Wide parries

[FritoBandito]

Hey there something I have never quite figured out how to deal with are super-wide parries, where the parrying blade becomes perpendicular to the direction of motion... I call it windshield wipers. I have come up with a few strategies to combat this be nothing is particularly effective. Since its so wide logically disengaging to the body or throwing a feint would make sense but these people always seem to be too fast and they just parry the other way once ive disengaged...very frustrating.

What are you supposed to do with these wide parries?

[oiuyt]

* Be Faster.

* Be Closer.

* Deceive Twice.

* Allow the parry and remise.

* Allow the parry and parry counter-riposte.

* Make your opponent do something else.

* Go to a different target (e.g. feint then drop to leg)

* Ask Your Coach.

-B

[Chafunkta]

Disengage again when they come back for the second parry.

[shlepzig]

* Be Faster.

* Be Closer.

* Deceive Twice.

* Allow the parry and remise.

* Allow the parry and parry counter-riposte.

* Make your opponent do something else.

* Go to a different target (e.g. feint then drop to leg)

* Ask Your Coach.

-B

Listen to him. Quoted in full to accentuate the good advice.

-Shlep'

[FritoBandito]

Be closer? So I can make it to his body faster?

[oiuyt]

Be closer? So I can make it to his body faster?

You're having trouble covering X distance in Y time. Either cover the distance faster (Be Faster), have to cover less distance (Be Closer), or expand the time available (Deceive Twice).

As with most problems (in fencing and life), there are many, many answers that will work. I've listed a selection. There are workable solutions that I haven't listed.

-B

[shlepzig]

Oiuyt had posted a wide variety of solutions to your problem, one of them is to be closer, basically, yes to reach target more quickly. More to the point, you identified that what you are doing is not working. So you must change the conditions to something that does work.

Changing time, distance, target all would change the dynamic you are trapped in. Changing from a compound to a simple attack, or vice-verse would also change the conditions. Changing your tactics, attack, don't attack, draw a counter attack, drawing the parry-riposte would all have an affect on the initial wide parry.

You posted earlier a clip of yourself fencing epee, but you haven't indicated that this is the weapon you are asking about in this case. There are solutions general to all three, and particular to each. Which weapon is something that would help the board help identify solutions to the issue.

1. Try something else, see how it works, try something else after that.
2. Talk to your coach about what you are doing right or wrong, and what you could do differently.
3. Be willing to lose practice bouts to learn a technique or solve a problem.
4. Watch the videos that are online (this is a great resource), try to fence like a fencer you grow to admire.

This is a complex sport, it is never going to be as simple as do A then do B, and you will always succeed (Except in the case of Epee 2.0, see it's never so simple).

-Shlep'

[Chafunkta]

3. Be willing to lose practice bouts to learn a technique or solve a problem.

-Shlep'

Re-iterated for the good advice.

[jeff]

Very important, that last piece of advice.

Winning in practice is not important. Developing skills is: in this case, a fundamental skill like being able to do effective one-two or feint-disenage.

[Allen Evans]

I'm not sure if you're asking about epee or foil, but another solution (in foil) is to give the opponent less blade at the start of the attack, and accelerate the hand to finish later in the attack (come to think of it, I use this in epee as well, so you're getting advice for both weapons after all). This idea is integral with a couple of Oiuyt's points.

FB, you are asking a lot of questions that often have a solution rooted in how well you perform certain technical actions on the strip. Searching the internet for advice won't give you the ability to execute certain technical actions (such as starting your hand at a different speed then your feet, and changing during the action).

At a certain point, you have to give up typing and just put in the sweat on the piste, and time with your coach.

[Gav]

Judging by his feedback thread he's talking about Epee.

I am not sure I understand what the question is. Are you talking about very angulated parries?

[oiuyt]

Are you talking about very angulated parries?

Probably big lateral parries that sweep back and forth.

-B

[Gav]

Probably big lateral parries that sweep back and forth.

-B

Why not just deceive them and hit the guy? Works for me.... while he's busy fanning my face he's very open.

[oiuyt]

Why not just deceive them and hit the guy? Works for me.... while he's busy fanning my face he's very open.

Apparently he's trying that and not being successful because "these people always seem to be too fast and they just parry the other way."

-B

[telkanuru]

Apparently he should get a coach.

[Allen Evans]

Except we seem to be cheaper. And, perhaps, more helpful.

Hmmm...perhaps it's time to take a break from giving away free advice and earn some real money.

[Gav]

Apparently he's trying that and not being successful because "these people always seem to be too fast and they just parry the other way."

-B

Disengage again?

Seems to be a no brainer to me.


In fact - to the op - you can keep disengaging till you're happy they are tied in so many knots you can do what you like.

Edit: Don't forget to move your feet.

[FritoBandito]

HEY! I have a coach but you guys seems more helpful :P
All points are duly noted except the ones about me getting a coach etc.

[TBean]

HEY! I have a coach but you guys seems more helpful :P

If your coach is less helpful than f-net, you need make some decisions about your coach.

[Fiat Slug]

If your coach is less helpful than f-net, you need make some decisions about your coach.

Well, if you give enough fencers computers, sooner or later they will produce better advice than even the best of coaches.

Seriously, I really value the collective feedbacks produced by this forum. I can always count on good advice from y'all. You guys (and gals) rule!!!

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