by Ben Jackson
Done right, Olympic fencing is a bloodless affair, but its history is a big reason why the sport captures our imagination.
The Musée de l’Armée has an exhibit during the Olympics about dueling, which gave rise to the sport of fencing. While the exhibit, “Duels: L’Art du Combat,” is primarily concerned with European duels fought with swords, it includes a variety of weapons including pistols, and even looks at boxing as a form of dueling.
The birth of sport fencing from dueling is charted from fencing as training for the possibility of a fight with sharp weapons. Throughout the exhibit there are examples of early fencing swords, masks, and uniforms. One standout item was a dummy rifle and bayonet that was used in the early 20th century when bayonet fencing was also a sport.
Looking at the swords one can’t help but imagine what it would be like to have to face down an opponent with a sharp weapon. One of the interactive exhibits was a simulator where you hold a rubberized sword and have to poke the pictures of sport fencers in the torso just like you would in a foil bout in the Olympics, or in the arm like you mostly likely would in a duel to the first blood. (So, I can say that I sort of got to fence in Paris during the Olympics.)
Toward the late 19th century and early 20th century, the weight shifted and most “sword fighting” became about sport. Fencing is one of the five sports that have been contested in every modern Olympic games. Women have been able to compete in foil since 1924 (though they have been fencing for much longer than that), so this year’s American women are starting the next century of Olympic fencing strong.
But despite the shift, dueling still continued into the 20th century, and the exhibit features some films of the last duels. They look a lot different than most of the Olympic bouts – they are slower, and the fencers are much more deliberate about their actions when facing a sharp point.
The latest videos are from 1958. My French is pretty weak, but as near as I can tell, the description says that the “duel” was considered ridiculous.
All the same, as a fencer, I am glad that the possibility that I would end up fighting with sharp swords is pretty much zero. Dueling does seem like a ridiculous idea that leads to a lot of harm and even death over minor things. Fencing is a great sport that can develop a person physically, mentally, and emotionally. If anything, the sport is a great example of how some good can grow out of something bad.
If you are a fencing fan in Paris between now and August 18, stopping by The Musée de l’Armée to see “Duels: L’Art du Combat” will be well worth part of your day.