A duel

[mmcnealy]

My fencing teacher sent me this, its his master's master's account of his first duel with points. Not something I would personally care to do, but its an interesting perspective on fencing for those who fence.

http://www.tacomafencing.com/Nadi.htm

Comments

[shipbrook.livejournal.com]

Fascinating!

But I can't help wondering — what was the cause of the duel? Who was the aggrieved party? If it was the author's opponent, was his honor satisfied, or was he branded a coward for ending the duel in that fashion?

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

I am not sure what the cause of the duel was, the aggrieved party was the author, I think, as his opponent was a fencing critic for a newspaper.

From what I gather, and I have heard my fencing teacher tell this story in person, the intent is not to kill the other, but rather to wound them until they give up and surrender. As he himself has fenced with live blades in some local barn in the boonies, I imagine he knows what he's talking about.

I will have to ask him though, he's an interesting person.

[shipbrook.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine living in a place and time where newspapers employed fencing critics!

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

Yes, well..... I believe that this was in Italy in the late 40's early 50's, a different world back then. But it would be very cool to read about fencing in the paper when it wasn't Olympics season.