By Zbigniew Sawicki

Polish Martial Art – Signum Polonicum
Historical background, profile and the main plots of the system.

1. Historical background.

Poland, lying on the borderland of East and West, from the very dawn of its existence found itself in the region where intersected many „communication routes”, hence Eastern and Western influences. Those were related to not only economic and cultural fields, but also military ones, which had an unquestionable impact on military training, and following, martial art.  Such location of our country allowed populations living these terrains to use civilisation and cultural trophies of different nations. This was very profitable for arising armed force and its battle training. We from little nations could acquaint ourselves with fighting techniques of the nations from West, East, North and South, and even from Far East through Mongolians.

Already in the period of the first ruler of Poland – Mieszko – we were presented with the foreigners’ reports coming from people who wrote about military strength of contemporary Polish warrior. The chronicler, Thietmar bishop of Merseburg wrote so about his warriors : "exercitus quantitate parvus, qualitate sua optimus et omnis est ferreus" ("the (Polish) army, being in great quantity, is equally great considering the quality, as well as manliness, and each and every is as strong as iron").

Staying in Czech land an Arabian traveller, Ibrahim ibn Jacob, who learned about our country from the reports of al Bekri,  describing Poland admitted that Mieszko „... possesses 3000 of heavy armoured man divided in squads counting 100 people, and every hundred means as much as ten such squads of different warriors.  This meant one Polish warrior counted for 10 other warriors. Simplifying that thought, one can say that one Polish warrior could defeat ten different warriors. This acknowledgement of first ruler’s of Poland battle team value testifies distinctly that training of the contemporary Polish warrior was on the perfect level. That truth was confirmed to us by the victorious battle fought by Mieszko and his brother Czcibor under Cedynia on the 24th of June, 972, where the Polish army defeated the German army led by margrave Hodon. This fact was noted down by Thietmar of Merseburg, and supplied with information from Brunon of Quefurt that Mieszko had won margrave Hodon by „art”  .

Poles preferred horse combat from the beginning; it was demonstrated in particular during the Middle Ages period when cavalry became the basis of the Polish army. Formed in that time on the West knight's culture and connected with it knights' joust tournaments came to Poland, where they promptly gained many followers and were fixed as a part of knight's efficiency shows, enriching existing in that time „knight's martial art”.

In spite of the fact that Poles took over knights' examples from the West, their training and martial art in that time went in somewhat different direction. That was, above all, influenced by numerous wars Polish knighthood had to lead with the formed Order of the Teutonic Knights of St. Mary's Hospital in Jerusalem, Mongolian invasion, or threat from Rus’, Vlachs, Serbians, Hungarians and Turkey. As a result of those numerous wars and hereto formed alliances Poles were faced with necessity to elaborate effective methods of the fighting both against heavy cavalry from the Teutonic Order and western knighthood and light armoured hordes of Tatars, Vlachs and Serbians. Alliances formed with the Czechs, Hungarians and Lithuanians favourably influenced enrichment of fighting methods, which effected in the  victory over the Western knighthood in the battle of Grunwald in 1410, when Polish-Lithuanian armies broke entirely Teutonic Orders’ armies helped by selected mercenary knights from the West. First-class battle value of a Polish knight was confirmed in the largest battle of late Middle Ages in Europe. Furthermore, this value was sealed in the individual duel performed by the Polish knight Zawisza Czarny,( Zawisza the Black), Sulima Coat of arms, of Garbów in 1415  during the council in Constance, where he entered the joust with the best knight from the West then, the duke John of Aragon, whom he defeated with one hit of the lance in the first clash, confirming this way his primacy in the knights' martial arts. No European knight entered to a tournament fight with him since, and he alone was considered never defeated in combat.

The victory of Grunwald confirmed finally the primacy of Polish cavalry as the basic battle strength of the Polish army, and simultaneously insistent works over riding art improvement and martial art with use of the horse begun.

At the end of the XVth century Poland found itself in the strong threat coming from East and South, mainly because of Tatars and Turks,  which resulted in creation of armed formations able to oppose those armies. It was the time, when the whole of Europe undergone changes in the military and progressive firearms development seriously influenced the weakness and in consequence elimination of the heavy armoured knighthood from the battlefield. The West was developing infantry arming it with pikes and muskets, and introduced a bilbo instead of the sword. The cavalry began to be moved to the further plan, and alongside with the infantry development  grew up demand on its training. Fencing academies came into being, presenting various fighting methods with the use of many weapons; nevertheless, they focused on  fighting with the bilbo. Numerous textbooks were also issued in this field.

