06/03/2023
Le Maistre d’Armes, Le Sieur Martin 1737
To be on guard means, to be in a state of defense against an enemy that provokes us; it is the first, and the most serious attention, that we can bring to this exercise, the reason is simple, and grows out of the personal interest that every man must have for his own preservation.
In order to be well guard, it is necessary that all parts of the body be placed in a position so free, and so natural that they are reciprocally strong to avoid the blows of the enemy, or that favors the entire ex*****on of those blows him executes.
The way of placing oneself on guard is carried out very differently; some practice a high guard; others a guard which is divided or middle, finally others a low guard.
I shall not enter into a full dissertation on these various ways of placing oneself on guard; I do not blame any when they are all well defended: I will only say that I consider the divided guard best, because it is easier to defend with; it is less managed and gives more grace.
More over this guard placed in the center of the body, covers both the top and the bottom: but the other guards cover one part of the body by uncovering another. I will speak in its place of the means of attacking these various guards, so as not to lose sight of the subject I am dealing with.
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