favorite fencing moves?..

[UTEpee]

Hello all,

Ive been bouting for about 2 weeks now, and earlier today my coach showed me a supinated hit to the underside of the opponent's wrist(epee fencer here). he then told me to go fence and have fun with my "new toy". anyway, after an upward beat followed by the supinated hit and getting the touch, i had wondered what other kinds of dare i say...tricks can be used to get some touches against opponents who might not be expecting them (i had never done this before today, as this supinated hit was not in my repertoire, so naturally those i fence hadnt been expecting it). granted, a fencer should not just be using "tricks" to score all of their touches, but in certain situations they could be quite useful.

anyway, getting to the question at hand....(ive got a real problem just getting to the point...) do any of you have any "tricks" that you would like to share? or perhaps just a "new toy" to tell about?

thanks for all replies

[great bowyer]

i am also an epee fencer. several times, during practice i have flicked people in the back of the leg, needless to say, they did not like that too much.

i found that there are several ways to make an oppenent move their guard for a good shot to the hand, this is better than trying to hit people on their back.

but the best way to get a hit is to use good footwork, timing, distance, bladework, and point control.

[Schiavona]

i had wondered what other kinds of dare i say...tricks can be used to get some touches against opponents who might not be expecting them (i had never done this before today, as this supinated hit was not in my repertoire, so naturally those i fence hadnt been expecting it). granted, a fencer should not just be using "tricks" to score all of their touches, but in certain situations they could be quite useful.

You really shouldn't think of them as 'tricks', but rather as tools and the more 'tools' you have the better fencer you'll be.

[grotto]

one "Trick" I have seen advanced epeeists use is the "I'm not really gonna hit you here I'm just doing this so you will open up there." feint. I've seen this go on to the point where the "advanced epeeist" is drawing squares with his opponents hand by having the opponent adjust their guard to perceived attacks. Fun to watch, not so fun when you realize you are the one being manipulated like a puppet.

[Artisan]

one "Trick" I have seen advanced epeeists use is the "I'm not really gonna hit you here I'm just doing this so you will open up there." feint. I've seen this go on to the point where the...

...even more advanced opponent will respond with "ok, I'll bite, but I know what you are up to so I'll ignore your feint and make a false counterattack, disengage, feint again then bind & hit.

...and thus the Tactical Wheel has begun to spin.

[blue_falcon]

One "trick" (or "tool") that I saw and was quite impressed with was the epee flick to the wrist. And I'm not talking the flick to the forearm but to the WRIST from both sides. I was fencing this guy who had gone to the 2000 Olympics and he would flick first to the right side of my weapon and, when I tried to parry, he'd flick to the LEFT side of my wrist. Basically, he was just practicing flicks on me and it looked so darned effortless! It was quite amazing to watch -- except that it was being done on me.

I've been trying those but I still can't land the things. Of course, he was landing 80-90% of his flicks.

[whtouche]

oiuyt made a recent post about parry 4 from hell (sabre). These are probably my favorite to do, but instead of 4 I like to be chased, then step into my opponants attack with a high 1, and riposte from a position nearly standing right next to him.

However, I think the most satisfying touch Ive ever gotten, the most "here Im going to show you you aren't in control" touch. If someone is advancing with an obvious invitation for an attack in preparation, with the intention of riposting - if you notice this, start making feints while retreating, faster and faster, then chage direction - still feinting, hopefully freeze him in a parry and hit him elsewhere.

To see an attacking opponant frozen in a parry position after just being him - classic.

[jetzm]

UTEpee,

Did you take the beginner's class at UT in the spring? Are you learning from Paul Schimelman? You should get him to show you the back door spank. It really only works in saber though.

[frenzl]

broken (stop go) foot work is the greatest it really messes people up and then a simple lunge or disengage lunge - good for epee but in a less "extreme" version (more smooth) to keep right away for foil.

[jetzm]

I'm a fan of second intention. In epee I'll begin a toe touch in order to draw a counter attack to my forearm. Just before it gets to me I straighten and capture the blade in six, and take it with opposition to the inside of the shoulder.

I also like to do a lunge with a bent arm against newer people. They tend to see the lunge and automatically parry, doing all my disengage work for me.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Magnetizing your blade just kidding.

[whtouche]

UTEpee,

Did you take the beginner's class at UT in the spring? Are you learning from Paul Schimelman? You should get him to show you the back door spank. It really only works in saber though.

Ok, Im kindof curious as to what this is.

[jetzm]

It's essentially a flourishing parry-riposte. When your opponent goes for a chest cut, you parry prime. Then sliding your blade out past their point (i.e. out the back door) you bring it around point up, keeping your arm in tight and beat their blade (this is the spank). The idea is that they expect a parry-riposte, but you short circuit their brain by sending them a sharp stimulus other than what they expect. From there you basically extend and do a cut to their mask.

[oiuyt]

oiuyt made a recent post about parry 4 from hell (sabre).

:rolleyes: C'mon, the post wasn't about parry 4 from hell, it was about parry 3 1/2 from heck. Parry 4 from hell was merely mentioned in passing. :)

-B :)

[oiuyt]

It's essentially a flourishing parry-riposte. When your opponent goes for a chest cut, you parry prime. Then sliding your blade out past their point (i.e. out the back door) you bring it around point up, keeping your arm in tight and beat their blade (this is the spank). The idea is that they expect a parry-riposte, but you short circuit their brain by sending them a sharp stimulus other than what they expect. From there you basically extend and do a cut to their mask.

I don't think I understand the mechanics of this one quite yet. Are there two blade contacts involved (the parry and then the beat)? Is it basically a P-R but during the riposte you add a beat? What line is the beat in (and how high is your hand position at this time)?

A few more questions.... Does this move ever work? How slow does your opponent have to be for it to work? Does the referee ever call it in your favor? :)

-B :)

[jetzm]

There are two contacts. It is just a P-R with a B in the middle. The beat happens in 4, and your hand is basically down where it would be on a parry 4.

The move works on those who aren't lightnening fast, though it's more of a fun move than a real competition move. The referee will call it for you, but the idea is really to get one light.

[UTEpee]

jetzm....

I hadnt taken the class at UT but joined the club on a whim. im not learning from paul directly, but joe the epee coach has taught me alot. im really new at the club, only started bouting about 2 weeks ago. im there for summer practices almost every tuesday/thursday can usually be found fencing with huntington or andy, if you know them. oh yea, im zach by the way, perhaps we've met and just dont recognize each other on the forum.