Situation in Poland was different. The basis was a horse warrior who had to defeat great spaces and to fight with the enemy of various nationality representing various fighting methods. He had to be quick and effective in combat. Similarly now as on the West, the Polish knight threw aside sword and heavy armour, but he based his strength not on firearms but on the curved sabre and the copy, which became lighter than knight's, but considerably more effective and flexible in combat. Polish noblesmen who came into being in that time took over knights' traditions taking on weight of the defence of motherland, freedom and Christian belief. They chose the sabre in place of the sword, which in time became a beloved weapon of the Polish nation, and as the main breaking weapon – copy and horse.

This transformation took place in the XVIth century, which began birth and development of the old Polish art of combat, thereby the martial art. Political structure prevailing in our country and especially weakening of monarchal power in favour of the lower house caused the resolution of taxes on the army had been an unusually difficult matter. Noblesmen did not want to tax themselves voluntarily hence weight of keeping the army fell onto the king. As a result the army was small, which paradoxically had impact on the martial art development. That small in numbers army had to make up for its lacks with quality and effiacy in combat; existing then cavalry had favoured fluency in the martial art. This led to creation of cavalry formations which reached the superb battle value: hussars, armoured companions, elears, current defence soldiers. Notable changes in the military superseded in times of Stefan Batory, who in 1578 gave the “uniwersał” defining i.a. a hussar and an infantryman creating so-called chosen infantry. In that time come into being numerous works from the military scope, however not all get permission to be published. This happened with the work about military by Stanisław Sarnicki : „The hetmans' books of the knights' history from all the centuries gathered, and practices; or hetmans’ experiences, His Majesty Polish king Sigismund the Old, and also Carl Vth the Emperor, and Turkish Suleiman, two lords brave, in our century; illustrated for the practice of young people of our Polish nation”(„Księgi hetmańskie z dziejów rycerskich wszystkich wieków zebrane, i praktika, albo experientia hetmanów, nayiaśnieyszego Zygmunta Starego króla polskiego, a także cesarza Karla V., i Solimana tureckiego, dwu panów walecznych, za naszego wieku; obiaśnione ku ćwiczeniu młodych ludzi nacyi naszey polskiey”), which the Polish king forbade to be published, stating it contained too important data from the field of the military.

However, the main changes became in a practical range. First of all a Polish sabre fencing art called „the cross-shaped art” was created. In 1578 an anonymous fencing instruction appeared „Excercising and examples of taking thrusts and cuts as parades and blocks by the cross-shaped art”. There was developed a martial art using the hussar lance, combat with the ice-axe, bow shooting and also training of the battle horse which became the fight companion - fighting equally with his master. This produced in the Polish nation relation to the horse and bond with it absent elsewhere, as a companion of the soldier's lot and misery. Transformations followed in the construction of the weapon itself. Poles took over the sabre from Turks through Hungary, yet not its construction. The sabre, which came to us through Hungary, so-called „batorówka sabre”, seemed to be constructively insufficient to Polish requirements. It was improved creating a completely new kind of the battle sabre called „hussar” with so-called „finger ring”, which became the  best side-arm of the contemporary battlefield in Europe. Weapon specialists compare effectiveness and battle functionality of this weapon only with the Japanese sabre.

However in spite of the cavalry development, it was not forgotten about the infantry, which was created after Hungarian fashion but consisted of Polish citizens as well, for the training of whose the first Polish infantry regulations were given  by Błażej Lipowski in Cracow, 1660: „Infantry practice or military for foot soldiers”.

