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j4gg3d3dg399 · 08-10-2003, 07:21 PM

What are some good times for preparations? Where the fencer's Hand is? where their blade is? Where they are distance wise? i need some ideas i've been fencing about 7 months. I've seen Sergei Golubitsky pull off some really nice ones but they were too quick for me to determine.

KShan5[PrFC] · 08-10-2003, 08:27 PM

It just takes time. In sabre. If they are coming at you with their hand moving forward, the second it moves back is the time to go at em. Not that hard to understand, much harder to do in time.

wflaschka · 08-13-2003, 08:33 PM

If you're looking for good times to make preparations, then it's quite straightforward.

Preparations are things you do prior to your real attack. Their purpose is to either [1] open up the opponent for hitting, or [2] obscure your attack until the right moment.

Think about preparing attacks when the opponent is moving backwards and you're following. If they're standing still, make a dangerous-looking feint or two from safe distance to get them moving backwards. I like to do a shoulder-fake to get things started. Once they're moving backwards, you have the time/safety to make preparations.

If the opponent is coming towards you, then don't make a preparation, because the opponent will just finish and hit you.

As to how and what to do for preparations, that's the game! If there was a quick answer then fencing would be too easy.

Dragonfly · 08-13-2003, 11:01 PM

Preparations: I try to use footwork to make the opponent move out of their rhythm then attack, if he doesn't break his stride then I try to follow their footwork and wait for them to drop their concentration for the second you need to use your footwork again, and then attack.

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"I did the same thing as Fred, but backwards and in high heels"
Ginger Rogers

whtouche · 08-14-2003, 01:36 AM

Judging by the way the original post is worded I believe he is asking for advice on making attacks in preparation.

three_hundred_fifty_five · 08-14-2003, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by j4gg3d3dg399
What are some good times for preparations? Where the fencer's Hand is? where their blade is? Where they are distance wise? i need some ideas i've been fencing about 7 months. I've seen Sergei Golubitsky pull off some really nice ones but they were too quick for me to determine.

Well, learn about preparation and attacks into preparation from your instructor. If you haven't learned it, you aren't at the appropriate level yet. If you are taking intermediate fencing lessons, then ask your instructor all about it.
7 months is not a long time and you are literally a long ways off from fencing at the level Golubitsky does.

Dragonfly · 08-14-2003, 02:37 AM

It could be read that way I suppose, but it also appeared that the writer was asking us all how would we begin a preparation.

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Mr. D. Potts said:
"Paranoids jump on things and are
always on guard"

Agent_V · 08-14-2003, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by three_hundred_fifty_five

...7 months is not a long time and you are literally a long ways off from fencing at the level Golubitsky does.

LOL, sorry, I just have to laugh at that one, it's like telling my grandma she's literally a long way off from playing basketball like micheal jordan did...
DUH!

Talyn · 08-14-2003, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wflaschka
As to how and what to do for preparations, that's the game! If there was a quick answer then fencing would be too easy.

That sooo true

pfft, whenever you're in doubt just try something...

making sudden gestures like stamping your feet once loudly can tell u a lot about a fencing i.e. if they parry 20 times and run off the piste you'll have an easy time

j4gg3d3dg399 · 08-14-2003, 06:52 PM

Quote:

7 months is not a long time and you are literally a long ways off from fencing at the level Golubitsky does.

Well i wasn't exactly expecting ones as good as him but you know just advice any info helps

ShaggyShaw · 08-16-2003, 12:47 AM

Ok, what exactley is he talking about? why would you want to do an attack in preperation, don't you not have ROW then? forgive my ignorance, i'm an epee fencer.

Dragonfly · 08-16-2003, 01:10 AM

I didn't understand his question very well either, but in trying to help him out a bit we have come closer to understanding the actual needs of the questioner. It's a technique to repeat back a persons question in part and clarify from there. I had guessed he was asking: when should a fencer prepare to go forward into an attack mode; what do you look for. etc.

But his original question: when to attack? or how do you know when to begin an attack? Those are very good questions. 7 month fencer is now starting his attacks and it's the place where you can choke or leap forward. First you can't let anyone intimidate you, or you'll choke. It's imporant to develop attack skills. I'm always working on making a better attack and not relying on the riposte. He's moving into a critical stage of development, let's help him out. In looking at my text books I see that none of the authors has described the time at which an attack should occur. I will stick my neck out and suggest it should occur when your opponent loses his concentration by dropping his guard, either by his own inattention or derived by your manuverings on the stip.

wflaschka · 08-16-2003, 01:14 AM

I think the original poster is on the right track, but the phrasing of the question needs work.

Lots of people are answering about how to make attacks into preparation. That's 1/2 of the story, and it appears to indicate that people think preparations are bad things suitable only for attacking into. Depending on how you attack into someone's preparation, you can steal RoW from the opponent. But a good opponent won't allow their preps to be stolen. Also, lots of preps are actually invitations that trick you into trying to steal.

But I read the question as, "How do I prepare my attack?" Which is a great question... At some point along the line, fencers will realize that a plain, simple extension+lunge isn't enough. They need to do things to open up the opponent, put the opponent in the right distance, and obscure their final target destination. In essence, they need to pave the way for the attack.

Among the great preparers is Romankov. The German marchers are good invitation preparers. Golubitsky has some chops too.

There are two kinds of attacks. The first are opportunistic attacks, where you see an opening and attack, trying to achieve a feeling of surprise.

The second kind are prepared, constructed attacks, where there's not necessarily an opening when you start, and there's no feeling of surprise (though perhaps a feeling of growing anxiety and dread).

Dragonfly · 08-16-2003, 01:29 AM

wow, 'growing anxiety or dread'. Where is dreadfoil when you need him!!?.. I think you and I agree the attacks are in two time zones if you will: 1. your opponents' lapse or 2. the lapse in time you create. [then with the window of time you have available and your opponents abilities in mind, you can either 1. simple attack or. 2. compound attack

p.s. anxiety or dread should be in your opponents mind as you launch the attack