In holding a light sabre, place the fingers round the grip so that the
middle knuckles are in a line with the edge, and let the thumb lie on
the back to enable you to direct the point.
With a heavy sabre, the thumb should be placed round the grip, or you
maybe disarmed by a strong beat made with a sword of the same weight.
In singlestick, do not let the end of the thumb touch the hilt, or a
hard blow on the hilt might seriously injure it.
Hold the sword securely, but do not grasp it tightly, or your hand and
arm will soon tire. The grasp should only be tightened when delivering a
cut or forming a guard.
There is great art in easing the grip directly after a movement has been
executed. A swordsman who does this properly has what is termed “a soft
hand,” a great desideratum in sword play. It gives quickness to the
hand, and saves it from being jarred.
[Illustration: PLATE I.—PRELIMINARY POSITION.]