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Diamondfox · 03-27-2006, 08:51 AM

I'm just about to go to training so I won’t write a long post. (I'm from Slovenia and I don't really know English fencing expressions only Slovene so excuse me).

Ok so here is the problem...
The fencers that have been training for half a year got their electric swords last week, to demonstrate a few rules and how a normal fight takes place… my teacher let me fence with some beginner. As soon as we got fencing, I noticed that my opponent was "good" in some way. I tried to extend my arm so as for him to block at '8' so I could make a sliding hit (sorry but I have no idea how to say this in English). What happened next was that he just lunged at me and "bum" hit for him. 1:0. Next I tried a variety of other moves but he just lunged at me again. 2:0. So I started playing a defender, again all he did was just run straight at me about 5 times in a row until he hit me once again. 3:0. I said to myself "Ok... I can't believe this". Then I started attacking quickly managed to get up 3:1, 3:2... 4:2... 5:3...

I have no idea how it happened but I just can't beat fencers that are less experienced than me. I think that they don’t have any skills as in blocking, footwork... ... and they just lunge at you all the time.

What do think I can do???

VELISARIOS · 03-27-2006, 09:34 AM

Hello DiamondFox and wellcome to the forum. The beginers always are dangerous. They know one thing and do it well, or they play in havoc and and they win with random and lucky hits just what happen to you. So do not be misserable.Think how you win the first to points with him (or her) and try again.

CU

WhipLash · 03-27-2006, 10:44 AM

i used to have this prob too. apparently my coach said that i should be using simple moves with them, since they don't react to my feint and attack into my preparation most of the time. perhaps a simple feint 4 --> disengage hit 6 would work? if they counterattack into your feint simply finish the attack. beginners usually parry only 4 and 6 so attacking into low line 7 and 8 should work too. basically, KISS.

epeemike81 · 03-27-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diamondfox

I'm just about to go to training so I won’t write a long post. (I'm from Slovenia and I don't really know English fencing expressions only Slovene so excuse me).

Ok so here is the problem...
The fencers that have been training for half a year got their electric swords last week, to demonstrate a few rules and how a normal fight takes place… my teacher let me fence with some beginner. As soon as we got fencing, I noticed that my opponent was "good" in some way. I tried to extend my arm so as for him to block at '8' so I could make a sliding hit (sorry but I have no idea how to say this in English). What happened next was that he just lunged at me and "bum" hit for him. 1:0. Next I tried a variety of other moves but he just lunged at me again. 2:0. So I started playing a defender, again all he did was just run straight at me about 5 times in a row until he hit me once again. 3:0. I said to myself "Ok... I can't believe this". Then I started attacking quickly managed to get up 3:1, 3:2... 4:2... 5:3...

I have no idea how it happened but I just can't beat fencers that are less experienced than me. I think that they don’t have any skills as in blocking, footwork... ... and they just lunge at you all the time.

What do think I can do???

There are two levels of fencers: fencers you fence and fencers you hit. if you try to fence fencers you hit, you'll lose.

when fencing beginners you should operate on the KISS principle:

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

Fechter1 · 03-27-2006, 11:01 AM

That's actually a rather common problem among fencers at a certain stage in their development. Usually happens when you're on the cusp of taking your next big step forward (or backward if you're not careful). It is usually (my experience) during this stage that a fencer is made or broken, and that usually depends on the level of instruction they receive.
Main point: don't get discouraged, don't let your technique deteriorate to their level, etc.

remise · 03-27-2006, 04:32 PM

Oh, good. I'll take that as my step into the next level, as I recently had my hat handed to me by a wild-swinging newbie that I lost 5-2 to. This fencer was swinging like crazy, and I stupidly fell for it.

mrbiggs · 03-27-2006, 06:57 PM

Try slowing down a little bit, that helps me in these types of bouts sometimes.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 03-27-2006, 07:25 PM

Just chill. Its that simple.

dramamine · 03-27-2006, 07:55 PM

Be super simple (avoid doing any disengagements at all if possible) and very comitted in your actions. You can slaughter most beginners (and somehow, some good fencers too) by just stepping forward quickly with an invitation in four and then doing a parry riposte on their attack in preparation (countertime). If you are really strong and committed and have a decent parry riposte this will work very well.

fencingfrog · 03-31-2006, 07:51 PM

yeah, dramamine is right. you have to be really confident and think 'ok, i'll do ___ and hit them" ___ is a simple attack. just an attack with maybe 1 disengage. noobs always fall for it, and counterattack. it you expect them to react like a good fencer you're used to, you'll lose.

Kalishnikov · 03-31-2006, 08:03 PM

I have the same problem with a lot of newbies as well. I find that quite a few of them like to squirm around a lot which makes them difficult to hit. I usually just slow down a little bit and try to make the attack from farther away to avoid getting hit with a counter attack.

BySword · 03-31-2006, 11:26 PM

I was in the same situation too. except for I am the noob.

I fenced in a high school fencing club in georgia. The second week I got my weapon, I fenced a pretty experienced fencer in my club, who is actually a junior olympic qualifier of the state. I beat her 5-2. Although I am a guy and she is a girl, that may account for a little bit, but it was quite amazing. now I think back, I was totally ignoring her feints at the time and I just simply rush in every time.

fencingfrog · 04-01-2006, 09:51 PM

yeah, that happened to me today. i was fencing my coach, and i hit her with a very very basic beat attack. she just wasn't expecting it - she was used to fencing people who use complicated stuff.

I_luv_saber · 04-02-2006, 05:32 PM

Just another spin on this same type of situation. In my experience, many 1-2 year saberist have a hell of a time fencing foilists of equal or lesser experience. Why? 9 out of 10 because their tempo is so out of whack and they swing so wildly they don't know what the hell to do. But soon, after you've done it a few times, it gets better. I think the majority of it is just experience in these particular situations, just like anything else.

Quote:

(and somehow, some good fencers too)

Well, there obviously are many fencers out there with this problem, so I guess it isn't all that strange is it. I think I'll have to agree with most others here... one of the best ways to win against begginers or too complex maneuvers, is keep it simple and quick.

Also, just a thought, i this is a newbie he may not be used to footwork, so you may try tiring him out by leading him up and down the strip.