Classical fencing in the period from the 1850s-1860s to World War II was a significantly different skill from modern fencing. Predominantly based on sophsiticated blade technique, classical fencing offers a different experience from the highly athletic Olympic sport of today. The large body of surviving texts provide a detailed description of the foot and bladework of the period. This handbook is a compilation of teaching notes to assist those who wish to teach fencing classically. Included in this volume are five sections covering:

... a classical fencing rule book based on rules in use during the period,
... H. A. Colmore Dunn on Foil 1889,
... Leonardo Terrone on Right and Left Handed Foil ca. 1920,
... Felix Grave on Epee 1934,
... Leon Bertrand on Sabre ca. 1927.

This is the first in a series of teaching handbooks covering classical fencing texts that are no longer readily available.