Parry 5

[Welted 24/7]

While we're on the subject of head feints, one thing I've sort of picked up that I don't really notice too many people doing is to cut to the head, then just angle it a little so you hit the defender in their arm instead.

Is there some gaping tactical flaw in this that I'm missing, or does the idea just not occur to anybody?

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by Welted 24/7

While we're on the subject of head feints, one thing I've sort of picked up that I don't really notice too many people doing is to cut to the head, then just angle it a little so you hit the defender in their arm instead.

Is there some gaping tactical flaw in this that I'm missing, or does the idea just not occur to anybody?

Well, the biggest problem with that is that it's much, much easier to change the location of the arm target, and the guard is always at the end of the arm, so a parry is never far away.

[Welted 24/7]

Well, yeah, I kinda figured on that one. I just mean as something to throw out there for a touch or two.

[Purple Fencer]

We're not considering the height factor...Inq, for example, is a LOT taller than I am...if he feints head and cuts to my weapon arm, most likely he's going to cut higher on me than he would on someone of like stature...if I try a 2 there, I;m going to have no hope of catching him...for me a 3 would work better.....presuming, of course, that I could even parry him in the first place (which, frankly, I can't!)

[jBirch]

Parry 5, blade perpindicular to the oncoming threat (which should be inclined into the cut at about 15-20 degrees). If you do a classic wrist cocked and blade vertical a strong attack can still muscle through. The key with the quinte is to have the parry out in front of your body, not hovering over your head.

Feint 5, attack 3 defense is a seconde transition from 5, sometimes done with a rapproachment (bring your feet together). Dropping your arm into 3 is the reflexive and wrong thing to do as the opponent generally just targets a bit lower and gets through your guard or hits your elbow.

Riposte against a lefty from attack 3 - parry 2 (assuming you're a righty) can often be a low line belly cut with the false edge, a "squirmy" kind of motion up to the extended arm (watch out for the guard) or a bind into a head attack through the blade. Moulinet into the oblique from attacking shoulder works too.

Riposte against a righty is almost invariably a cut to the upper forearm/bicep/shoulder. I've seen a kind of attack through the blade motion where you thrust to the centre target and keep the opponent's blade. It's an epee parry riposte with opposition.

If you fall for the 5 feint though, you're pretty much screwed if you haven't set it up.

James.