Begining Fencers: What Parries to teach.

[oiuyt]

7 is definately useful in epee for opposite handed fencers (and completely useless for same handed fencers).

-B :)

[angrylemur]

I disagree entirely with 7 being stricken from the books... I think people are just too lazy to deal with ceding parries and all the bothers of going direct nowadays so they prefer the big whack to the back... My old coach used 7 all the time, as an intercepting parry (4-7) or a high 7 as a counterparry, and he could give riposte direct in opposition to the flank, or compound ripostes with many disengagements, or dump it on the back, and the thing is his 7 is about the same speed as his 4. You would disengage the 4, and immediately get caught in his 7 and get nailed.

I think it is awkward at first because it isn't often used.. similar to anything else in fencing, really. The difference being with 7 that because it is seldom used in beginner levels it isn't developped as quickly as other parries. Moreover, it doesn't have the strength that perhaps seconde or prime does, and it also can quite often call for a riposte with quite a bit of finesse - that is to say disengaging ceding parries or hitting in opposition.

[Nusy]

Also I say that 3 is not enough... First you should teach 6, because if you start with 4, they will always do that one... Next the 4, then 1 (for defending coupés [flicks]), then 2 or 8 and last the 7. I've learnt them in nearly this order (except 1, I've only learnt it a yaer ago...), and I think it's good, I didn't get addicted to any of the parries.

Nusy

[Catlady]

We concentrate primarily on 4 and 6. We spend a little time going over 7 and 8 too, but realistically in foil for beginners, especially if they fence other beginners, 4 and 6 are what they'll really need. IMHO you can pretty much defend yourself with those two (4,6), and the fancy stuff can come later.

[AllezCat]

Parry 4, disengage riposte. Get them using their brains instead of just beating the blade...

[CarlKnoch]

While I think that there are exceptional students who might be able to learn faster than the average in any group, when teaching a class of beginners you have to deal with the lowest common denom.... In an 8-10 week class that is for new folks, teaching 4, 6, and maybe 8 would be about as good as it gets for parries. Teaching the en guarde position, proper blade grip, thrust, lunge, disengage, riposte, and proper footwork takes up time in there!

I wouldn't do much with the beat attack at first as once you show a new person a beat attack, they will use ONLY that attack for months, as it will seem easiest to them. (Remove the blade in front of me and then hit them!) They won't do it properly at first anyway. Best to stick to the basics, and to me counter parries, beats and the like are too advanced for folks just beginning.

Now if it's a private lesson for a beginner, that's different. You go as fast or slow as they can soak it in and use it.