author
maître d'armes Labat
A French fencing master from Toulouse, he is remembered for clear, practical treatises on the smallsword that helped shape how the art was taught and studied. His work survives today as an early guide to technique, posture, and disciplined swordplay.
1 Audiobook
The Art of Fencing; Or, The Use of the Small Sword
by maître d'armes Labat
About the author
Little biographical detail appears to be firmly documented, but reliable catalog and historical fencing sources identify Labat as a French maître d'armes active in Toulouse. He is commonly referred to as Jean Labat, and some later English editions also connect his work with the name Monsieur L'Abbat.
He is best known for a series of fencing treatises, including Abrégé de l'art en fait d'armes (1682), L'art en fait d'armes, ou de l'épée seule (1696), and Questions sur l'art en fait d'armes (1701). These books focus on the use of the smallsword and present fencing as a skill built on balance, control, timing, and careful instruction rather than brute force.
His reputation lasted well beyond his lifetime. An English translation by Andrew Mahon, published in the 1730s as The Art of Fencing; Or, The Use of the Small Sword, helped carry his teaching to a wider audience, and his manuals are still read by historians and historical fencing enthusiasts today.