shoulders.
We now come to a very complicated exercise, called the
FIFTH PRACTICE.
| WORD OF COMMAND. | FRONT RANK. | REAR RANK. |
|---|---|---|
| Draw Swords. | Draw Swords. | Draw Swords. |
| Inside Guard. | Inside Guard. | Inside Guard. |
| Outside Guard. | Outside Guard. | Outside Guard. |
| Guard. | Hanging Guard. | Hanging Guard. |
| Head. | Seventh Cut. | Seventh Guard. |
| Head. | Seventh Guard. | Seventh Cut. |
| Arm. | Second Cut [at Arm]. | Second Guard. |
| Head. | Seventh Guard. | Seventh Cut. |
| Head. | Seventh Cut. | Seventh Guard. |
| Arm. | Second Guard. | Second Cut [at Arm]. |
| Head. | Seventh Cut. | Seventh Guard. |
| Head. | Seventh Guard. | Seventh Cut. |
| Right Side. | Sixth Cut. | Sixth Guard. |
| Head. | Seventh Guard. | Seventh Cut. |
| Head. | Seventh Cut. | Seventh Guard. |
| Right Side. | Sixth Guard. | Sixth Cut. |
| Guard. | Hanging Guard. | Hanging Guard. |
This practice is capital exercise, and looks very imposing. All these practices ought to be so familiar, that the words of command are not needed, the only word required being First, Second, or Third Practices, as the case may be.
I remember once, that two of my pupils had attained such a mastery of their weapons, that we used often to go through the practices with real swords. On one occasion, we were acting a charade, and my eldest pupil and myself were enacting the part of two distinguished foreigners (country unknown) who were to get up a fight. So we began by a little quarrel, and finally drew our swords and set hard to work at the fifth practice, which we could do with extreme rapidity, and without the use of words of command. The spectators were horrified, and the ladies greatly alarmed; for there seems to be no particular order in that practice, and an inexperienced eye would certainly fancy that the combatants were in earnest.
FORT AND FEEBLE.
The half of the sword blade next the hilt is called the “fort,” because it is the strongest place on which the cut of an adversary can be received. Always parry and guard with the fort of your sword, as, if you try to guard a cut with the “feeble,” which is the remaining half of the blade, your guard will be forced, and the cut take effect.