tactics poll

[drippingwet]

Interested to hear how many people actually think when they're fencing, and even take an interest in learning about tactics and strategy.

[oiuyt]

I just wish it were a checkbox rather than radio button poll. Would definitely have selected option 3 in addition to 2.

-B :)

[sabreur]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

I just wish it were a checkbox rather than radio button poll. Would definitely have selected option 3 in addition to 2.

-B

And perhaps something between fencing in the instant and being a physical chess master.

I certainly pay a lot of attention to tactics, but I have a long way to go before I call myself a master of tactical play.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by sabreur

And perhaps something between fencing in the instant and being a physical chess master.

I certainly pay a lot of attention to tactics, but I have a long way to go before I call myself a master of tactical play.

Definitely. I would likely have selected your option if it had been presented.

-B :)

[telkanuru]

Originally Posted by sabreur

And perhaps something between fencing in the instant and being a physical chess master.

I certainly pay a lot of attention to tactics, but I have a long way to go before I call myself a master of tactical play.

Ditto, and extra

[Alain]

Same here too - I'd like go for Options 2 and 3.

I've heard fencing described as "chess on legs" - and this would appear, at a higher level at least, to be true. Obviously being fit and strong helps, but brute force and ignorance isn't always the key to success. As an épéeist, I like being able to beat people by not fencing harder, but smarter.

Two sayings that I've heard of:

1) That it takes two lifetimes to be a true master of fencing: by the time you've learned all the techniques and tactics, your body will be too old to put them into practice, so you need another one...

2) I do Tae Kwon-Do too, and in France I've heard this sport described as "l'escrime coréen" (Korean fencing) - being a martial art, you need to be strong and fit, but there's more to it than just the physical side...

For me, the tactical aspect of the sport makes it as enjoyable as any other, making it esay to get into, but difficult to master.

[Craig]

It depends on if I need to or not.

[Gruntled]

I think before the bout and between points.

[noodle]

all of the above

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

technique before tactics. My overall technique and ability is rather low, so my tactical game is low too. The better my technique is, the more I can utilize in a bout.....I guess I only have 3 or so real tactics

[Grasshopper]

surviving 19 years of competitive fencing is a tactical feat in itself...

[garyhayenga]

Originally Posted by Alain

I do Tae Kwon-Do too, and in France I've heard this sport described as "l'escrime coréen" (Korean fencing) - being a martial art, you need to be strong and fit, but there's more to it than just the physical side...

I found Tae Kwan Do sparring to be very/most similar to fencing Sabre. What do you think? Or are you strictly an epeeist?

gary hayenga

[garyhayenga]

Originally Posted by Gruntled

I think before the bout and between points.

And sometimes after a halt, but you have to be finished by the time you get on guard again, because you have to have the plan ready before the referee says fence.

There's no time to think during the action, because if your opponent forces the issue and you haven't made up your mind yet you're screwed.

gary hayenga

[Alain]

Originally Posted by garyhayenga

I found Tae Kwan Do sparring to be very/most similar to fencing Sabre. What do you think? Or are you strictly an epeeist?

gary hayenga

I'm an épéeist But the two sports do have a lot in common - importance of distance and timing, efficiency of movement and power, etc. I remember (I think it was Srecki) saying that fencing is the art of making the fewest mistakes - in both sports, it's true to say that if you get hit, it's not because your opponent did something right, but you did something wrong.

Apart from that, they don't let us play with swords at TKD...

[Prometheus]

In the grand tradition of Goldilocks....

If you think to much, you get hit.
If you don’t think enough, you get hit.

So think just right.

...and don’t mess with bears.

Or alternately:

Train you head to see the opponents weakness (strategic level of operation) and your hand to see the opening (Tactical level of operation).
(I still wouldn’t mess with bears)

[VERITAS]

--Techniques, Tactics, and Strategy--
Generally mastered in that order, IMHO. One builds on the other.

Great subject. I think my instructor is going to introduce a new class at our salle specifically about fencing Tactics and Strategy. It'll be very interesting.


Regarding the chess analogy, the main differences are, obviously enough, that chess is turn-based, and has enforced ROW and techniques, so in some respects fencing has greater potential for tactics and strategy.

Although chess allows for more development of tactics & strategy early on since its a lot easier to learn how the pieces move in chess than it is to learn basic fencing techniques: footwork, simple attacks, parries, etc.

There's something about the hand-eye and Mind-Body coordination necessary for fencing that makes it more fun and ultimately better than chess, in my humble opinion.

Regarding TKD, our fencing salle shares a practice space with a Tae Kwon Do club, so I have occasionally had the honor to watch their practice. It does share some things in common with fencing. It is a martial art, after all.

-charley

[ThatReallyHurt]

I find that the more fencing I do, the more thinking I do during a bout. When I started a few months ago, I don't think I really thought of anything. Now, I actually look for openings and try to think ahead to make my opponent open holes in their defenses...

[Zilverzmurfen]

I would actually have voted both 1 and 3 if that had been possible.

I am absolutely not a tactics person, I just 'fence' and 'improvise' my fencing... However some people who've watched me has occasionally told me "That was a really good thing, you did x which forced NN to do x and you scored the touch" etc.

This surprises me as I really am not thinking (tactically) too much about what I do. Hence why I am such a mediocre fencer...

Since the subject was brought up, do you think it's possible to improve ones tactical thinking and if so - how? Tips welcome!

[wildmoppet]

Let me be one of those to complain about the poll. There needs to be an 'all of the above' option. Or something that allows us to select whichever is relevant.

I would be all three, but mainly Number 2 I guess.

[VELISARIOS]

Without strategy and tactic you cannot win.