Fencing vids - I need your input

[lguillemin]

Hi,

I watch fencing videos pretty much all day everyday and what I like to do is pick a fencer, watch as much of him as I can and then analyze his strengths/weaknesses etc. etc.

Essentially, I want to make compilation videos of some sort (sort of what CyrusOfChaos does) to help people understand specific actions and the set up to the actions of today's top fencers. Actually reading over it seems that is exactly what CyrusofChaos has kindly done for us.

What would you guys like to see?

I did this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS6vLOyJyDk
Just out of pure boredom...

Please give me some feedback as to what you want to see.

Oh and it will be all epee.

[epeeslasher]

Kristian Kulczar, if you can find video of him.

[Bonehead]

Men's foil; anyone.

Maybe explain how Joppich never seems to get hit. Sanzo's Attack in preparation, but anyone really.

[lguillemin]

Kristian Kulczar, if you can find video of him.

I only have two videos. One of him fencing in team and then the one where he won Worlds. Anything in particulal? His movement is weird and his lunges cover the whole piste

[lguillemin]

Men's foil; anyone.

Maybe explain how Joppich never seems to get hit. Sanzo's Attack in preparation, but anyone really.

Joppich doesn't get hit because he is small and squirmy. I don't have any Sanzo vids, but lots of Baldini. Watch how they fence each other, thats a treat.

[Alexander Kai]

I would like to see a compilation video of Grumier.

[epeeslasher]

I only have two videos. One of him fencing in team and then the one where he won Worlds. Anything in particulal? His movement is weird and his lunges cover the whole piste

Specifically how he manages to play a strong game with somewhat classical technique. He likes to hit on the arm, and he likes to leave his en guarde parallel to the ground. But all that is just from first glance.

[lguillemin]

You've pretty much figured him out. Distance and technique. I don't think I have enough footage to make a decent enough video.

But in general, what would you like to see in the videos?
More of specific actions?
More on the set up of actions?
Weaknesses?

[eac]

Yuki Ota is purported to have lefty issues. I don't know if there's enough video to give a good analysis of why, but if there were, I would be extremely excited to see it.

[epeeslasher]

You've pretty much figured him out. Distance and technique. I don't think I have enough footage to make a decent enough video.

But in general, what would you like to see in the videos?
More of specific actions?
More on the set up of actions?
Weaknesses?

Actually there are two things I'd like to see looked at more closely than anything else. The footwork and how it's being used and the coordination between hand and feet on fencing actions. These are often fencer specific.

Oh, and if you can find video of a good defense against a quick fleche in epee, I'd love to see it.

[Mike O]

I'd love to see analysis of Grumier, or Fernandez (Ven).

[lguillemin]

I will do Grumier...
Help me come up with specifics that you want to see

- Footwork
- Hand/foot connection (this will include whether his hand and feet are coupled)
- General strategy
- His advance lunge
- His underarm hits


what else?

[Foil.Leicester]

Men's foil; anyone.

Maybe explain how Joppich never seems to get hit. Sanzo's Attack in preparation, but anyone really.

I can weigh in on Joppich to some small extent if you like, I've spent quite a lot of time trying to study exactly how his game works and how his counter-attack fits into that.

In Joppich's defensive game he is very good at finding the blade, I find some of his sweeping parries magnificent, what this does is build into his opponent's head this fear of Joppich's searches. When Joppich is setting up his 'squirmy' counter-attack he often precedes it with a quick and sometimes barely noticeable fake search.

This search could be hard to notice if you aren't actually fencing him, because you're not as clued into looking for the tiniest movements of his blade to avoid them. Once Joppich misses with one of these fake searches the opponent thinks one of several things:

"Brilliant! I've avoided his search, now to finish him off!" Sudden close of distance and Opponent eats counter-attack in the face

"Right dodged one, now what?" Opponent eats attack in prep or real parry followed by lightning riposte.

In this respect there's a bit of a rock/paper/scissors going on there, except that Joppich is usually half a step ahead because he's set-up the scenario.

In this respect I feel that Joppich's squirm or twist is usually a final precaution as opposed to the reason why he doesn't get hit. He's already beaten them with the fake searches followed by sudden collapsing of distance.

Also I should note, it definitely helps that Joppich has exceptional natural speed and reactions, his open eyes game is very good and that gives him the leeway to try these slightly risky actions.

Edit/Disclaimer: This is NOT the only type of counter-attack Joppich uses, nor the only set-up for this type of counter-attack. This is just an example of one type that I've seen. I could probably write an essay on the different types of set-up and counter-attack/attack in Prep that he does. But you don't want that do you?

[Mike O]

I will do Grumier...
Help me come up with specifics that you want to see

- Footwork
- Hand/foot connection (this will include whether his hand and feet are coupled)
- General strategy
- His advance lunge
- His underarm hits


what else?

How about Grumier's use of counter-time? In the little footage I've seen it looks like he's constantly throwing in feints trying to set up a counter-time attack. (You may already have this covered in your list above.)

Many thanks! :-)

[BlackPelican]

My preference would be for you to do a compilation of Eric Boisse.

[lguillemin]

My preference would be for you to do a compilation of Eric Boisse.

I would absolutely love to do this. The only footage I have available to me is the one vs Kelsey and a bout between him and a young Tagliariol. Actually that may be enough.

[lguillemin]

How about Grumier's use of counter-time? In the little footage I've seen it looks like he's constantly throwing in feints trying to set up a counter-time attack. (You may already have this covered in your list above.)

Many thanks! :-)

I mean counter-time can be included into every aspect I mentioned, but I understand what you are talking about. He uses his body feints very very well, I will definitely have a video up and running this weekend of Grumier. I promise.

[BlackPelican]

I can get some other footage of boisse in St. Petersburg vs. Kulscar and Jeannet, I will try to give them to you if I can. Also, there is footage of him on the FIEvideochannel on youtube, but you might need their permission to use the footage.

[chinbeard]

What about Wang Lei? He always looks rather amateurish, but has managed to do decently well. Is his moderate success an anomaly?

[lguillemin]

Wang Lei is a physical presence. He is absolutely crazy when it comes to pressure. He may look amateur-ish but he doesn't fence like it.

BlackPelican, if you could get me that footage I would be forever greatful. Sometime somewhere I will buy you a drink.