CANE FENCING

(French canne), the art of defending oneself with a walking stick, developed in France by the 16th century but little practiced after the beginning of the 20th. In cane fencing, unlike singlestick, the thrust was as important as the cut and thus cane fencing approached sabre fencing. The cuts were usually given after one or more rapid preliminary flourishes, or moulinets (French: twirls), which served to confuse an assailant. The thrusts were similar to those in foil fencing but often carried out with both hands grasping the stick, giving greater force and enabling the cane to be used at very close quarters. French canes were made of tough wood, about three feet (one metre) long, without a handguard, and tapered toward the point. In practice matches, masks, gloves, padded vests, and shin guards were worn.