A proper Fleche

[mrgenius]

could someone describe to me how a proper fleche would be done?

[veeco]

Stand engarde, both legs bent at the knees.

Push on your back leg enough to prop yourself forward so that you are starting to lose balance
At this point, your back leg is about to reach the same level as your front leg, extend your arm, push on your front leg forward, while keeping your back leg going forward.
During your "flight time" keep your arm extended, your back straight.
Do not bend your back forward or bring your butt higher than it was. A good fleche (and a good lunge) keeps your hips in line.
Hit your opponent before your back leg (which is now your front leg since you crossed your legs) hits the floor.

[The0ne]

one of the important things to remember is to keep as much energy as possible propelling you forwards, rather than up. A fleche is not a big jump, you will go up in the air some, but orient your power forward as much as possible. Took me a while to figure that one out!!! =)

[qatet]

Stand engarde, both legs bent at the knees.

Push on your back leg enough to prop yourself forward so that you are starting to lose balance
At this point, your back leg is about to reach the same level as your front leg, extend your arm, push on your front leg forward, while keeping your back leg going forward.
During your "flight time" keep your arm extended, your back straight.
Do not bend your back forward or bring your butt higher than it was. A good fleche (and a good lunge) keeps your hips in line.
Hit your opponent before your back leg (which is now your front leg since you crossed your legs) hits the floor.

Nearly perfect description, the one thing that I would change/emphasize is starting with the extension.

[jBirch]

Mr. Genius,

The only other thing that I would add to the great comments so far is that a fleche needs to have the feeling of exploding at your opponent and should resemble a dive more then a fall. You're not falling at your opponent; you are FLYING at them, like an arrow. If you "coil" yourself for a fleche, it's no good. If you start to run like a bull, it's no good. If you teeter and let gravity move your point towards your opponent, it's no good. Think explosion, or launching.

It sometimes helps to think of a fleche as a lunge where the front foot pushes. Other then that, Veeco has the mechanics down perfect.

Hope this helps.

[Katman]

You must also yell 'opa' or 'epa' or 'ethel' as you explosively flesche or you are not a warrior.

[WoodsideDr]

And whatever you do, make sure you hit something, or your landing can be quite painful...

[Aeric]

I yell, "Li Mangilo!"

I eat you.

[Zilverzmurfen]

And whatever you do, make sure you hit something, or your landing can be quite painful...

Aren't you supposed to hit your opponent?!

[Grey]

Yup, mask first, followed by the body and the bellguard ramming into your opponents groin. An excellent fleche!

[RebelFencer]

Really? I've always been taught groin then body.

[Epeecurean]

Also worth noting is the fleche from a retreat: after stepping backwards you bring your front foot back further than normal to create the forward-lean to launch the fleche.

Anyone remember Michael Marx's fleche from a lunge position? That was always impressive to see!

Cheers,
Epeecurean

[glowstix]

Mr. Genius,

The only other thing that I would add to the great comments so far is that a fleche needs to have the feeling of exploding at your opponent and should resemble a dive more then a fall. You're not falling at your opponent; you are FLYING at them, like an arrow. If you "coil" yourself for a fleche, it's no good. If you start to run like a bull, it's no good. If you teeter and let gravity move your point towards your opponent, it's no good. Think explosion, or launching.

It sometimes helps to think of a fleche as a lunge where the front foot pushes. Other then that, Veeco has the mechanics down perfect.

Hope this helps.

his description is perfect..the only thing that i would add is that the fleche feels more like you've been shot out of a cannon...i'm not sure about the "flying" part since my feet would leave the ground for an extremely short period of time.

[Superman]

Yup, mask first, followed by the body and the bellguard ramming into your opponents groin. An excellent fleche!

Oooh i've done that in epée... NOT FUN! >.<

[pkt]

me genius,
I've posted some fotos of fleches from this weekend's Vancouver Epee World Cup Gran Prix so you can see what a fleche in its various stages look like.
http://www.fencing101.com/Photo_Gall...o.php?starting set_albumName=user&id=040320_115_1536_FL

Yes, you definitely should, in sabre and foil, start with the entension FIRST. Look in the previous fotos in the same photo gallery and you can see same sabre flunges with arms fully extended...

PK

[ReverseLunge]

Stand engarde, both legs bent at the knees.

Push on your back leg enough to prop yourself forward so that you are starting to lose balance

Thats exactly how I was taught to fleche. Only thing is it's such a give away when you prop yourself forward. It can seen it from a mile away. But if you just fleche without the forward preperation then your fleche won't be very fast.