Direct examples of the old Polish fencing art were drawn from wars and numerous battles led in the XVI and XVIIth century. In opposition to the West, where fencing examples were practiced and passed on at fencing academies, in Poland it was differently. There were no schools neither academies, knowledge was passed on from the father to the son, experience was gained in combat and on practices - so-called chases. Andrzej Opaliński published the „Articles of chasing to the ring”. („Artykuły gonienia do pierścienia”)in 1578 , where he presents the practice principles of using the hussar copy. A special kind of the duel „to the death and life”, which he was begun at the end of the XVth  and developed in the XVIth century was so-called „skirmish”. Poles were considered to be the best skirmishers; method of this fight was that before the battle began, several best warriors were entering the battlefield and challenged their opponents. After the challenge was accepted individual duels were led, being the show of efficiency and courage. Victory in such fight added to honour and fame, stimulated the spirit of the fight and simultaneously was a good divination for the whole battle to come. It is worth to mention here particularly dangerous weapon –an ice-axe which in hands of an irresponsible individual became a deadly weapon because even its accidental use could end tragically. In 1574, when Samuel Zborowski, a representative of one of the  first  houses belonging to the crown, killed in quarrel Andrzej Wapowski, Przemyśl castellan with this weapon „before he managed to cover himself”,  lower houses of years 1578, 1601 and 1620 gave so-called laws „forbidding ice-axes”, on the power of which one could carry this weapon about himself only during war or so-called „war time”. Constitution of 1620 stated as follows: „Forbidding of ice-axes. Explaining former laws and statutes about safety and common peace made, and granting to the constitution anni 1578 et 1601 and alia, about forbidding unusual weaponry and arms, watching that the frolic in people grows the further the bigger, neither places consecrated, nor none superior authority taking care of: therefore, bad intentions to obviate we decide omnium Ordinum unanimi the consensus accedente that no cujuscunque conditionis  dare from now on not to use, or carry the ice-axes in loco publico, under the penalty of fine two hundreds ....However, during the war against the royal enemy taking ice-axes and other weaponry we keep”. („Zabronienie czekanów. Objaśniając dawne prawa i statuta około bezpieczeństwa i pokoju pospolitego uczynione, a przychylając się do konstytucji anni 1578 et 1601 i do inszych, o zabronieniu niezwykłych broni i oręża postanowionych bacząc, że co dalej wieksza swawola w ludziach rośnie, ani na miejsca poświęcone, ani na żdną zwirzchnośc nie ogladając się: przeto, aby się złym zamysłom zabieżało postanawiamy omnium Ordinum unanimi consensus accedente, aby żaden cujuscunque conditionis nie ważył się odtąd zażywać, albo nosić czekanów in loco publico, pod winą dwóch set grzywien....Wszakże na wojnie przeciwko nieprzyjacielowi koronnemu zażywanie czekanów i inszych broni zachowujemy”.)

Poles professed the principle „we do not exercise  anything that could not be to used in combat”. Such approach to training caused that the Polish martial art possessed exclusively utilitarian character and had not recognised „living room trainings”, „artificial steps” and forced on stiff examples. That is why we did not take over western examples, and trainings at local academies did not find the acknowledgement in the Polish society. Even the fact that on the Polish throne sat down kings from strange states, bringing with them western fashions, did not have any larger influence on changes in the Polish fencing art. On the contrary, introduction of so-called “foreign sort”  strenghtened in us conviction that Polish examples and fighting methods were more considerably effective than those western ones; which was proven in such battles as of : Kircholm, Kłuszyn, Chocim, Orsza, Vienna. There, counting comparatively little soldier Polish army defeated considerably numerous enemy forces, confirming this way effectiveness of Polish army and Polish  martial art.

            The Polish martial art reached the climax of its magnificence in the battle of Vienna in 1683,  when the Polish hussars routed the Turkish camp giving the same decisive blow to the armies of Kara Mustafa Pasa. Commanding Polish armies king John III Sobieski had his contribution in the Polish martial art. During his reign an old Polish martial art “fighting with short sticks”(„bicia się w palcaty”) was developed.  This kind of fencing served training the noble youth to the later sabre wielding and survived as much as to beginnings of the XIXth century.

            After the Viennese victory follows slow fall of the Polish military, neighbouring countries  grow in strength, in Poland sit on the throne Saxons, who base their power on their own Saxon army, which causes  fall of the Polish army meaning. It experiences tough moments, its morale falls, it feels underestimated. The hussars who were at the top of its powers until recently becomes „the decorative cavalry”, serving mainly to illuminate ceremonies and funerals, hence the name „funeral knights”. Polish martial art is kept among those splendid soldiers, who,  already aged campaigners, pass it onto their sons and grandsons, taking care about for its survival. Next to them appear persons who see the fall of the country and call to the return to the former traditions of the hussar lance. They believe  strange methods contribute to the fall of the country, and only former Polish examples of the martial art are able to hold back this fall. Such a devoted follower of this case became Jan Michał Joachim Kompenhauzen, who  published his famous book  in Kalisz, 1737 . „Glory & Apologue of the Lance & the Pikes with refutation of some accusations, against them” („Chwała y Apologia Kopiy y Pik cum refutatione niektórych zarzutów, przeciwko nim”). In this book he defends strength and the battle meaning of the lance, stating this weapon should be brought back to the Polish army and to be still in use on the battlefield.

