18/06/2026
🔎 The footwork associated with the guards of the Bolognese fencing system is generally quite upright. It is common to see historical fencers advocate lower stances on the grounds that they improve balance and, consequently, fencing performance. While a lower centre of gravity can certainly be advantageous in some situations, it is a misconception to assume that lower stances are universally beneficial in historical fencing.
The popularity of deep and wide "combat stances" appears to owe more to modern expectations and popular culture than to the historical sources themselves. While low stances certainly exist in some traditions and contexts, the Bolognese sources generally favour a more upright posture.
In the Bolognese tradition, these higher stances are not an accident but a consequence of the method itself. They facilitate fast and efficient footwork, support the use of passing steps and angular movement, and allow the fencer to move fluidly between actions. At the same time, the high guards naturally close the lines to vulnerable targets such as the head and neck while keeping the legs further from the opponent's immediate reach, making attacks against them more difficult.
As with any aspect of historical fencing, the question is not whether a stance is high or low, but whether it supports the tactical and mechanical requirements of the system in which it is used.
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