Fencing notes

Monday 2 July, 2012

Had a lesson today w/ Eugenio. Here's my takeaway:

Drill:

• Beat 4, peck hand while retreating. Extension and retreat should be simultaneous to retain reach -- it should feel almost as if extension is happening first, but then you automatically get carried back as soon as you hit.
• Beat 4, peck hand while retreating, evade parry 4 and peck hand again. Again, coordinate extension and retreat -- make sure there are two retreats, not two and a half or one and a half. Make sure you hit the hand not the body. End w/ hand at ear level (see technique, below).
• Beat 4 while advancing, peck hand.
• Beat 4 while advancing, evade parry, peck hand.
• Beat 4 while advancing, choose tactic (below) based on opponent's response.

Technique:

• For tall opponent, angle bell guard up and in more than usual, not flat and perpendicular to body. Bell guard is protecting hand and forearm from pecks, forcing him to get closer to hit.
• Practice small parry 6, just enough to get tip around the blade. NOT a sweep.
• Exploit beats quickly.
• Practice powerful lunges, take full distance.
• Relaxed left arm, left shoulder back, esp on lunges.
• Ear height extensions, including on riposte.

Tactics:

• Preparation: beat 4 while advancing, peck hand.
• Hit hand? Done. 
• He attacks on my beat? Parry 8 wide, take blade in 8, riposte
• He does nothing? Remise to body.
• He does nothing? Draw my hand back (while not retreating) to invite an extension, then parry 6 and riposte. 
• He retreats? Retreat. I have gained half a meter though -- use this to relieve distance pressure when playing for time (if you're ahead).
• He retreats? Redouble or fleche to body.
• He retreats? Take in 6 and flech to body.
• He ripostes to my hand? Take in 6 while advancing and counterriposte to body.
• While probing an opponent, intersperse w/ different probes or attacks to avoid telegraphing your intention or developing a pattern yourself. 
• OODA comes into play only once probes and second intention are happening. Goal is to make him react without orienting first.
• Meta-tactic: some people scream in victory or have teammates scream in order to distract the ref on tricky calls, like hitting just after you pass the opponent.

--

Hahahahaaaa!!! That is ME laughing at YOU, cruel world.

    -Jordan Rixon

I could not love thee, dear, so much,

Loved I not Honour more.