How to defend against fleche

[Joseph Kormann]

Fechter1 wrote:
>>A prime is a big, sweeping parry
>
> Actually, that's exactly the problem. It's big, meaning it's slow
> (slower than a more compact parry at least), and it's predictable. To
> me, it's only useful in close quarters (ie. when you've messed up the
> distance and the opponent is much closer than he/she should be), or as
> a counter to a sixte opposition. As a stand-alone parry, it's too
> easily defeated.

So when I use it against you, you'll be plenty surprised. If you note
how I was originally using it, it was part of a lunge and solely for
defense against a FOIL fleche. A prime in foil is bound to be faster
than a prime in epee, and a sudden close-in-distance wrt the lunge will
make it appear faster.

> And I use my prime to score all the time. Properly executed, it does
> close out your inside line, while keeping your point in line with low
> target.

Yup. Kinda hard to get a riposte score when they're fleched past you
though. If you want to try it, I'm in West Chester, about 40 minutes
east of you.

-Joseph

[rmyounis]

It works in Epee too against fleche, only you start the parry with 6th parry and then move to prime for a close in riposte as they are going by you or just behind you - not just doing the prime movement from the beginning. Or at least thats how I do it

[mrbiggs]

It works in Epee too against fleche, only you start the parry with 6th parry and then move to prime for a close in riposte as they are going by you or just behind you - not just doing the prime movement from the beginning. Or at least thats how I do it

I've done it in epee as well, but I find that good fencers either have already hit me, hit me on my very exposed arm disengage and hit me, or go into the position themselves and hit. It's much more risky in epee than foil.

[VELISARIOS]

I will try it Zilverzmurfen (I just imagine it..and now I will try it.Thanks)
I prefer a strong parry and riposte quickly 70% I touch my oponent.

[VELISARIOS]

I agree with Joseph.

[Sarah Morgan]

keith wrote:

> Does anybody have any good tips on how to defend against fleches?
>
> t,Keith

distance, distance, distance.

If you watch your distance and keep to it, there's no problem with fleches -
u maintain the distance, moving back with them and essentially nullifying
the attack, and either parry reposte or just counter attack.

Martin
(posting under sarah's account)
__________________________________________________ ________________________
grep me no patterns and I'll tell you no lines

Sarah Morgan
mail (at) sarahmorgan.me.uk