Baited Blade Classical Fencing

I have separated great stick because though it is not one of the three accepted classical weapons, it meets all of the criteria of the classical. It is a weapon of study and form, it dates to the time period and its use is strictly practice. Alfred Hutton, the great sabreur and historical fencing enthusiast, introduced it in his sabre book, “Cold Steel,” published in 1889. He bases it on weapons used in the Military in both France and Italy. It is a five foot rattan cane. The diameter is about ¾ of an inch. Hutton recommends using it as the Italians, which use resembles the two handed sword as taught by Achille Morozzo in his 1534 treatise on fencing, “Opera Nova.” Hutton gives progressive lessons in the great stick which resemble, to some extent, his sabre lessons. It is quite a work-out. Hutton also includes some French work with the great stick which resembles quarter-staff or Chinese Bo.

In the future, I plan to offer single stick as well. It is a rattan or supple wood stick resembling sabre in both appearance (complete with basket for hand protection) and in its fight systems. There are enough differences to make it an interesting weapon in and of itself. Along with the single stick, I plan to offer the walking stick or cane. It was an important part of a Victorian Gentleman’s dress and part of a larger self-defense system at the time. With those two additions, I would have a third category: wooden weapons. These three would act as a bridge between the classical and historical. It would be assumed that a Baited Blade fencer would have taken the three classical weapons in the order to begin the above wooden ones or the next list, the historical weapons.