Sabre help!

[latenight]

As mentioned before on another thread, I am switching to sabre from foil. I am training pretty much every night to get up to speed.

My question is for all the sabre fencers here. Do you have any advice or recommendations as to drills, moves you like to use, and pitfalls to avoid?

[Cutter]

the biggest changes are going to be in your stance. Foil tends to stand more sideways with your shoulders. You want to be square on with sabre. Also, just starting out with sabre, avoid using point-in-line at first, you will likely fall back into foil type fencing in the beginning. Also, less is more in sabre. All those big circle parries, etc. are a waste of energy and timing - go for simple at first and build from there.

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Cutter
"It's just a flesh wound."

[Cutter]

One more thing, keep you blade up. Keeping it forward like in foil only invites beat attacks, counter beats, counter counter beats, counter counter counter beats, counter counter ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh somebody smack me.

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Cutter
"It's just a flesh wound."

[Peach]

Remember head is target. One of my favorite things to do to foil fencers fencing sabre is hit them on the head. Foil fencers often make their footwork too large when fencing sabre. Smaller is better, and being able to change direction is more important than the killer lunge.

Oh, yeah, and sabre referees will call preparation.

[Purple Fencer]

Something else...although the rules of right of way are technically that same as in foil, they're applied a tad differently in sabre.

What is incidental contact in foil is often considered as a paryr in sabre.

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Sam Signorelli -- Boldly going forward...'cause I can't find reverse!

[neevel]

Another thing to build on Sam's comment is that tempos in sabre are generally called much shorter than in foil-- actions that would normally fit into a single tempo (and thus not be open to an in-time stop hit or remise) don't in sabre.

-Dave

[Stryder]

Latenight-

As a sabre fencer you will bring an advantage to foil, your movement. After I focus on sabre for a few days then return to foil, I am amazed at how easy it is! You have what seems like weeks to execute your actions. Fencers attack so slowly! Keep your on guard and your hand position relaxed while you move forward and back and the openings will come.

Advice: Do not attempt a point-in-line or a stand up attack-into-prep. You will find that good referees and bad wil give a foilist about seven days to complete an attack against atack-into-prep.

Drills: Try practicing the "squirm" or esquive. Experience what it is like to be able to stand still and watch your opponent miss you. Do it in bout format. Show that you can parry and when they try to avoid your blade step in and let them hit flat.

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www.geocities.com/strydermike

[stuwatts]

Originally posted by Cutter:
...All those big circle parries, etc. are a waste of energy and timing - go for simple at first and build from there.

Same goes for attacks - simple is the only option in Sabre (probably why I took to it...). I find a straight one-two (head feint to flank, say) extremely effective, even against more experience fencers. Anything more complicated like beat-disengage-one-two is going to get you stop-cut.

And sell your soul to Satan as well. That helps.

And start smoking and drinking - I know too many sabreurs who fence like men/women possesed when they have a hangover (you'll never make better 5 parries than you do with a monumental headache!!).

[latenight]

Thanks Guys!!

Keep it coming.

Tell me about how ROW is different in sabre compared to foil some more. I have noticed some distinct differences myself and I'm curious as to what you think.

Also my lame came with a piece of patch material. How the heck does one apply this patch should the need arise, do you just sew it on?

[Peach]

Just sew the patch on so that the stitching doesn't create a dead line - well sunk into the seam if machine sewn, applique stitch (overcasting) if hand sewn. And pray.

As for ROW in sabre, the hand begins the attack and any hesitation or pulling back WHATsoever will lose it for you. Also, some referees (though it's hard to tell who) will call the attack over when your front foot lands, which is one of the differences in language for sabre versus foil. Most won't pay any attention to that, though. Some referees in sabre will award the riposte even if it is delayed (I call it the "infinite riposte" and Polish or Russian referees are the ones to watch for this).

Finally, if you are hit before the final advance of your advance-lunge, it is attack in preparation against you.

Tempo is very tight in sabre and it is possible to lose the attack very easily, so you must decide what your action is before the "Fence" command. You can't wait around to see what will happen.

[Ron Antrim]

Try dropping your stance a little (sitting down). Sabre people tend to take a lower center of gravity stance than foilists.
Learn a quick parry five, and over the top mask cut. I have greater success and more fun when I start each engagement with a plan
and stick with it. Dont be afraid to try new moves, and change your repertoire as you go.
I see too many sabre people who are
one-trick ponies.

[aussie]

Hi all,

a good sabre drill to get the fingers working is;

attack head with a lunge, on the return to guard parry cheek, and then a parry arm standing still.

a change on the same theme is to throw in barn rolls, high septimes, and retire by jumps. Its damn hard work though!!!!