Marching attack - followup on Wflascka´s articles

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


In the articles section of fencing.net, Walter Flascka has published a 5-part article on the marching attack. It is a really good read, IMO. (When I get around to searching out one of his posts, a rep is forthcoming.)

I am paraprasing from memory here, so bear with me if I get something wrong:
WF wrote in the article that he mostly is writing about foil, since ROV is part of what gives the marching attack its power. He also writes that it should be used primarily against someone who has resisted other, simpler, attacks. Furthermore, I can not recall any writings on what happens when both fencers attempt a marching attack at the "Allee" command, and how to score in that event.

I have seen - and done - marching attacks in epee, so it is possible to do it without ROV. The time when it worked best for me, I used it to turn a 3-10 deficit into a 15-12 lead (we ultimately won 45-41) in about 2:30 minutes. The victim of that hammering was not someone who was good at defending against all simple attacks, he was a fairly new guy with a specific weakness that I could exploit again and again. Also, the feeling of letting his team down big-time (and my triumphant roars every ten seconds) was an important part - mental crumbling.

What are your thoughts on marching attacks in general, MA in epee, and the sabre-like situation when both fencers start an MA right at the alle command?


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[angriff]

Heh, I actually posted a question about the feasibility of the march in epee when Walter Flaschka's articles were first posted

But I guess the closest one would come to a marching attack in epee would be like what Erik Boisse did on Marcel Fischer in their 2004 Olympics ME semi final. Boisse was like down by 6-13, then he woke up and began chasing Fischer down the piste AND scored 3 consecutive touches on Fischer. Well, of course he lost that semi.. sure makes one wonder why he didn't do it earlier.

I'd suppose a march at epee would require, more than anything else, psychological threat/menace, enough to scare your opponent into doing nothing but stepping back. Of course, being ready to parry-riposte or stop hit into your opponent's own stop hit (assuming s/he still has the presence of mind to do it) would be nice..