Two weeks ago, Wednesday, went to Mannheim, fenced, took a lesson. Nothing particularly different from most of my Mannheim sessions.
Took a lesson from Istvan on Sunday. We started with some moulinette training on a fencing dummy (he's been reading Barbasetti again). Although astonishingly old-fashioned (and more suited to 19th C fencing sabres, which are a bit different animal from today's weapon), there is quite a bit of value in doing moulinettes if you have time... they increase proprioreceptive sense of where your hand and blade are in space, and they are also quite good physical exercise--somewhat like swinging Indian clubs. I don't know if I would encourage beginning fencers to do them though--you do not want them thinking that full arm swings are the correct way to deliver cuts...
Then:
1. M invites 5-3-4, student cuts flank, head, chest; M cuts head or flank, S parries 5 or 3, ripostes to head.
2. M invites 3-4-5, student cuts chest, head, flank.
3. From medium distance, M invites as above, S executes double feint, cut with advance or jump lunge.
4. Preparation and thinking game.
a. S advances with threat to head or chest. M reacts in various ways (half-parry, line, offer at a stop cut, offer at a counter-attack, etc.). Reset. S advances with same feint, second (or first, in the case of the counter-attack) intention response to M reaction. I.e., if M showed half-parry on first iteration, S attacks with strong feint-attack.
b. M advances with threat in some line, S makes half-parry, M shows response Reset. M attacks w/feint-cut to the opening line, S reacts with half-parry, full-parry or thrust in opposition.
5. M begins attack from long distance, S double retreat, cross-over retreat, while establishing line. M attempts to take line with various single/multiple takes (4-3, circle 5), S deceives and hits.
A bit of discussion about Barbasetti's triad of abilities required to make a true fencer--essentially, they are:
1. The ability to execute actions with correct technique.
2. The ability to feel the correct time (tempo) to execute actions.
3. The ability to analyze the opponent's actions and tactics and determine courses of action to counter them.
Istvan made the point that you have to possess all three abilities to be a good fencer. I think Podzniakov is a good example of an international-class sabre fencer who excels in all three dimensions (execution, sense of tempo, and tactical analysis). Good vets tend to be well-rounded in this regard--it is one of the things that makes it enjoyable to fence them.
06-30-2008 07:41 AM 