Abstract - European fencing schools and their impact on the development of Polish fencing before 1939
Rivalry within the battle, knights’ tournaments and bouts of famous fencers representing the techniques and tactics of outstanding fencing schools (Italian and French), greatly contributed to the conversion of the art of arms wielding to the modern sport. The reduction of the arms weight (e.g. lighter blades) and introduction of new types of fencing weapons (rapier, sword, foil) and facemask (c. 1780) was conductive to such a conversion. Before 1939, Polish fencing was influenced by the: Italian, French, Wiener-Neustadt, Hungarian fencing schools. The last two exerted the most considerable.