            In the second half of the XVIIIth century on the Polish throne sits down Stanisław August Poniatowski, and together with him appears hope for the return to Polish traditions and rebirth of the Polish army. That happens so initially, the king founds Knight's School in 1765 called the Cadets’ Corps. He conducts army reformation, however political disturbances, the tying of confederation in Bar and Radom ends with the entry of Russian armies to Poland, the king’s dethronization and four years long war, in the result of which in 1772 takes place the First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth amongst Russia, Austria and Prussia. This is a shock for Poland, the lower house undertakes the number of reforms which are intended to calm down the situation and to lead the country out of trouble. Notably, in 1773 is created the Committee of National Education which is the first in the world official Ministry of Education. From the very beginning of its existence the Committee elaborates a number of progressive teaching programmes among which it introduces to schools „the study of fighting with short sticks” as so-called recreations. This is the first official introduction in Europe by the government of a martial art to schools as the element „supporting tradition, national spirit and also recreation”.

            In 1788 begins debates so-called Four Years Lower House Gathering, which on the 3^rd of May, 1792 resolves constitution, second bill in the world after the constitution of United States which introduces the democratic system. However, not all like this and on 14^th of May, 1792 becomes formed the confederation in Targowica. Targowicans recognised the resolutions of the Four Years Lower House Gathering an assault on the nobles’ freedom and called the help of Russian armies. The king Stanisław August Poniatowski came on the Russian side. Russia came to an agreement with Prussia and the second partition of Poland was executed in 1793 .

            The Polish nation did not agree with such situation and began the uprising in 1794. The uprising was commanded by Tadeusz Kościuszko. The Polish army came back to the tradition of sabre and lance, however this time as part of cavalry equipment appeared spear  which took over traditions of the hussar lance, copying combat techniques from this weapon. During Kosciusko's upraising a new martial art is being born: fighting with the battle scythe. In 1794, Piotr Aigner publishes  in Warsaw for insurgents’ needs : A Short study about pikes and scythes in which he presents examples of making battle scythes and their use in combat. It becomes a famous and terrible weapon in hands of a Polish peasant, and whole Europe talks about Polish scythemen. In France the scythe becomes the Polish symbol of the fight for independence. The uprising, however, fell and the III partition of Poland took place (1795).

            After the third partition Poland disappeared from the map of Europe, the Polish battle spirit did not, though. On the contrary, that time Polish martial art conquered Europe. Jan Henryk Dąbrowski creates Polish legions in 1797, and Joseph Wybicki writes Mazurek Dąbrowskiego which becomes the official anthem of Poland in 1927. Words of the anthem „We shall take back with the sabre” testify this weapon becomes a symbol of recovering our freedom. Polish martial art became again elicited from oblivion. Thanks to memory of still living soldiers who remember and know its examples it comes back to the army, where exercised by the patriotic youth reaches again mastery level.

            Hope enters into Poles when Napoléon Bonaparte comes into power  in France. Poles are spell-bound by him, and so is he by Polish  cavalry. There are cavalry formations created anew, which perform miracles of dexterity with the use of lance and sabre. The charge of Polish chevau-légers in the Somosierra ravine is particularly famous, when squadron of 125 people commanded by Hipolit Kozietulski in eight minutes opens for Napoleon the road to Madrid  protected by 13 000 Spaniards and 3 guns cascades. After this victory Napoleon stood up before Polish soldiers, took off his hat and called: „Je vous reconnais pour la the plus brave cavalerie” /I recognise you for the most valiant cavalry/. Particularly famous in wielding the lance is Vistula Legion and the chevau-légers of the guard. Napoleon finds the lance to be an archaic weapon, however when seeing Poles wielding it so effectively he agrees to introduce lances to the armament of his cavalry. Napoleon’s example is followed by different armies. Almost whole Europe rearms according to Polish style. Eduard Bignon who is a diplomate in Napoleon’s services gives us in his diaries following information: „A Polish soldier is able is to every kind of service, however especially in cavalry. Every peasant is born rider in Poland; therefore one can form there cavalry regiments with such easiness, as they  form infantry elsewhere. Namely uhlans distinguished themselves with an excellent use of lance and gave instructors for French regiments”.

            This situation changes alongside with Napoleon’s fall. Hopes for full independence recovery fall. There are insurgents' sudden efforts and there is the hope for independence recovery, but  Polish martial art examples disappear. A Polish soldier is trained at military schools according to strange drills and strange examples, nevertheless produces evidence the superb spirit and weapon fighting skill. The Polish cavalry aims at sabre and lance, but a Polish infantryman is no worse. Poles show prominent abilities in combat with bayonets.  In 1827, despite the censorship Russian authorities agree to publish a textbook in Polish, so-called Study presenting  ways of fighting with bayonets where are presented methods of fighting with this weapon based on Polish examples. In November 1830 is undertaken an attempt to fight for independence, and special heroism is presented by so-called 4^th regiment „Czwartacy” which has no match in bayonet combat.

