Absence of the Blade (terminology)

[oiuyt]

"Absence De Fer
36. L'absence de fer repond a deux objets:
1º Au point de vue defensif: Echapper aux effets de puissance et, d'une maniere general, remedier a l'inferiorite de main;
2º Au point de vue offensif: Provoquer une action adverse pouiir en tirer parti. - (On lui donne, dans ce dernier cas, le nom d'invite.)"

I'm not fluent in French and it's too late here for me to dig out my French dictionary, so maybe an educated person can translate this shortly.

No Iron
36. The lack of iron meets two objects:
1 º From the defense: Escaping the effects of power and, in general, remedy the inferiority of hand;
2 º In view offensive: Provoke an adverse pouiir benefit. - (He gives, in the latter case, the name prompt.)

Cleaned up a bit:
Absence of Blade
Absence of Blade meets two objectives:
1) From the defensive point of view: Escaping the effects of power and, in general, compensating for the inferiority of one's hand.
2) From the offensive point of view: Provoking an adverse action that yields benefit. (In this latter case, one gives the action the name invitiation.)

The quoted text discusses why absence of blade is used, not what absence of blade is. I'm having difficulty with a the word "pouiir". Perhaps someone with a better grasp of French can help?

-B

[piste off]

I can tell you that at least in US epee circles over the last 30 years that AOB means just that. Tactics that don't involve blade contact, such as straight hits, angle shots and disengages. Obviously that does not include things like PDFs, parries, beats or anything that involves blade contact in either the prep or final action.

Most of those that employ this tactical base fence with the arm back or to the side or manuvering (i.e. not in a fixed position) mainly because it helps avoid blade engagement, and can best leverage that specific tactical set (particularily angles).

Perhaps Jeff in his book wanted to use the term to clarify that his final action did not involve blade contact (as opposed to the pressing at the beginning of the action). The common use of the term at least in epee is more aligned with the above tactical set combined with the style of manuvering/placement of the arm (what a lot of Italian fencers describe as "like a snake", which may have some translation meaning?).

R-