Invitation to inside low line

[Dadi Astthorsson]

Hello, I'm wondering if there such a thing as an invitation to the inside low line?

[Fencergrl]

You'll see it often at about 2am in any bar

[keith]

Originally Posted by Dadi Astthorsson

Hello, I'm wondering if there such a thing as an invitation to the inside low line?

there is indeed, normally involves an alcoholic beverage and some witty small talk.

edit: gah why did I think I could be first to this one

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by keith

edit: gah why did I think I could be first to this one

*fencergrl lifts her mouse and blows the smoke off of it*

[Dadi Astthorsson]

New to fencing, new to this board. Could you please be gentle?

[Purple Fencer]

Try doing a bind in 6 and see if your opponent will disengage to your 4. If you make your parry a bit high and then don't riposte, he may see that you're leaving 7 open the next time you do the bind.

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by Dadi Astthorsson

New to fencing, new to this board. Could you please be gentle?

Sorry Sweetie, usually I'm the one telling others to leave the newcomers alone.
Your comment just struck me as funny, and I'm in a playful mood.

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by Dadi Astthorsson

Hello, I'm wondering if there such a thing as an invitation to the inside low line?

In all three weapons, yes, but it's done differently. Which weapon in particular are you concerned about?

James.

[keith]

Originally Posted by Dadi Astthorsson

New to fencing, new to this board. Could you please be gentle?

right then;

sweep from a low guard to normal sixte.

raise your hand (do not clench your shoulder), just lift the hand and point as if you are considering attacking the shoulder.

what Purple said.

Although the key consideration is how tall you are relative to your opponent; if you are 5'0 and your opponent is 6'2 then I wouldn't count it as a go'er.

[Dadi Astthorsson]

Thanks everybody. I'm only doing foil, but I'm interested in a general way. I'm holding my 6 week old and typing with one hand, so I'm trying to be as brief as possible. Thanks again.

[rcmatthews]

I have to say, compared to the other newb questions that are usually on here, this one is much better.

I personally wouldn't want to invite someone to the low line (I fence sabre). I am more comfortable with high line parries, so inviting a low line attack seems like a recipe for disaster.

[keropie]

The simple answer is yes, it is quite possible. The technique involved, unfortunately, varies depending on you and your opponent. Some opponents are more stubborn, perceptive, or dense than others, and require a different variety of invitation to get the picture. I've certainly been known (primarily under old timings in foil, I'm a bit more 'contrained' now) to make some very bizzare invitations, including advancing with the blade in first position. Many peopl would attack directly under it (low and inside) which I would sweep with a 'circular first' parry, and hit them in the back. I've even been known to invite by making what would be a sixth parry in saber (yes, the backwards five) in foil, inviting to the low outside target so that i could sweep what would be called modified sixth and/or seventh in saber and hit the back (and yes, under old timings most of my actions ended in 'and hit the back.' Boy, do I miss it T.T)

But like I said, depends on the nature of your defense, and the nature of your opponent.

HTH

[Allen Evans]

Isn't the traditional "on guard" in sixth an invitation to the inside low line...and the outside low line...and the inside line?

Really, ladies and gentlemen, it's not that complicated!

[chefencer]

Hear, hear! and more likely to be noob friendly...

[tbryan]

Originally Posted by Allen Evans

Isn't the traditional "on guard" in sixth an invitation to the inside low line...and the outside low line...and the inside line?

Really, ladies and gentlemen, it's not that complicated!

Sure, but not many people start an initial action to the low inside. I guess everyone took the question as "how do I get someone to try for low inside." Some of the suggestions about pushing the opponent's blade into that line or leaving the line really open might work. Many foilists seem to ignore that line no matter what the invitation.

I know that I wouldn't be keen to go for the low inside line. Unless I've set you up, that feels like a very low percentage shot on the new timing. Too much opportunity for you to squirm or lean or oppose or parry. Even if I "hit", I might not get a light. Of course, that may all be because I don't practice those actions enough.

[Allen Evans]

If you're going to break into a house, do you try the front door first? Or check to see if a side window is unlocked (60% of the time, the window on the first floor bathroom is unlocked, often, it is already open, depending on the time of year).

Yet with this analogy, most fencers pound away on the front door until it gives in, with all the risk that entails.

Even if the first attack to the low line (inside or outside) doesn't score, an attack to the low lines tells you if you've got a fight on your hands (the opponent parries and makes a riposte) or an easy bout (the opponent is caught completely by surprise and may not even KNOW a parry for the target). Subsequent actions such as feints high to low, or second intention parry and ripostes to the low line, will often score easily. If you are left handed, hitting under the arm should be a favorite touch.

If the opponent doesn't understand making low line actions, or CANNOT make a low line action, no amount of "invitation" is going to drive them there.

[dramamine]

Originally Posted by Allen Evans

If you're going to break into a house, do you try the front door first? Or check to see if a side window is unlocked (60% of the time, the window on the first floor bathroom is unlocked, often, it is already open, depending on the time of year).

Thanks for the tip dude I didn't know that. I umm... gotta go now

[Inquartata]

I don't know why you WOULDN'T try the front door first. What is there to lose? You're much less likely to draw attention from neighbors and passersby than you are skulking around the side yard and peering at windows.

But if it's locked and sturdily made, no need to be pigheaded about it either.

I read about a gang of robbers once. They acquired a machinegun, with the idea of blasting open the doors to a bank. Blast it they did, then went and pushed on the doors, which held. Blasted it some more, pushed on the doors: nothing. Gave up and hastened away.

The doors, as it turned out, weren't even locked. But they opened out...

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

*fencergrl lifts her mouse and blows the smoke off of it*

You can not fathom how risqué this sounds in Swedish! Ask ZZ, if you doubt me! (Now, where is that :blush: smilie?)


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Teme]

Originally Posted by PeterGustafsson

You can not fathom how risqué this sounds in Swedish!

I'm not sure if 'risqué' is the right word; it's more in the realm of lewd and raunchy.