Fencing . ntion the combinations of attack anddefence which are so essentially necessary to every are of course very numerous, almost every one of thefour principal hits above described being combined withseveral of the many methods of stopping or avoiding a it may be left to the ingenuity of the learner and to thecare of his instructor to discover the less important of thesemanoeuvres. Two sets of combinations require particular com-ment—that in which the arm guard is accompanied with a hit,and that in which the hit is used with a duck of the head. Inthe left-hand lead-off
Fencing . ntion the combinations of attack anddefence which are so essentially necessary to every are of course very numerous, almost every one of thefour principal hits above described being combined withseveral of the many methods of stopping or avoiding a it may be left to the ingenuity of the learner and to thecare of his instructor to discover the less important of thesemanoeuvres. Two sets of combinations require particular com-ment—that in which the arm guard is accompanied with a hit,and that in which the hit is used with a duck of the head. Inthe left-hand lead-off the beginner should at first protect hisface, while delivering the blow, by putting up his right-handguard. By this means he will avoid the left-hand counter atthe head, which would otherwise assuredly come home. Afterhe is pretty well aufait at this, and can appreciate the meritsof that line of defence, his teacher must show him its demeritswhen too freely used. With this object, as the right hand goes. Figure XIV.—Right-hand cross-counte THE ART OF BOXING 163 up and the hit is delivered the professor will gently counter hisman on the body. The latter thus learns that in leading off heexposes two vital parts, the head and the mark. And forsome time he will find it quite impossible to guard both. Bydegrees only he will acquire that quickness of eye and nervethat enables him to guess whether the opponent means tocounter high or to counter low. If the latter, he has only tokeep the right arm in its normal place. If the former, he mustput up his guard. Or, if he feels sure that the counter is com-ing at the head, he may dodge the blow by ducking to theright. In exactly similar style he will, standing on the, defence,acquire a facility of guarding with the right,, and at the sametime, or immediately afterwards, before the assailant has gotback, delivering the left as a counter. Remember always thisdifference between a Mead off and a * counter : in a lead offthe left foot must
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