How we defend against takings of the blade varies from weapon to weapon, and can be divided into four approaches: avoidance, withdrawal, counterattack, and ceding parry. Each has specific conditions under which it is most effective, and each has limitations. The simplest, avoidance, is based on not presenting a straight arm and extended…
There are three ways to put an opponent’s blade in motion (thereby increasing the probability that he or she will be exposed to your hit): (1) by convincing the opponent to move the blade to react to a perceived attack (a feint or provocation), (2) by percussion (attacking the blade…
One underlying tactical reality of fencing is that the success rate of attacks increases when the opponent’s blade is moving away from the line into which the attack is being directed. This seems rather obvious. Unfortunately, it is obvious to the opponent as well, and few opponents do this willingly, unless as…
Defense against a well delivered compound attack with the correct timing and distance is a difficult proposition. To get to a defense we first need to understand what a compound attack is. The simple definition is an attack executed in more than one tempo, starting with a feint and ending…
Eyes open … don’t we always have our eyes open? Well, mostly, although almost every fencer has closed their eyes at least once in the midst of an action during their career on the strip. But whether or not your eyes are physically open is not what we are talking…
The purpose of the first action in a compound attack is to destabilize an opponent’s potential defense by inducing them to put their blade in motion. We term this first action a feint, and all subsequent actions prior to the final attack are also termed feints. However, it is important…
Compound attacks used to be the culmination of the fencer’s art, multiple tempo actions that required blade virtuosity and the ability to lead an opponent through a series of movements leading to his or her downfall. The epitome was the tour d’epee, formed by change of engagement, change of engagement to…