"Well, let us now see if we can sum up the real changes which the new
school introduced.
"As a matter of fact it proposed absolutely none that was unreasonable.
Its tenets amounted to this:--'A fencer must be judged not so much by
his graceful attitude and classical style, not so much by his masterly
command of precise execution, as by his power of quickly conceiving and
quickly delivering the right attack at the right moment.
'When once a beginner has learnt the rudiments of sword-play; when
he has learnt that the movements of hand and body must correspond,
and maintain an even balance in every position; that the wrist must
be quick to follow the adverse blade and form a close parry, without
flying wild and wide in uncontrolled disorder; when he can appreciate
the value of a step to the rear and the value of a step to the front;
when he has grasped the danger to which he is exposed in making a
complicated attack, and realises that the effectiveness of a simple
attack depends on the power of seizing the critical moment,--then he
should be left to follow his natural instinct, and allowed to exercise
his own judgment in making use of the knowledge he has acquired.'
"You should not say to him:--'We must now describe an exact circle,
beyond which, by thought, word, or deed, you must not budge. You find
it a more natural position, and easier for attack and riposte, to lean
your body forward and double yourself up. It cannot be helped, you are
required to keep the body upright by the rules of classical fencing.
'You prefer to keep out of distance, because you find that at close
quarters your nervous dread of a surprise attack or of a quick thrust
is disconcerting and disturbs your equanimity. You must not keep out of
distance. You are required to keep the prescribed distance and to join
blades.
'You are afraid of attacks on the sword, such as beats, binds, and
pressures, or of surprise attacks, and to avoid them you refuse to
engage your adversary's blade. You must not refuse. You are required
to engage swords by the rules of the game; only bad fencers attempt to
avoid the engagement.
'You attack in the low lines, perhaps you hit your opponent below the
belt. Quite true, the hit would be fatal in a duel, but in sword-play
it is considered a foul blow; the code does not allow it, therefore the
hit is bad.'