Flat Hits

[5w0rdf15h]

Ive been fencing for 3 years but had private coaching only for about 1/2 a year. I keep hitting flats in electric, and sometimes i actually hurt people, and im starting to think that maybe people wont want to fence me anymore
How can i stop hitting flats and get the point on target for a valid hit?

[The0ne]

Distance!! If you are hitting flat, you're probably too close. Set your distance longer so that you have time to get your point on target!

[Mergs]

The other thing is that you are most likely not getting your point in line before you extend your arm. The sequence is probably: Distance starts to close, hand starts extending, point aligns with target. The result is that you are still trying to bring the point in line with the target when you finish the action with result of it being flat (and the point beyond where you want it to hit!). As for how hard you are hitting, you are trying to correct it by moving your arm (and then hand) faster and harder! Same result, only it hits harder.

Hope this helps.

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by 5w0rdf15h

Ive been fencing for 3 years but had private coaching only for about 1/2 a year. I keep hitting flats in electric, and sometimes i actually hurt people, and im starting to think that maybe people wont want to fence me anymore
How can i stop hitting flats and get the point on target for a valid hit?

Don't copy other people and just listen to your coach, that works best. SOmetimes you see and advanced fencing do a marching attack and finish with a flick to the chest or back and it looks really cool and effective ... and true it is... but it took many years to work it out so that the distance is perfect by the time his blade gets to you...

[noodle]

answer: fence sabre

[dunastor]

Originally Posted by noodle

answer: fence sabre

A likely and sensible answer

however, if distance is the main problem, sabre fencing will be equally hard...

[MikeHarm]

I've noticed that a lot of times newer fencers will lose confidence in their ability to do direct attacks down the center director or with disengages/coupe's and will start trying to reach around for all their hits.

Combine that with bad point control and you start getting slap hits all over the place that don't register.

I'd stop trying to reach around so much, and start threading the needle down the center, and drilling on your attacks and disengages and such, then try to do flanking actions like flicks and angulated attacks later as a supplementary thing after you've gotten that down first. It works a lot better if people aren't sure wether they need to guard the center or the outside and you keep them guessing anyways.

[noodle]

true
but if the problem isn't distance, i'd think it would be more simple to train a slap into a controlled cut than train a slap into a pointed thrust. distance is important in all 3 weaps

[dunastor]

I wouldn't know...

I started fencing with epee for about a month, and I had quite the point control if I say so myself...

It took a lot longer to perfect the finger motion with sabre..

But I must say I fenced epee with a pistol grip, so maybe it's a little different when the person is fencing with a french grip.

[D'Artag-NOT]

Have you brought this up with your coach? If not, you defninitely should.

You didn't specify which weapon you fence, but from the thrust of your post (pun intended!) I'd guess foil or epee. I'll second the suggestions from others that you work on distance and on point control. Your coach can give you drills.

You also mention that this happens when you fence electric. Does it also occur when you fence dry? If not, what are you doing differently with the electric weapon?

[klauver]

Distance is one aspect, but generally I see flat and passe' thrusts coming from extremely wide parries with the point 3 feet to the side of the oponent and in the process of trying to bring the point back in line the repost is coming from the outside in, hitting flat or sliding by their opponents side.

Try drilling your parries with your tip of your blade still facing your opponent so that you can simply extend your arm, and point, in to the body without having to replace your point after hitting the fencer on the next piste.

[5w0rdf15h]

Thanks guys for all your help!
I have brought up the issue with my coach, and he's been practising just simple quarte parry riposte, and so my aim is improving ie im hitting more on target. I didnt consider keeping distance, i wasnt aware that it could affect my hitting flats and such. Yes, my main weapon is foil, and i have done a small amount of sabre, but i found that the sabre techniques just made the mistakes i make in foil more pronounced and more often, so i think it would be a better idea in reference to that suggestion if i waited until i got my foil sorted out before i try sabre again. I'll try to practise my distance drills, and thankyou all once again!