Fencing Terms & Concepts
A fighter must reach a fair standard of tehnicl ability before he can apply tactics successfully.
- Tao of Jeet Kune Do
The Basics
Hand Positions and the lines they close
4th - high inside
6th - high outside
1st - low inside
2nd - low outside
Closing the line - the transition of the blade from one hand position to the next should sweep the target area
En Guard (on guard)
Actions
Thrust
Engagement
Disengage
Beat
Opposition
Footwork
Advance
Retreat
Half-step, Half-Advance, Half-Retreat
Double step, Double Advance, Double-Retreat
Lunge, Advance-Lunge
Recovery, Recover Back
Next Level
Hand Positions and the lines they close
3rd - high outside
7th - low inside
8th - low outside
Actions
Take
Flick
Feint
Footwork
Recovery, Recover Forward
Crossover
Flesch
Jump Lunge
Target
Hand, Foot
Arm, Knee
Chest
Back
Tactics require cool judgment, anticipation, opportunism, bluff and counter-bluff and the ability to think at least one move ahead. These are combined with courage and the controlled reaction of muscles and limbs which enable the fighter to carry out simple or complex movements as required by the situation at any given moment.
- Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Concepts
Here are a few concepts a fencer should know. In no particular order:
Stealing Distance, Breaking Rhythm, Tempo
Intention
Tactical Wheel
2nd Intention
Preparation
Pressing the Attack
Drawing the Attack
The preparation of the attack should be cautious and the fighter must always be ready to parry if the opponent tries to make a sudden stop-hit or counterattack.
- Tao of Jeet Kune Do
How to Attack Me
A fencer asked me "how do I attack you?". I thought to myself: heh, you don't; you try to defend yourself when you're fencing me. With kidding aside, I started thinking about it a little more. It's easy to attack but there is so much more to making touch.
Three basic blade actions used when fencing are beat, bind and absence of the blade. You should be familiar with all three and know when to use each one. Tactically use beat if they are loose and bind when they're firm. Absence of the blade can be a pick to the hand or thrust to the arm/body with or without disengage. Of course, these blade actions must be done at the right distance for scoring touch.
Footwork is used to establish tempo, rhythm and setting the distance to the opponent. Keep in mind the opponent is moving too and probably trying to set the tempo and rhythm to hit you. Making and breaking the rhythm, changing the tempo and varying the distance are used to create the right distance for scoring touch.
A fencer sets up their opponent using queues at the right distance. First, they probe the opponent with queues looking for responses. That is, how the opponent reacts to some blade action. Probing should be done right at the edge of critical distance with the same form and intensity the real action will have.
Knowing how the opponent is going to react allows you to pick an action to overcome their move. You need to remember how they respond to the queues throughout the bout so, you can vary your attacks to avoid being predictable and then use the queue when ready to score.
Setting up the touch requires planning. There are 3 phases of planning during the bout - make a plan, execute the plan, analyze the results. Analysis is the key here. If the plan worked, stick with it. If it didn't, why not? Was it error in timing or distance - you can control these; or, didn't get the response you were looking for - maybe change the plan.
"Everything you do prior to scoring touch is preparation."
To attack me and score, you must be brave and take a risk and with the right distance and timing, a simple attack will do.