sabre fencing strategies

[sabre saber]

What are some of your strategies in a sabre bout when fencing some one who is of equal skill level. Does any one have any tips?

[MAIRIM]

oooooh! Hey, I need some sabre help too, please! So first off, I thought I was understanding the rules.... but I guess I'm not exactly... My teacher just kinda threw me into it, so I think my understanding of the rules is just veeeeery basic... so, here's one thing that's hanging me up: the whole "right of way" thing.... sure its pretty obvious sometimes, but other times... gee, well... other times it's not? Um Gottes willen! Haha... I'm not doing a very good job splainin myself here... I guess I just want someone to tell me all the sabre rules once and for all, or direct me to a place where I can find them. (I've already found some stuff, but just the usual paragraph and pic. showing the target area, I need something a little more comprehensive/ indepth)

Dankeschoen!

[Dav3ey]

I would say three things:

1. You could try to make small but important advantages out of small margins. For example, if you're planning on making a straight attack, try to cut to the forearm rather than the head. The trend in judging is to call fewer simultaneous touches -- you could try to develop an edge there.

2. You could try to include huge outliers to throw off your opponent. For example, on the first touch, use an advance-flunge. That'll give him/her something to think about on the next one.

3. Be very, very wary of my advice !

[pkt]

Dav3ey,

I like your 3rd advice very much indeed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MAIRIM,

go to the USFA website/Info for members/Forms/USFA Rule Book, 1999 Edition.
Read the sections of
the general rules
the sabre
the disciplines
Know then well, if not by heart.

Then go to the USFA website/Info for members/Forms/FOC Study Guide for Referees (2001 Edition) /

This way, if you find that you're - Gott in Himmel - not good as a fencer you can be a ref...

Jokes aside, only go by the definitions in the rule book whatever other people - that includes me - tell you.

To best explain the RoW: the numbers in [-] are mine for emphasis
rule t.7
- The attack is
[1.] the initial offensive action
[2.] made by extending the arm and
[3.] continuously
[4.] threatening the opponent's target
[5.] preceding the launching of the lunge or fle'che.

If you do all these then you'll have the RoW in sabre or foil.

But if the ref does not know the rules, all these do not matter.

Fencing is a mind game. If you can establish the fact that you are better than your opponent and have him and the ref believe that too, you've won half the game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In order to make any strategy work, Saber Sabre, you'll have to establish the authority of your moves.

e.g. In order for your opponent to believe your feint you have to hit him with a simple, direct attack. Then whatever you do thereafter, he'll think that it's a simple, direct attack and react to it. From there you can your moves on it.

Obviously, you yourself have to believe in it too.

A couple of fundamental things:
Learn to cut with the fingers and the fingers only. You'll be a lot faster than otherwise.
Learn to fence relaxed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MAIRIM and saber sabre,

Do you know the Book of Five Rings (No, it's NOT about the Olympics) by Miyamoto Musashi, the Sword Saint of Japan? (You can see Toshiro Mifune playing Musashi in the 3-movie series called 'Samurai'.)

Musashi always end his instruction by saying something like,
'You have to practise this well.'
And THAT is the TRUTH.

Good luck and enjoy yourselves.

PK

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Mairim & Sabre Saber:

Whether its right or wrong, remember that sabre tends to reward the attacker. If you are too passive...you'll often get the dreaded attack/counter-attack call against you.

So what does that mean? If you're going to attack, try to get there first, with your arm extending towards the opponent before they begin their extension into you. And dont get into the habit of advancing the same way at the same tempo each time. Other wise, your opponent learns your tempo and attacks into it.

If you don't want to do an all out attack, think of second intentions. Pretend you're attacking, but jump back and make your opponent short, then riposte. Or jump back, take the parry and riposte.

But for right now, if you're a beginner, learn your footwork well, cut with your fingers, not your arm, and practice your attack motions sloooooowly at first, and get them grooved, THEN begin working for speed. Work with your pals and parry, parry parry. Drills are your friend, do them till your arms and knees scream for relief.

Most of all, rest assured that you're fencing the most fun weapon!

[Inquartata]

The answer to beating someone of equal skill is, of course, "mind games".

Sorry, running gag got loose again.

There really isn't such a thing as "equal skill". Each fencer will have strengths and weaknesses which differ from those of his opponent, though the increments may be small. The trick, then, is to take full advantage of YOUR strengths while minimizing your opponent's ability to capitalize on his. Easier said than done, alas.

[Gav]

[i]. Does any one have any tips? [/B]

Do Epee instead ...

[hi5]

couple things i love to do are:

1. a simple advance lunge from the engarde. As soon as my back foot touches the ground i extend my arm and lunge finishing the cut before my opponent can finish his cut.
This works good for people who are fast attackers or who prepare a lot cuz a lot of times if you just advance lunge your cut will land in the middle or begining of your opponents attack. With the advance lunge attack you dont have to make a big lunge because your opponent will do thier part by attacking before you thus impaling themself on your blade.

2. I like doing a false lunge, stopping short on purpose then either parrying the riposte or pulling distance and attacking in prep.
Doing the false lunge works cuz you have more control over the distance than if you do an all out lunge and fall short.

3.Another thing i like to do is to give my opponenet the attack and cut into the arm sometimes you get the stop touch but if not from the cut into the arm take an extra step back and parry reposte.
cutting into the arm works while retreating cuz your opponent will think you are trying to make a prep cut and react by immidiatly attacking but the distance for making a prep cut to the arm is further than making a prep cut to the head or body which is most common, this extra distance allows you to take the parry and reposte.

4.This one works for a touch:
From the enguard line as soon as you see you opponent take an advance do a parry five, if you see your opponent stop because of the parry five make an immediate attack and you will get the call either attack, counter attack, or attack in prep.
IF your opponent doesnt stop from your initial invitation with the five parry you are already in defensive mode, retreat untill you have a parry or a distance parry and reposte.

[pkt]

hi5,

I thought 'couple' = two, not 4.
I'm learning: English is not my mother tongue.



PK

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Originally posted by Gav
Do Epee instead ...

Gaaaaaaavvvvvvv....come over to the dark side...gaaaaavvvvvvv


(and quit trying to poach two perfectly happy sabre fencers!)

[pkt]

cpt slo-mo,

not to worry, those sabreurs who switch are not worthy of sabre : too slow in the brain... etc.
ooops, now see what I've done...



PK

[hi5]

Originally posted by pkt
hi5,

I thought 'couple' = two, not 4.
I'm learning: English is not my mother tongue.



PK

I get carried away sometimes. More like a couple of couples, but yea a couple is two not four.

[AndrewH]

If they're of equal skill level, just think... what would I do? chances are they'll respond to your action in a manner similar to how you would.