Footwork "dance plans"

[drippingwet]

1. Can anyone suggest some good “dance plans”, as mentioned by Walter Flaschka in the latest Italian tempo thread? In other words, footwork sequences used to catch the opponent by surprise.

2. Does anyone have any examples of what the Italians have been using to make their simple attacks work, in relation to tempo?

3. Should you always lunge when you find the lunge distance?

4. What should the opponent be trying to do?

P.S. If you're seeing this Walter, thanks for all you're effort in answering my questions. My game has been evolving by the day thanks largely to you're long and detailed replies. I'm going for the Leicester Open (England) next Saturday. Got my eye on best under 20!

[drippingwet]

Helloooooo. Anybody there????????

[drippingwet]

By the way. When I try to do a glide, it ends up a bit like a jump.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

quit asking questions.

[drippingwet]

By the way, occasionally you see fencers up in the air. I was just interested to know what it's all about???

[SOA9286]

Surprise. You get in the air you're usually move pretty damn fast.

At least thats what id used it for.

[noodle]

wow, man, some of these questions are so subjective its amazing you're asking them.... no offence or anything.

1) no, i can't. i've never made one up or looked to study one. i don't fence foil enough. i just know foil. there is no one footwork pattern that will catch any opponent off guard. a simple advance will catch some people off guard. you need to mold your game to your opponent. you can, though, have a good idea of what you're going to with your march as it continues, but it shouldn't be a stone-set plan. this, as i mentioned before, can vary on your opponent and is heavily salted to your own taste. make it up yourself.

2) examples? it is an example every time an italian successfully executes the march, go look at a video. they use varying tempo to slide into distance when they find an opening and land (if the march is successful, that is).

3) no. you should only lunge if there is an opening and you're in lunge distance. a lunge against a prepared opponent is wasted.

4) score the point against you?

5) they jump to move the target area. its just like ducking or spinning or leaning back or foward or twisting the shoulders. makes it tougher to hit them.

[TooLoftheDeviL]

quit asking questions.

This made me laugh, a lot. First thing I thought of was Ir yelling this at Meatwad in one of the mooninite episodes.

Also, I agree. These questions are more and more grating the more I see them, even though I can't really offer a reason why.

[drippingwet]

I feel like I've gained about three months worth of progress in the past week, just by asking the questions and getting the answers. This is a forum after all. If people want to talk trash, that's fine. If people don't want to answer my questions, then that's obviously fine too. Results speak for themselves, and I'd be happy to compare my methods and my progress with anyone here. Richard Kruse (GBR) beat your Dan Kellner in the olympics and he beat Andrea Cassara fairly recently also. Kruse was lucky, he started out with free coaching from one of the best in world after they met in a supermarket!!! Others have to use other means - books, video, websites, and constant sparring, to compliment their more modest coaching regimens. This website is just one small part in that programme, and when I know enough, I'd be happy to help out anyone who is as keen to learn as I am now. So whatever!!!!!!!!!!!

[SOA9286]

Fencing is fencing. You get better by anything, but moreso fencing (the act of fencing that is). You may gain a lot of knowledge, but putting it to use is a whole other matter. The brain can only take so much saturation..and I highly doubt anyone can do everything you've asked and gained by now, and by "do", i mean have it down.

[achilleus]

Also, I agree. These questions are more and more grating the more I see them, even though I can't really offer a reason why.

Cause the questions are best answered in person, by a coach, and through experience.

[drippingwet]

I've been fencing long enough to be able to put most of this theory into practice without being physically shown.

[noodle]

I feel like I've gained about three months worth of progress in the past week, just by asking the questions and getting the answers. This is a forum after all. If people want to talk trash, that's fine. If people don't want to answer my questions, then that's obviously fine too. Results speak for themselves, and I'd be happy to compare my methods and my progress with anyone here. Richard Kruse (GBR) beat your Dan Kellner in the olympics and he beat Andrea Cassara fairly recently also. Kruse was lucky, he started out with free coaching from one of the best in world after they met in a supermarket!!! Others have to use other means - books, video, websites, and constant sparring, to compliment their more modest coaching regimens. This website is just one small part in that programme, and when I know enough, I'd be happy to help out anyone who is as keen to learn as I am now. So whatever!!!!!!!!!!!

i think the frustration is the fact that some of your questions are becoming very idiosyncratic.

you're not asking us general questions anymore about broad topics or tactical theory. you're asking us to basically lay out a tactical scheme for you without knowing who you are or how you fence. i mean, really. #3? should you lunge if in lunge distance? might as well ask if we should retreat if our opponent advances. its not as simple as "yes" or "no" because the answer is "yes if..." and/or "no if..." and there are any number of "if..."'s we could put in there.

[achilleus]

I've been fencing long enough to be able to put most of this theory into practice without being physically shown.

Really?

You're questions seem to indicate otherwise.

For example, in your question about the stuttering retreat you casually dismiss options on how to stop the march as being to iffy. When done right, those options you mention work quite well.

That tells me something right there.

That's why I posted earlier that you should think about your questions. You're on the right track with a lot of your thoughts and ideas, but missing out on a lot.

[SOA9286]

We have to remember a lot of fencing is improv, and a lot is planned. Its knowing the difference and when to apply either that makes you a good fencer.

And didn't you say you were a beginner?

[drippingwet]

It depends whose doing the anti-march tactic in question. See coutant in 2003 La Coruna cup. It appears that if he had tried to attack on prep, Cassara would have eaten him. With Wessels its different. I'm more in the 'too risky' boat at the minute. Besides, it was still a risk to Wessels (Shanghai), however effective it was on that day. Consider that I don't want to take these risks when I'm facing a marcher who I've never met before.

I'm a novice, not a beginner. There is a difference.

P.S. You all seem rather emotional today!

[SOA9286]

Well you have posted about 80 questions

Whats the difference (for arguments sake) between a novice and a beginner?

[drippingwet]

I was once told by a Russian coach at my club that you are a novice for the first four years. You are probably a beginner when you can't hold you're own for more than 2 minutes in a 15 touch bout! I can do much more than that aginst some of the best in my region. I am a novice, and Alexander Romankov is an expert!

You're obviously not a beginner after a year or so, but you are certainly not an expert i.e. major championship placements, or even intemmediate, i.e. high regional placements. So you are a novice.

[SOA9286]

Yea, so can I, but I just started. I think in the end, unless your a maestro, you're probably still a novice. I mean even greats such as Aldo Nadi admit that there was more to learn.

[Epictetus]

There is alway more to learn, in whatever you do.

In that sense we are all novices, really.