Mensur

[Sins of the Fleche]

OK, I recently read about mensur fencing (aka: "academic" fencing) in a book loaned to me by a friend. While the dangers and near-insanity of such an undertaking is apparent, I also have a sort of dread curiosity for an event in which two fencers willingly don chain mail, steampunk goggles, and fence with live weapons.

So my question is, has anyone here ever participated in a mensur bout, do you known anyone that has participated, or have you ever witnessed a mensur bout?

Just curious.

[JackOfHearts]

No idea, but from what I've heard , I would be up for trying it at least once.

[Lady Quindecim]

No idea, but from what I've heard , I would be up for trying it at least once.

Oh, Jack, you know where I am taking a comment like this... :wink:

[JackOfHearts]

I thought you might.

[jjefferies]

do you known anyone that has participated, or have you ever witnessed a mensur bout?
Just curious.

When I was at GGFC, I had a friend, Father Rick Adamson, (an anglican priest by trade) who had fought 11 mensur duels and had the scars to prove it. We discussed the meaning and details which Father Rick could give in an amusing commentary. I asked why. His reply was that it was like being 11 and someone daring you to jump off a garage roof. Basically it was an initiation and rite of passage in one. It's called academic fencing because it is a fraternity initiation. It is supposedly illegal but it's still done. The whole point is to get a scar that proves you were man enough/stupid enough to let someone slice you up. One comment I remember is that a number of initiates are not able to do it. They just cannot do it. But No one gives them any grief about it. It's each man's call and each has to make his own decision. But if they can't do it they can't belong. Don't believe there are any women involved though I did meet a Lady Doctor who had attended school in Heidelberg and knew the traditions well. The do try to protect as much of you as possible while leaving exposed the places where such a scar would show most prominently. I remember back in the sixties seeing a movie about young men who couldn't/didn't want to actually share the danger but wanted the mark who used straight razors to cut themselves but without facing a bare blade.

[Rabid Monk]

To add to jjeffries comment, I think that flinching is also frowned upon in a mensuren. I could be wrong.


I think the most likely person on this forum to have personal knowledge of mensuren is Schlager7.

[I_luv_saber]

To add to jjeffries comment, I think that flinching is also frowned upon in a mensuren. I could be wrong.

Having no personal experience with one, yes, I do believe that's the case. The idea being to take the pain "like a man". Also, there really is no winner or loser in the traditional sense (as I understand it).

It's a recurring German fad to have prominent scars. This kinda stems from the same thing. It's basically an *uber-macho kinda thing.

There are a few traditional universities that do it unhindered. Whether it is technically legal for them to do or not I don't know. AFAIK, it's really only done in these universities in Germany.

*Best. Word. Ever.

[migopod]

There was a thread or two a while ago referencing an article that was really an interesting read.

http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?query...102002841&ct=0

The linked article in ye olde thread was 404ing, but a search on the FT.com site for 'mensur' yields a result for the article. It provides some history as well as some discussion of current practices.

[Inquartata]

I understand that there's a lengthy discussion of it in Chris Amberger's "Secret History of the Sword". He participated in several contests, apparently.