Distance...

[CarlKnoch]

Hey all. Have you ever had a day where your distance was just fantastic and everything you did seemed to work out well? Ripostes were just at the right distance, you were just out of their reach on their attacks, your riposte flicks landed perfectly.... Well lately I haven't had any of those days.

I'm not being very consistant with keeping my distance proper for the game I'm trying to fence at times and can't figure out why. When I'm trying to play the parry riposte game and I find that all my ripostes are at first short, and then they suddenly start going long and I end up flat, I get frustrated and wonder if I've lost my focus entirely.

Is there something that you all look for specifically when you're trying to keep your distance correct for your own games? If this is an area where time and practice will solve my problem that's fine, but if there is something specific I can be doing/looking for then I don't mind trying it either.

[broncofencer]

In a tournament I watch opponents fence each other to get a feel for their style sometimes it is not you but them. If you are already fencing them watch for what I call "distance stealers" things like taking a smaller retreat or advance can really throw a distance game off.

If I remember correctly there is a distance stealing footwork drill on this site try doing that with some of your club members to help you identify when someone is using them against you. it really helped me out.

Otherwise it may just be that your stratagy won't work for that particular fencer. Fencers that are at the far ends of normal height tend to be the hardest to keep at distance. I usually tell my fencers assume that the taller fencer will set the distance and modify your approach from there.

but it could just be one of those days we all have them they balance out those good days

[Artisan]

Originally posted by CarlKnoch
......
Is there something that you all look for specifically when you're trying to keep your distance correct for your own games? If this is an area where time and practice will solve my problem that's fine, but if there is something specific I can be doing/looking for then I don't mind trying it either.

Carlknoch:

At epee, one thing you can do is mix in some light taps to your opponents bell guard along with other preparations. Just hitting the outside edge of their guard with the tip or barrel will help you to "calibrate" your distance - as well as unnerve your opponent - and sometimes get you an accidental hand touch when they react. Also I am consistently coached to make smaller steps when advancing - smaller quicker steps will help maintain better distance : since the "granularity" of the step will be smaller.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Another thing to try when your ripostes are falling short: footwork and distance changes.

Practice with a teammate allowing your footwork to lag just a bit behind his. He starts to advance, and as his foot moves forward, nearly to touchdown, you take your step back, instead of trying to more closely synchronize the two. This can allow you a tempo interruption.

Also practice having your distance tighter on your retreats than when you advance...try staying inside of advance-lunge distance. It's more nerve-wracking, but can disrupt your opponent's timing, or let you have a better shot at a prise-de-fer or atack in prep.

And it goes without saying that if you fenced sabre, flat ripostes would not be a problem!

[Craig]

When getting a feel for distance, I tend to have an unfocused way of looking at my opponent. If you focus in too much, you lose your peripheral vision, which you really need in order to pick up the feel of where the blade actions are going.

The center point of vision is the upper chest - just where the bib meets the lame. That way, I've got a good feeling of how far it is to valid target, and conversely how close they are to my target.

Then you just play around with it. Once you get a good feeling for the distance, you can get to distance with you weapon in octave instead of sixte. Since most people key off on where the bell guard is, being in octave takes away their point of reference for distance, which would give you an advantage. Also, attacks from octave can be very sneaky, especially if you are using distance stealing footwork.

Play with it at practice and see how it goes. One thing you want to try for is to get the attacks to land 1 inch short before you take your parry. Your distance secures the parry, you just beat the blade to make it obvious and stop a remise from hitting.

Cheers,
Craig

[Inquartata]

Of course, that focus point may not work as well for sabre and epee, where the target areas are at multiple distances.

I try to keep a nonspecific focal point myself, and try to keep the feet in mind as a gauge of distance...

[MattyCam]

When I'm fencing a defensive game and using distance to set-up riposts, I always look at the middle of the chest to the hips. If you're focused on the upper body, fakes can lose you and you'll die. Actual movement begins from the core/pivot portion of the body. If they juke you in any direction, you're done. It's like running backs and power forwards. You have to be focused on the right place.

I'm usually less interested in where on me the guy is going to attack. I know that sounds weird, but think about it. If your distance is right, it doesn't matter. The appropriate parry will come automatically. Unless the guy is doing some crazy 3rd or 4rth intention attack and bearing down on you, you'll be fine.

I always let the guy be like 3 quarters done with their attack and I'll know exactly where/when to parry and then know where/when the least risky target area is. That comes from pratice and the willingness to put yourself on the fence. you must break away from the formality of it all and try stuff on your own.

Another thing could be is you're taking the parry at the wrong time. If you're falling short, both of you feet are most likely not on the ground. Make sure your feet are both on the ground when you take the blade. If they're up in the air, you don't allow yourself enough time to hit your spot.

--MattyCam