Ever since I started fencing in the 1960s, I have heard references to fencing as “physical chess.” The problem is that fencing does not closely resemble chess – it more closely resembles poker. How can I say that? Chess is a game in which players study and learn a series…
QUESTION – what is an invitation? ANSWER – a movement to create an apparent, but false, opportunity to draw an opponent’s attack or counterattack.
Technique is how specific fencing actions are performed; tactics are how techniques are blended with the conditions on the strip and in the bout. Strategy is different – it is how the fencer defines goals for his or her performance and works to meet these goals over a period of…
QUESTION – what is a first intention action? ANSWER – an attack or riposte executed to hit the opponent in one or multiple tempos of continuous attacking action.
What is a bout plan? It is a framework to guide how you will fight the phrases within the bout to achieve your goals for the bout and the tournament. Although no plan survives first contact with the opponent, having a plan provides a unifying theme to your bout on…
Tactics are the second of the broad categories of actions that govern fencing. Technique is the first order, the mechanical performance of footwork and bladework required to execute offense, defense, counteroffense, and actions not intended to score. Strategy is the third order, the planning and management of training and competition…
Note: This blog post draws heavily from Ziemowit Wojciechowski’s THIS IS FENCING, John O’Sullivan’s EVERY MOMENT MATTERS, two decades of watching Sumo Basho (especially the performance of Yokozuna (Grand Champions) and Kinboshi winners (lower ranked wrestlers who defeat a Yokozuna), and a wide variety of other writings about psychology in…
Fencers make decisions all the time. Some are relatively slow, for example “do I want to enter the Upper Noplace Open or not?” Some are made in advance, for example “what is my plan for this bout?” Some are made in the instant, for example “she is stepping into distance,…
QUESTION – what is preparation? ANSWER – any actions taken to create the conditions for a successful final action of an attack or counterattack
Normally when we talk about fencing we discuss techniques, less frequently tactics. We typically go technique, tactics, bout, tournament, season, quadrennium. But what happens if we went the other way? If we go quadrennium, season, tournament, bout … suddenly there is something missing. We admonish our students or our strip…