[Ken Berry]

Can anybody tell me if there is a historic precedent for a salutation of some kind before a bout between 2 fencers? Modern fencing has a salute and the asian fighting styles usually do some form of bow before free-sparring, boxers touch gloves,etc. I am mostly interested in the German fighting traditions, but also curious if any of the other European Schools" "saluted " before bouting or is that more of a modern convention.

I would like to introduce some form of salutation between fighters to the members of my training group but only if this is historically correct.

[Steven Reich]

The Bolognese don't specifically spell it out, but they do allude to it in some of the Assalti with the andante da gioco ('going to play') and ritornar da gioco ('returning from play') which are a set of movements usually incorporating steps and cuts. A few of them say to "show reverence" to your opponent as the last move of the ritornar da gioco (usually ending in Guardia Alta).

I can't imagine that any sort of crossing of swords was ever done without some sort of salute at the very least (probably with something more elaborate for a judicial duel which probably included prayers to God, etc.)

Steve

[Bill Grandy]

Certainly 18th century fencing treatises explain various salutes, particularly the French. Before that, I only know of cases where there is a vague allusion to giving a sign that the bout was about to commence. Most of these are pretty vague, though.

At the very least, there seems to be an agreement to wait for both parties to be ready before beginning. For example, Fabris shows a technique where you would throw your cape over the opponent's sword. This technique is done before you have come into measure, while you are taking your cape off, but when your opponent has already come into guard. This might imply that your opponent was waiting around, assuming that you are not ready yet, and just as you are about to come into guard, you throw your cape. It isn't evidence of a salute, but it does show that there must have been something to signal when the two fencers should begin.

[Michael Olsen]

Hi Ken,

La Jeu de la Hache (a Burgundian work concerning use of the pollaxe) as translated by Anglo provides a brief mention of the sign of the cross.

[A.A. Boskaljon]

I think Vikings did a hand-shake before they started wrestling (Glima).