            Those sudden efforts notwithstanding the uprising falls. The next one, in 1863, also called “January” does not bring longed-for independence as well, despite heroic fights and personal skills freedom cannot be won. Sabre, lance, battle scythe and bayonet did not manage to defeat the invaders. Hope for freedom fallen and together with it the Polish martial art. Written in that time textbooks and instructions stay only in manuscripts waiting for better times.

            Not taking into consideration apathy and social discouragement, in the second half of the XIXth century on the wave of coming into being on the west fencing sport and Olympic idea, arise associations and the groups assembling the youth who practise gymnastics and force sports. In 1867 in Lvov came into being Gymnastic Company Falcon (Sokół) which led fencing sections, practices with lances, bayonet and small axe. These are attempts of the connexion to former

traditions, and presented on rallies and numerous demonstrations are intended to support patriotic spirit. Ideas of GC “Sokół” rapidly gained acknowledgement and in short time appeared its next centres in Galicia and later in Wielkopolska. However, foreign influences, especially Italian and French fencing, compete effectively with Polish traditions in absence of native examples and schools of combat. The fact of limitations forced by the invaders who did not allow to cultivate Polish traditions in this range was the additional difficulty here. Poles however did not want to forget about the Polish fencing art, in numerous periodicals appear mentions reminding about its existence, published fencing textbooks „smuggle” Polish examples, there are also attempts made to write native textbooks. Michał Starzewski writes his textbook On Fencing in 1830, it was made known to the public just in 1932 by his grandson. In 1879 Antoni Durski writes School of the cutting swordplay which stays in manuscript until today. In 1861 gets published The cutting Swordplay which probably becomes confiscated by Russians, similarly „disappears” writtten approx. in 1912 by W. Hałek position „Exercises with the hatchet”, nevertheless, this is insufficient for resuscitation of the former Polish martial art.  One cannot find published approx. in 1828 by Hipolit Kozietulski Science of combatting until now, or by the same author Recipes for horse riding, wielding with sabre and lance for light cavalry. By happy chance we were successful to keep published 1861 Scythemen drill and Regulations for exercises with the scythe, published in 1913.

            The situation changes for better after recovery of independence in 1918, when the Polish army comes into being and takes over the former examples of sabre, lance and short stick. Polish traditions in this scope are cultivated in the army but there also influence of foreign examples, especially sport fencing is significant.

            Total withdrawal from former Polish traditions follows after second world war. Sabre, lance and palcat fall in oblivion. Predominant in fencing are examples promoted by Hungarian and later Soviet fencers. The situation changes just in 1981, when Zbigniew Sawicki founds in Zawiercie a section of the martial art of Bolesław the Brave (Bolesław Chrobry). This is a period which does not favour full disclosure of  cultivating Polish armed traditions yet, however works in this field bring results. The Club of Former Polish Armoury Lovers and Art of Fighting with this Armoury comes into being in 1986. A name of the Polish martial art becomes invented and its emblem elaborated – Signum Polonicum. In 1990 gets published the first in the history of Poland periodical for the Polish martial arts Tradition, and in 1994 the Club becomes officially registered. In 2004 gets printed  The fencing treaty on art of fighting with the Polish hussar sabre - basis, and in 2005 the book Short Sitcks. Polish Martial Art. A textbook for novice. In 2003 are created Clubs in Bydgoszcz and Łódź and in 2008 in Pińczów. First foreign Club comes into being in České Budějovice in 2009 . The Main Centre of Polish Martial Art Training Signum Polonicum in Zawiercie directs the Polish martial art since 2009 .

™

II. Profile and the main plots of the system.

Because the whole of question connected with the Polish martial art is unusually spacious I will focus only on hastening the art of fighting with the Polish battle sabre, called the hussar which is the most characteristic for the Polish martial art.

Józef Łepkowski in his book Side-arms in general and in Poland considered archaeologically, 1857, wrote: „Polish wielding the sabre differs from ways known to the rest of Europe completely. It possesses its own propriety and special nomenclature – cross-shaped art, cuts Rejowskie, Referendarskie and others, different principles from the German and French school of fencing. In this matter a fencing master Mr Starzewski, giving this teachings in Cracow, prepared an interesting and useful manuscript”.

