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Along in 1570, Henri Saint-Didier of France gave names to the major movements in fencing (disengage, coupe, double, redoublement and priz-de-fer) and most of them endure to this day as the international language for the sport. Prior to this time it was customary for the different nations to use their own languages.

The first radical departure from the various swords of early years was introduced about 1680 by Count Koenigsmarken of Poland. The upper half of his blade was very wide, but just below the middle it tapered severely. Further, his blade was triangular and hollowed on all three sides. The French, referring to his type of sword, for some unknown reason called it "Colichemarder" so that today that sword of revolutionary design is still known as the Colichemarder. The epee and saber of modern use are improvements in some fashion of the basic Koenigsmarken idea.

The swords and skills of swordsmen were often called into action in the United States, as well as in Europe, to wage duels. There was fencing in the United States-and much fatal dueling-in Revolutionary War days and for some generations thereafter, but duels to "avenge honor" ceased after the Civil War and fencing became the exclusive property of sportsmen.

The modern sport is subject to a few conventional rules, but otherwise differs little in fundamental technique from its more martial counterpart. Prior to the 18th Century the movements had to be formalized and restricted because of danger to face and eyes. With the introduction of the wire-mesh mask, however, the game became more flexible and the tendency was toward lighter and more flexible weapons. The result is that today's contests place a premium on speed and coordination and give little if any advantage to sheer strength.

Prior to 1891 the sport of fencing in the United States was under the general supervision of the Amateur Athletic Union. In that year the active fencers established an autonomous organization and, under the leadership of Dr. Graeme M. Hammond, the Amateur Fencers League of America became, and still is, the governing body in this country.

The AFLA had 57 active divisions in the United States in 1972 with headquarters in New Jersey. It was affiliated with the AAU, the U.S. Olympic Association, and the Federation Internationale d'Escrime, the international governing body for fencing. The development of the Amateur Fencers League of America, subsequent to the administration of Dr. Hammond, has been in the capable hands of Col. Henry Breckinridge, F. Barnard O'Connor, Leon M. Schoonmaker, Harold Van Buskirk, Dr. John R. Huffman, Dernell Every, Miguel A. de Capriles, Jose R. de Capriles, Donald S. Thompson, Dr. Paul Makler, Norman Lewis, Alan M. Ruben, and Stephen B. Sobel. Membership in the AFLA is open to all persons interested in the sport of fencing. The official magazine is American Fencing. In 1972, it was estimated that there were 400,000 fencers in the United States.