!!!Fechtsport

Fencing: Modern fencing as an organised sport involving the use of the 
foil, epee or sabre is derived from exercises preparing both noblemen 
and burghers for actual combat (in war, trial by battle, or duel). A 
first guild-like organisation of swordsmen was established under 
Emperor Friedrich III in 1487. Swordsmanship proper did not, however, 
develop until after fencing had lost its importance in war. The first 
printed book of instructions (by A. Paurnfeindt) was published in 
Vienna in 1516. The tradition of fencing was subsequently kept up by 
noblemen, officers, the cavalry and students (Mensurfechten, ritual 
sword-fights, often with the intention to produce visible scars). The 
institution of regional fencing-masters gave rise to the establishment 
of fencing clubs, the first of which, the Styrian Fencing Club, was 
founded in 1876. Important stimuli came from the military (Central 
Military Fencing School from 1852, k.u.k. Military Fencing and 
Gymnastic Teachers' Training at Wiener Neustadt from 1881). Around 
1900 the new Italian foil and sabre technique (L. Barbasetti) was 
adopted. The Fencing Academy (Akademie der Fechtkunst) founded in 1904 
was at first an organisation for both fencing masters and amateurs. In 
1929 this association split into a fencing-masters' association and 
the Austrian Amateur Fencing Association; the latter comprises 47 
clubs with 1303 members (1993).

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Since the 1880s women have increasingly adopted fencing as a sport; in 
1932 Ellen Mueller-Preis won the gold medal in foil-fencing. Other 
successful Austrian fencers were: Josef Losert (World Champion 1963, 
epee), Michael Ludwig (European Champion 1992, foil), Joachim Wendt 
(European Champion 1993, foil), Elisabeth Knechtl (World Cup 1993, 
epee).

!Literature
F. Chrudimak, Vom Duell zum Sport, vol. 1, 1987.


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