Indeed, many spoke and wrote in the XIXth century about the famous „Polish cross-shaped art” which made up basis of the old Polish fencing art, elaborated alongside with creation of the Polish battle sabre called hussar. Initially,  the name „cross-shaped art” was taken from the custom fencers were drawing sign of the cross on the ground before the fight. Later the cross-shaped art was thought to come from the cross-guard in the sabre type called karabela; therefore the development of the Polish fencing art was associated with appearing of this sabre. Eventually, prevailed opinions that the cross-shaped art came from the kind of blocks and cuts which are based on the shape of cross and were applied this way. Today we know this last statement is the closest to the truth, notably it is supported with fencing examples using battle horse. This art lasted till the XIXth century in quiet narrow form. There still were „places” in the XVIIIth century where former hetmans’ tradition and the Polish martial art were kept. The last Polish hetman who kept former examples was Klemens Branicki.

One should say here that our ancestors were famous of the use of the sabre, in particular Gabryel Modliszewski, about whose Paprocki writes so: „...he was a great man and uncommon fencer, with his hand so exact, that a small coin cut the  from the boy’s head, he did not move a hair...”. Equally efficient in the sabre was Tomasz Olędzki, Zakroczym castellan, who five thalers, laid one on another, chopped with sabre. There were famous „tests of the sabre”, i.e. cutting bread loaves, cutting off door handles, cutting declining silk handkerchiefs, so-called „ test of water” etc.

Recreation of  the Polish fencing art itself was not a simple matter. Poland was under annexations and could not freely cultivate national traditions, especially fencing. An additional difficulty was here the fact that the Polish martial had not been practised in halls and had not worked out sport examples, as it was common on the west of Europe. Being given birth from war experiences and adapted for combat, it did not know any example but the battle. It was an effective barrier making its recreation and practising impossible in the conditions Poland found itself under annexations. Poles did not want to create its sport example, believed in the recovering of independence and to such fight prepared the Polish fencing art. At first they intended to develop it in supposed to come into being Polish army. Because this did not happen, began activities aiming to „smuggle” old Polish fencing examples in textbooks, teachings and fencing classes led in “Sokół”, at universities and in various kinds of associations. Fundamental work on the old Polish sabre fencing was drawn in the manuscript by Michał Starzewski in 1830, who taught sabre fencing in that time. He did not publish his work, however during classes he acquainted the youth with its characteristic features. He took teachings from his father who was a master of the „fighting with short sticks” art, and as a young participant of the November uprising Starzewski picked additional experiences and practically checked the Polish fencing art in combat with invaders’ army. He qualified names of 12 basic cuts, dividing them into in-hand (wręczne) and in-core (rdzenne) ones. He introduced old Polish nomenclature and onomastics to fencing, elaborated division of body sides and explained the principle of „in-core cuts’ point”. In the Polish martial art the body is divided in perpendicular plane and not horizontal as in other martial arts. He self- characterized the most famous Polish cut so-called „devilish Polish fourth”. This cut, called in old Polish nyżkiem, also alias senatorial cut, was the special Polish sign in sabre fencing. This is confirmed by Meyers Konversations-Lexicon, published in 1885-1892 ( v. 9, p. 158), where characterizing the nyżkiem cut encyclopedists call it: „Die polnische Quart”.

            How great a master Michał Starzewski was let be testified by this event he describes, and which took place in Paris in 1857 .

„Being in Paris, I went in acquaintances’ company to the public fencing tournament once. Various fencing masters fought with one another on the scene of the theatre using backswords, épées and foils. In backsword assaut the winner, profusely applauded by the public, got himself so merry, that when applauses stopped for one moment, he proposed a fight to everyone from the public who  wanted to compete with him. This was the only my companions needed. They simply began to push me on the scene in a loud manner and so demonstratively that soon the public also began to demand insistingly my pronouncement. No other way I had to accept the challenge.

            The meeting looked entertainingly. My enemy in fencing dress, me – in visiting dress, in long, tight frock-coat and scarf on my neck.

The public was very delighted by this view, and I was outraged, being presented,  as the circus clown, to public derision. It all concentrated on the innocent Frenchman. I knocked him clean into next week, thoroughly, according to the all rules of the art. Maybe even, as on the peaceful trial, a bit too strongly. The public went mad from the joy”.

Apart from Starzewski, Antoni Durski, a prominent activist  of Sokół undertook the attempt to elaborate a study of fencing with Polish nomenclature and Polish example. He began writing his work pt. School of the cutting swordplay in 1879, however it was not finished and published. This school clearly links to the examples of the fight with short sticks rather than to classic fencing with the battle sabre, but it  surely continues the Polish example. Earlier, in 1861, a textbook Cutting Swordplay appeared with 4 charts; it was probably confiscated by Russian authorities, though.

