+Qiang Luo Cause western saber schools were developed quite late and if participants weren't tutored for warfare, their alternatives was sparing and duels I guess? Quick exchanges and shallow cuts was enough to decide who won the quarrel, there was no need in killing the other guy. Meanwhile, a century or two back, appliance of saber in self defence (like in Polish use) was that by gently tapping and giving your foe couple shallow cuts from the wrist rarely solve the problem... but cutting his head off or chopping his arm, does. It was worth taking a shallow cut from a wrist slice if you managed to pull off a full-shoulder swing. (especially if you were wearing something more then just shirt)

Yuri PRIME indeed. so is Russian sabre fighting, it has a lot of circular movement allow powerful and continuous cut. the saber fighting method used by chinese muslim are much similar to russian, ukrian and chechen saber fighting. in fact further the east, the martial art found more similarity with the Asian rather than Europe. i am a fan of russian martial art. its principle is more east, but has its own unique explosiveness.

There was a lot of close quarters fighting in war during the 19th century. Dueling was mostly done with smallswords, while sabres were military weapons. Look at 1796 light cav British sabre (which was also popular amongst infantrymen) and tell me it's a weapon made for shallow cuts. Later styles aren't inferior to earlier ones. Trading hits is never a good idea and was never taught in any tradition. If you try to give a big swing in 19th century fencing you will just get stop hit and if the other guy forms good opposition you will not harm him.