It resembles the Victorian-era singlestick combat and both systems seem to have developed from military broadsword and cutting rapier practice. The purpose is to hit the opponent with a flipping action of the blade over or underneath his cover, while parrying simultaneously with sword arm and blade. The left arm is held behind the back. Dodging in two consecutive Mensuren means immediate expulsion from the Corps. Most Corpsiers fight a minimum of three Mensuren during their active membership status, many do more voluntarily.
Seconds protect the fighters against illegal cuts, such as cuts made after Halt has been called.
A Mensur is over if one of the fighters is injured to a degree that one of the attending doctors feels compelled to end the bout, or when the prescribed number of rounds has been fought. Curved-blade Sabre Sabre fencing as we know it today is a product of the l9th century. We have to distinguish, however, between the light Italian dueling sabre that spawned today's sports sabre, and the heavy curved fencing and cavalry sabre that became popular during the Napoleonic Wars. Particularly the German and Austrian schools of this weapon were very different from the amalgam of Hungarian and Italian techniques taught today. Parries and cuts were simple and changed little throughout the century.