The first official Polish textbook in which are given fencing examples pracised at the military schools of the Austrian annexation is published by Kazimierz Bryła in Stanisławowo in 1888 . The textbook is titled The progressive fencer that is Polish textbook for teaching of fencing with double sided épée. The value of this textbookare names of techniques and the commands passed in Polish and linking to the Polish tradition. Blocks are called parades which is straight connexion to the old Polish fencing art.

Old Polish onomastics used by Starzewski is confirmed by  Karol Bernolak, who in 1898 publishes in Chrynów his Fencing Textbook and short description of the Polish sabre. Similarly to Starzewski, he gives old Polish names of cuts: in vertical, in saddle-bow, in cheeks, in the middle, from the bottom and their equivalents in Italian, French and German fencing. He clearly identifies the old Polish fencing art on the background of various fencing schools in this way.

Attempts  to qualify and present examples of the old Polish sabre fencing are made on the whole of Poland under all annexations. The decisive year is here 1899, during which appeared several interesting works and articles in the field of fencing. In 1899 Maryan Olszewski in the periodical The Cyclist, Oarsman and Skater calls openly to the practice of Polish sabre fencing , brings more closer its principles, describes especially the cross-shaped art and gives the old Polish onomastics.

In the same year doctor Stanisław Turning gives in Cracow a textbook Fencing with side-arms, in which as he claims alone: „ What concerns school chosen by us, then assuming that for the skilful fencer, no cut or block applied by the enemy should be a surprise; we teach the object encompassed within the work hereby, regarding  two main methods, namely French and German; we did not fail to consider the former Polish school as well, if that can be used with today’s weapon and in  present relations”.

Tokarski confirms with these last words that the former Polish school existed indeed, however its use / remarkably battle-like, and not sport-like/ encounters difficulties in the contemporary socially-political situation and cannot be practised as an independent one. Nonetheless he succeeds in „restoring” old Polish examples of curved cuts, cut with the spine - most seldom applied in sport fencing, and cuttings and illusions. The whole example in the “Polish part” clearly links to the short stick fencing presented in pictures by Edmund Cenar in the textbook to gymnastics – Gymnastic Practices with the iron cane, wooden cane and the pole. Systematic outline for school and sociable gymnastics (Lvov, 1889).

            Unfortunately, in spite of undertaken attempts creation of the uniform pattern of the old Polish martial art remains unsuccessful. Michał Starzewski dies in 1894, and together with with him hope for the rebirth of the full example of this martial art. Although in 1908 J. Żytny publishes Short outline of fencing with sabres according to the Italian system, but in the very title there is described – not Polish –  fencing school presented by the author. School of fencing by B.Z.Gnoiński, published in 1909 is similar – it is hard to find Polish examples in it. The problem consisted that different examples of sabres had been being in force then: in the army it was an example of sabre elaborated in the XIXth and beginnings of the XXth century, and for „the civilian”  was in force example of the sport sabre. Both examples underwent continuous modifications, but they surely were not those old Polish battle sabres; that is why recreation of the old Polish fencing art was not entirely possible.

Quite incapable attempt to present the Polish fencing example is made by Kazimierz Laskowski in 1912, calling it Combat with sabres, that is backswords, after  so-called Polish school.  It is information about fencing narrowly gathered from well-known Polish fencing textbooks, mainly from Gnoiński and Żytny, having very loose relation to the Polish sabre fencing. What is doubtless interesting in it though, is an example of the Polish cross-shaped cuts called the „rose of sabre cuts” which proves Laskowski used some source having connection with old Polish sabre fencing or with fencing former in general.

            Later Polish authors connected with sabre fencing as Sobolewski (1920) or Mańkowski (1927) go away entirely from the Polish example and devote themselves to foreign fencing which develops more and more forcing on foreign examples, principles and training methods.

            The breakthrough became just in the half of the 80s of the last century, when Zbigniew Sawicki, collected accessible material, began practical trainings and reconstructed Polish martial art which he named Signum Polonicum. He realized in this way a „will” of many generations of Poles who did not have possibility and time to close knowledge of their own and their ancestors into one training system, creating the school of the Polish martial art.

A.D. 2010. Zawiercie.

™—™˜Bibliography.

1. Bielecki T. Wychowanie wojskowe za czasów Komisji Edukacji Narodowej. Warszawa.

2. Bryła Kazimierz (1888), Szermierz postępowy czyli podręcznik polski do nauki szermierki szpadonem. Stanisławów.

3. Brzustowicz B.W. (2003), Turniej rycerski w Królestwie polskim w późnym średniowieczu i renesansie na tle europejskim. Warszawa.

