Destreza Pacifica School of Arms

Today comes the fifth post (in a series) proving, with historical evidence, the truth of Col. Monstery's stories, and that he really was an amazing swordsman. D...uring the 1860s, Monstery ran a fencing academy in Mexico City. His popularity there incurred the resentment of Maitre d'Armes Nicolas Poupard, another local fencing master with his own school. According to the Mexican journal, El Monitor Republicano, Poupard (originally a native of France) became the most famous fencing master in Mexico. Other Mexican fencing histories note that Poupard had participated in numerous duels and rencontres without receiving a single injury, and had thus manifested the superiority of the school of fencing of Maestro Poupard. In 1865, Poupard challenged Monstery to a contest of arms, and Monstery agreed to fence Poupard with the following weapons: 1. Foil. 2. Infantry saber. 3. Sword. 4. Mounted saber. 5. Dagger play. 6. Dagger versus foil and saber. 7. Bayonet fencing. 8. Saber on foot versus bayonet. 9. Mounted saber versus bayonet. 10. Boxing. This match took place on Sunday, March 1, when a large crowd, including many Mexican army officers, numerous gentlemen of distinction, and the five most prominent Mexican fencing masters, packed Monstery’s fencing academy on the second floor above the Cafe Concordia. The following Mexican firsthand report of this event is excerpted and translated from the Spanish language El Monitor Republicano: "After putting on the masks, they began the assault, the result of which was victory for the Colonel, as the first four thrusts with two disarmaments were in favor of the colonel. What was strange for those who knew Mr. Poupard were the two disarmaments, because of the great fame of the strength of [Poupard's] wrist. The colonel then invited Mr. Poupard to enlist for the saber assault; but the latter refused, as did the other fencing masters, of whom there were fiveand among them, Mr. Martel, the oldest one in Mexicoperhaps for the consideration of not exhausting the colonel, and since the assault should mainly be with Mr. Poupard... However, the colonel had a desire to prove his skill against Mr. Poupard while using that weapon, and offered to fence with the dagger against Mr. Poupard’s foil, which the latter also refused, as with the other times that he was invited... Captain Becker agreed to fence, and was conquered by the colonel with the latter’s dagger against his foil, and with the dagger against his sword, but the captain managed to touch the colonel twice in the arm in the final interplay, difficult for the colonel. The 7th combat arrived; the colonel announced to Mr. Poupard that it was the time for the fencing of the bayonet, and that being the weapon with which the French had achieved so much glory, he hoped that he would distinguish himself; but Mr. Poupard did not feel eager to win these laurels. Captain Becker showed his knowledge in this weapon; but the colonel used the said weapon [bayonet] with the same skill as he had with the foil; because his quick attacks and ripostes against the plastron did not give his adversary the opportunity to touch him, and left no doubt as to the fame that the colonel has in the United States for the simplicity and effectiveness of his system in said art... The Colonel proposed the opposition of the bayonet against his saber, but as no one accepted, this was passed over..." In the following March 7 issue of The Two Republics, it was reported that Monstery had a formal trial of skill with Monsieur Poupard, a professor of fencing, and the Colonel was victorious, having twice disarmed his antagonist, and delivered four hits in succession at the outset. Additional accounts and fuller descriptions of this event can be found reprinted in the book about Monstery, pinned to the top of this page.

At-Home Drill Series: Stop Thrust Set yourself on guard at extension distance to the ball and set it swinging lightly front to back. Hit the ball as it swings b...ack towards you with a stop thrust. Advanced Variation: The same as above but with a lunge-back in a variety of hand positions. More gifs and at-home practice drills on our website: https://www.benjaminarms.com/fencing-target-practice-at-ho/

NEW IN THE MUSEUM: Fencing knickers made by the Rohdes Academy of Fencing in New York. Overall length is longer in the front than in the rear, reconciling with ...pleating at the knees. Extra fabric around the knee allows for full articulation without riding up or stretching too tight. Reinforced stitching behind where the knee would fold. Documenting these details means manufacturers of the future don't have to reinvent the wheel! Please consider supporting the Museum on Patreon to help us ship, photograph, and document more treasures from fencing's past: https://www.patreon.com/fencingexhibit See the complete catalog listing for these knickers here: https://www.fencingexhibit.com/items/show/93

Salle d'Arms du Figaro was established in a vacant first floor room of the Parisian Le Figaro newspaper with the keen permission of Hippolyte de Villemessant, L...e Figaro's patron. The journalists, editors, clerks, and cashiers desired a salle "especially to permit a particularly healthy and hygienic exercise after their daily, and sometimes very difficult intellectual work." Arsene Vigeant was chosen to instruct and Salle d'Armes du Figaro became a popular destination for traveling amateurs and masters. The salle was also the site of a major Franco-Italian contest between Turillo de San Malato, father of Athos de San Malato, and Louis Merignac, father of Louis Lucien Merignac. See the complete catalog listing here: https://www.fencingexhibit.com/items/show/13 Buy a copy of this print: https://www.etsy.com//772884408/fencing-match-at-le-figaro Please consider supporting our Patreon: www.patreon.com/fencingexhibit

At-Home Drill Series: Reposts Measure extension distance to the target and set yourself on guard in any hand position. Repost at this close range to the direct ...line corresponding to your hand position. The difference of this drill to the Quadrants drill is being in extension distance rather than lunge distance, therefore simulating a repost after a parry. More gifs and at-home practice drills on our website: https://www.benjaminarms.com/fencing-target-practice-at-ho/

At-Home Drill Series: Quadrants Extend and lunge at each diagonal rail with the corresponding hand position (French school’s 6, 4, 7, 8, for example). These qua...drants represent the four lines of attack. Advanced: Practice less common hand positions, such as the French school’s 1, 2, and 3 positions. More gifs and at-home practice drills on our website: https://www.benjaminarms.com/fencing-target-practice-at-ho/

Just added to the Museum: Fencing in America 1890 article from the Illustrated American chronicling fencing, the various academies, instructors and competitio...ns in the United States. Here's one of our favorite excerpts: "Although the championships drew attention to the diversion, and swelled the membership of the various fencing-classes, it is claimed by fencerseven by ex-champions themselvesthat those contests were by no means conclusive demonstrations of the superiority of the winners over many of the defeated contestants. In Paris, they say, championships are unknown. If one inquires who is the best fencer, some prominent swordsman may be named, but a similar query as to the champion fencer would not be understood." Growing the museum collection is only accomplished through your support. Please consider supporting our Patreon: www.patreon.com/fencingexhibit View the complete catalog listing for Fencing in America here: https://www.fencingexhibit.com/items/show/91

A wee promotional video recently filmed for the White Rose Guild.

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of sifu Joy Chaudhuri of my wing chun family. Although I only crossed hands with him on a couple of occasions, he h...ad a major impact on my own wing chun teacher, and thus was in a sense responsible for my finding wing chun in the first place, and he had a huge impact on my path in the martial arts. I only had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, but when I first spoke to him after many years of hearing about him, it was like meeting long lost family member I never knew I had. In a very short time it was clear that he was kind, intelligent, generous, and a lifelong student as well as a fine teacher. I will always remember one particular long conversation we had during one my visits, which ranged over the topics of wing chun, fencing, history, teaching, mutual friends and many other things, over a lunch in Tuscon one lovely May afternoon. Though I hoped to see him again, I count myself as fortunate to have known him, and know he will long be remembered as both a martial artist and fine human being. See more

Target Practice.

These exercises are highly recommended to all fencers.

Good advice for practice that you can do on your own, without any equipment.