A quick search of Morton’s Martini AZ of Fencing and Evangelista’s The Encyclopedia of the Sword reveals that the word “fly” has been used to describe a variety of sword actions and footwork over the last 200 years, ranging from parries even arrows. Maitre d’Armes Claude La Marche, one of the founders of the sword as a fencing discipline, adds the “flying guard” to the list. In doing so, he goes back to a technique taught by Laboessiere fils and recommends it for the fencer of the 1880s and 1890s.
The Flying Guard is intended to achieve three tactical objectives:
1. To close the distance with an opponent who believes he is at a distance that makes an attack unlikely,
2. To disguise the effort to close the distance, and
3. Allow a quick attack once a suitable distance has been reached.
The Flying Guard is executed by:
1. Coming on guard, ready for offense or defense.
2. Take several very small steps, each of which ends with an appeal. These calls are taken to ensure that the fencer maintains balance and that the legs are ready to perform. At the same time, the weapon is held loosely to ensure quick reaction if needed.
3. Then make a loud call combined with a shout to distract the opponent, while
4. Bring the back foot forward, keeping the leg well bent to avoid any movement of the body that would reveal the change in foot position, to get closer to the front foot (gaining approximately 7 inches of distance), and
5. Execute the attack with a thrust.
It is unusual to think of a guard as “flying”, especially when compared to other uses of the term in fencing. In this case, the series of step-call-step-call-step-call appears to be slower than fast. However, this action provides an interesting combination of two of the appeal’s uses, as a balance check and as a distraction.
The flying guard must be seen in the context of the sword at the time (La Marche cautions that half lunges would generally suffice to carry the attack forward) and of the broader practice of classical footwork. We know from professional advice accounts that the combination of appeal and shout was used in the 1870s and 1880s. Combined with the stealing distance of bringing the rear foot forward, this makes the flying guard an interesting action worth watching. worth practicing for the coordination required and as a surprise action that might come in handy once in a classic fight.