The same as for outside of leg, except that you move your hand to the
left until it hangs over the right knee.
[Illustration: PLATE XI.—SHIFTING THE LEG TO AVOID A CUT AND COUNTER ON
THE HEAD.]
PLATE XI.
SHIFTING THE LEG TO AVOID A CUT, AND COUNTERING ON THE HEAD.
As your adversary cuts at your leg, draw it quickly back and assume the
first position shown in Plate I., and at the same time deliver a
diagonal cut on his head or arm, with good opposition, so that should
your adversary feint at your leg and cut at the head, the opposition
will guard his attack. Be careful not to raise the hand in making the
counter. This manœuvre may also be used against attacks made at the left
breast.
[Illustration: PLATE XII.—SHIFTING THE LEG WHEN A MAN ATTACKS WITH HIS
HAND BELOW THE SHOULDER, AND COUNTER ON THE ARM.]
PLATE XII.
SHIFTING THE LEG WHEN A MAN ATTACKS WITH HIS HAND BELOW THE SHOULDER,
AND COUNTER ON THE ARM.
The above manœuvre may be executed on any cut or thrust given with the
hand below the shoulder, except that the counter should be aimed at the
inside of the arm and the left foot moved back about eight inches before
drawing up to the first position, so that you are out of distance.
The counter will act as a half circular parry should you not reach the
arm.
The counter on the head or arm can also be given when a man returns at
the leg after guarding his head. In this case you must recover in one
movement from the longe to the first position, and at the same time
deliver the counter.
It is much more difficult to recover from the longe than from the guard
with sufficient quickness to avoid a return, but practice and good
position on the longe will enable any one with good legs to accomplish
it.
[Illustration: PLATE XIII.—A DRAW AND GUARD FOR SHIFTING THE LEG AND
COUNTER ON THE HEAD OR ARM.]
PLATE XIII.
A DRAW AND GUARD FOR SHIFTING THE LEG TO AVOID A CUT AND COUNTER ON THE
HEAD OR ARM.
Feint a cut at outside leg, then longe, and forming the head guard,
receive his counter on your sword and deliver a return under his right
arm.
[Illustration: PLATE XIV.—A DRAW AND STOP FOR SHIFTING THE LEG AND
COUNTER ON THE HEAD OR ARM.]
PLATE XIV.
A DRAW AND STOP FOR SHIFTING THE LEG TO AVOID A CUT AND COUNTER ON THE
HEAD OR ARM.
Feint at outside of leg, and as your adversary tries to counter, make a
half longe, and, aiming at the inside of his wrist, make a retrograde
cut by drawing your hand towards your body, and at the same time retire
out of distance.
Attacks at the leg should never be made without being preceded by a
feint or a beat to divert your adversary’s attention, and even when done
in that manner you should be chary of their use. The man on the
defensive has the advantage of either guarding and returning or shifting
and countering, and should he adopt the latter method and not shift his
leg quickly enough to avoid the hit, he would have considerably the
better of the exchange.
I do not, however, think that attacks at the leg should be entirely
ignored, neither do I think that they should always be avoided by
shifting the leg. A man on horseback cannot do so. Both methods of
defence should be practised. A man who relies entirely upon shifting may
easily be drawn into a trap, as is shown in Plates XIII. and XIV. When
mounted, the leg guards defend your horse as well as your leg.
Returns at the leg may be made without much fear of being countered.