Welcome to a new week and a new set of drills. Last week I detailed some simple attack drills using different attack tempos. This week we will take a look at some simple defensive drills.

Defense and Riposte Exercises
1. Distance Control Exercise #1 (No Parries Allowed!)
   
   1. L - Varies the length of attack (intentionally fall short)
      P - No retreat (get used to the idea of not flinching)
   2. 
      L - Varies the length of attacks (some may reach target)
      P - Retreat if the attack would hit. (Keep the distance as tight as possible, one inch away from the attacker's point.)
2. Distance Control Exercise #2 (No Parries Allowed!)
   1. L - Make false attack
      P - no retreat
      
   2. L - Make real attack
      P - Retreat, keeping distance tight - point one inch away from target.
3. Point-in-line from Lunge
   1. P - Lunge, leave point-in-line
      L - Attack on to the point (one-tempo after lunge)
      P - Remain in lunge and in line, allow L to impale self.
      
   2. P - Lunge, leave point-in-line
      L - Begin attack, attempting to take the blade (lateral parry)
      P - Derobement (deceive), remain in lunge and in line.
4. Parry - Attack on Preparation Choice Exercise
   1. L - Simple attack
      P - Parry (no riposte)
      
   2. L - invite w/advance
      P - attack on preparation (no lunge - use advance w/extend)
5. Beat and Opposition Parry Exercise
   L - Straight attack
   P - Early beat parry w/direct ripost, then retreat
   L - Continue attack (advance, long lunge, etc.)
   P - Lateral opposition parry and opposition riposte
6. Intercepting Parry - Riposte w/advance
   L - Straight attack
   P - Parry seconde w/opposition riposte by interception (while advancing)
7. Decision for parry with retreat
   1. L - Straight attack
      P - Parry (no retreat) and riposte
      
   2. L - Very strong straight attack
      P - Parry w/retreat and riposte
      
   3. L - Feint straight attack as lunge begins P - Attempt parry (no retreat) L - deceive with lunge P - Parry with retreat and riposte
8. Offensive second intention exercise
   P - Straight attack - false (intentionally fall short)
   L - Parry and riposte
   P - Parry and counterriposte (remain in lunge)

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