Abfuhr, die

In ➢Schlägerfechten, the premature end to a ➢Mensur because of severe injury (see, ➢Schmiß), or lack of fighting morale (see, ➢Knuß).

➢abführen (v.)

Practice Note: The purpose of the traditional student ➢Mensur is the fencer’s mastery and self-control over his instinctive reactions. Therefore, instinctive evasions of opponent’s blade, by dodging or moving away the head (“mucken”, “kniesen”), are strictly prohibited. This prohibition is by a ➢Mensurenkonvent (or MC) of the fencer’s own fraternity brothers, who observe the fencer during the bout and, if, instinctive reaction is observed, decide by majority vote if such reaction took place. If the ➢Mensur is to be terminated prematurely, the second is notified by the MC. The second then will inform the parties by publicly announcing “[Fraternity name] dankt für die gehabte Partie, [fraternity name] führt ab.” (“x thanks for the engagement and withdraws.”) Reasons for “Abfuhr” are “medizinisch”, “moralisch”, “technisch” or “klinisch”:

A “moralische Abfuhr” can be “gereinigt” (expunged or “cleansed) by a ➢Reinigungsmensur, which does not count toward the required number of Mensuren a student is required to fence. If a Reinigungsmensur is also ended “auf Moral”, the student is typically excluded from further membership in the fraternity.

A “medizinische Abfuhr” must be declared when the attending physician (Paukarzt) determine that the nature or number of wounds (➢Schmisse) received present some medical cause for concern.

A “klinische Abfuhr” typically is declared when an injury requires immediate medical attention, such as bone splinters or a severed artery.

A “technische Abfuhr” is declared when the fencer exhibits insufficient skill as determined by the ➢Mensurenconvent.

Fun Fact: In German, “Abführmittel” is a purgative or laxative. A ➢Mensurenkonvent who is extremely strict is regards to Moral is jokingly referred to as a “Rhizinus-MC” (lit.: castor oil MC), because it “führt sofort ab.”