4. Chrzanowski Bernard (1912), Ustęp z dziejów polskiej jazdy. Historya pułku lekkokonnego polskiego gwardyi Napoleona I. Poznań.

5. Dziewanowski W. (1935), Zarys dziejów uzbrojenia w Polsce. Warszawa.

6. Gembarzewski B. (1923), Uzbrojenie i rodzaje broni [w:] Tadeusz Korzon [red.]Dzieje wojen i wojskowości w Polsce T. 3, Lwów-Warszawa-Kraków, s. 260-306.

7. Grabski A. (1959), Polska sztuka wojenna w okresie wczesnofeudalnym. Warszawa.

8. Gloger Z. (1965), Encyklopedia Staropolska. Warszawa.

9. Grobicki Jerzy, (1928), Jazda polska za Sasów i powody jej upadku w tym czasie, „Przegląd Kawaleryjski”, Rok V, Nr 4, s. 309-329.

10. Gnoiński B.Z. (1909), Szkoła szermierki. Warszawa.

11. Gołębiowski Ł. (1831) Gry i zabawy różnych stanów. Warszawa .

12. Górski K. (1894), Historia Jazdy Polskiej. Kraków.

13. Iwaszkiewicz J. (1913), Polska w r. 1811 i 1813. Wspomnienia dyplomaty Edwarda Bigonia. T. I. Wilno.

14. Kowalski T. (1945), Relacje Ibrahima ibn Jakuba z podróży do krajów słowiańskich w przekładzie al.-Bekriego. Kraków.

15. Kronika Thietmara (1953), Z tekstu łacińskiego przetłumaczył M.Z. Jedlicki. Poznań.

16. Kutrzeba M. (1937) Polskie ustawy i artykuły wojskowe od XV do XVIII w. Kraków

17. Kitowicz J. (1840), Opis obyczjów za panowania Augusta III. Warszawa.

18. Lipowski B. (1660), Piechotne ćwiczenia albo wojenność piesza. Kraków.

19. Łepkowski J. (1857), Broń sieczna w ogóle i w Polsce uważana archeologicznie. Kraków.

20. Mańkowski W. (1929) Szermierka na szable. Lwów.

21. Nowak T., Wimmer J. (1981), Historia oręża polskiego 963 – 1795, Warszawa.

22. Otton L. (1935), Odrębność staropolskiej sztuki wojennej, „Przegląd Historyczno-Wojskowy”, Rocznik VI, Tom VIII – Zeszyt 1, s. 1-35.

23. Olszewski M. (1899), Szermierstwo, „Kolarz. Wioślarz i Łyżwiarz”, R. 1 nr 15, s. 6-7.

24. Olszewski M. (1901), Szermierstwo, „Kolarz. Wioślarz i Łyżwiarz”, R. 3 nr 11, s. 3-5.

25. Paprocki B. (1584), Herby rycerstwa polskiego. Kraków.

26. Regulamen Excercerunku dla Brygad kawaleryi narodowej y Pułków przedniey straży wojsk Obojga Narodów. Warszawa 1790 r.

27. Sawicki Z. (2005), Palcaty. Polska sztuka walki. Podręcznik dla początkujących. Zawiercie.

28. Sawicki Z. (2004), Traktat szermierczy o sztuce walki polska szabla husarską – podstawy. Zawiercie.

29. Sawicki Z. (2012), Traktat szermierczy o sztuce walki polska szabla husarską. Cz. 2 – W obronie Ewangelii. Zawiercie

30. Sawicki Z. (1993), Historia powstania polskiej siły zbrojnej i jej wyszkolenia bojowego od pradziejów do czasów Mieszka I, Praca magisterska, Uniwersytet Śląski – Wydział Nauk Społecznych. Katowice.

31. Sikorski J. (1990), Polskie tradycje wojskowe, t. 1, Warszawa.

32. Sobolewski W. (1927) Szermierka na szable. Warszawa – Kraków.

33. Starzewski M. (1932) O Szermierstwie, [w:] Starzewski J. Ze wspomnień o Michale Starzewskim. Kraków.

34. Tokarski S. (1899), Szermierka bronią sieczną. Kraków.
35. Zabłocki W. (1989), Cięcia prawdziwą szablą. Warszawa
36. Zabłocki W. (2001) Polskie Sztuki Walki. Miecz oburęczny i szabla husarska. Podkowa Leśna.
37. Wojciech Z. (2011), Szable świata. Olszanica.

38. Zimińska J. (1972), Dzieje szkoły rycerskiej. Warszawa.

39. Żytny J. (1908), Krótki zarys szermierki na szable podług systemu włoskiego. Lwów.