If you’ve watched the new Batman trailer, you’ll recognize the line as one delivered by Heath Ledger in a deliciously demented tone. That line helps me to remember some of the key learnings that I found at Walt Dragonetti’s Epee Tactics and Gamesmanship clinic.
The clinic was a full day. While teaching tactics is conceptually difficult, Walt and Brian Stone did a good job. I took notes. Rather than misplace the paper I wrote them on, I am capturing them here, with some editing to flesh them out a bit.
Get “The Art of War” and read it. (I have it somewhere. I need to re-read it.)
Footwork is #1!
Epee is a game of “1”
… Win by 1
… 1 touche
… 1 minute
… 1 light
Fencing combines mental / bladework / footwork / heart. Use your brain to win pool bouts.
Be prepared – weapons and body cords – check in early – bring food/drink
Warm-up is for warming up, not scoring points. Don’t try to beat your opponent when warming up. Use the opportunity to employ the various parts of your game and bring them into your conscious planning. Use the opportunity to stretch the muscles and find/lock-in on muscle memories. This puts you in a competitive “State of Mind”.
Watch pool bouts to analyze future opponents in your pool. The only pool bout you should walk into cold is the first one. The rest of them you should have observed your opponent and devised a plan.
Who is the smartest fencer in the room? Always answer, “I am the smartest fencer in the room.”
Keep notes in a log book
… The log book is not about scores
… Keep stats on op[ponents – including scouting
… How did I score?
… How did my opponent score?
… What ar the opponent’s attributes
See what your opponent’s reaction is to an action
(Brian)
System = Strategy
You (have the potential to) learn more from your opponents than you do from your coach.
Be specific in your intentions.
In epee, simple actions don’t cut it! You must be able to count to “2” – complex actions. (This was a “Doh!” moment for me. My game has regressed into relying on simple actions based on stealing time/tempo. I have to get my complex game back.)
Work on accuracy and point control between practice sessions. Build a practice target dummy!
The relationship between your opponent’s blade and yours is important.
Fencing actions occur in time. Different actions take different counts of time:
… Advance lunge – 3 counts
… Jump lunge – 2.5 counts
… Baelestra lunge 2 counts
… False/hanging lunge – 2 counts
(Walt)
What kind of fencer am I? I am a “defensive” fencer. If my opponent gets ahead, the pressure is on me. If I have to catch up, it forces me to fence outside my comfort zone. Q.) Should I be a more balanced office/defensive fencer? (Rhetorical question – the answer, obviously, is “Yes.”)
From the on-guard line to the end of the piste is 9 meters. It should take 2.5-3 seconds to traverse this distance. (If you are behind and time is running short, allow for this time to make each attack.)
Once you are eliminated, watch how the better fencers fence. Observe and learn from them.
Fence to win – don’t fence not to lose! (I have never understood the distinction.)
Short game – Have a plan!!!!! (This is the single most important thing I took away from the clinic – “When you step off the on-guard line, you better have a plan.” This is something that has been missing in my game. I spend too much time making it up as I go along. Confidence in self is a key part of this game. Confidence comes from knowing what you are going to do and being able to do it. Not every plan will win, but not having one decreases your chances of winning. When someone asks, “Why did you do that?” you should be able to say, “It’s all part of the plan.”)
(Brian)
The strip is infinite in length. Where you are on the strip is irrelevant. There is nothing you can do in the middle of the strip that you cannot do on the end. (I disagree with this philosophy. If I am in the middle of the strip, I can open distance, I can do a retreating stop thrust, I can run away. At the end of the strip, I don’t have those options.)
Don’t assume your preferred lateral position on the strip right away.
Where you are on the strip may determine where you place your blade. (Laterally? I’m not sure I understand this.)
Place your arm with your feet. (I definitely don’t understand this.)
(Walt)
List the things I am good at:
1. Parrying attacks to the arm with my bell guard. (I just have to remember to do it.)
2. Counter-six parry-riposte with opposition.
3. Draw an attack to the arm, then displace target and counter-attack the opponent’s shoulder.
List a thing I am not good at:
1. Dealing with beat attacks.
What is my best footwork action:
1. Retreat from attack with counter-attack (retreating stop-thrust).
What is my worst footwork action:
1. Staying mobile.
Summary and action plan - I have to make sure that have a plan in mind when I step off the on-guard line. Doing so will allow me to develop more complex actions and take control of the bout.
04-02-2008 03:24 PM