attacking a lefty's four area

[big poppa]

Is there a way to attack a lefty's four without using a four side flick? Or opening up one's back to a reposte while trying? Just a thought!

[D'Artagnan1673]

My coach is a lefty, here's what I would do.

Feint to six, then deceive the parry by disengage or coupe', and land the touch in four. It is best to hit as close to the left lung as possible. The furthur back you hit, the more you have to extend yourself. The exact opposite works as well. Feint to four, disengage to six. I generally hit right on the shoulder.

A direct attack to four will open the back a bit, but as long as you keep right of way, it is no big deal with your opponent counterattacks with a flick to the back. If he parry's, recover from the lunge and prepare to parry in 6.

[ 03-12-2002: Message edited by: D'Artagnan1673 ]</p>

[Craig]

There are several ways to attack to a lefty's four without using the chesk flick. The difficulty is that you are choosing to attack someone where their defense is the stongest.

Fencing is a game of skill and deception. If I know where you are going to attack me and when you are going to attack me, then you've got a very small chance of actually hitting your attack.

The best way to hit them in 4 is to get them worried about the other lines so that they have to spend time defending those as well. Don't just limit your feints to the high outside (6) line as it's a bit obvious. Feinting 8 (low outside) and then coming up to 4 with your disengage and lunge is another sequence to try.

Another thing to try is varying your speed/distance as you go to the target. You want your feints to be realistic but just out of distance so you can't get caught and then your acceleration will come as you finish your attack.

Hope that helps,
Craig

[slaw]

Of course, simple direct attacks.&gt;;-)
As Craig mentioned, 4th (inside high line)is where their defense is the strongest but then so's a right handed fencer. He also mentioned working their outside lines, definately. You can widen their guard by using beats in 6th and 2nd to open up the inside even more, followed by direct attacks to the inside line.

Think about why you are trying to force an attack into their strongest defence. Don't just try and beat them with speed or a double side flick. If you can't score there by using feints in other lines with disengagements, coupe etc., and you can't open it with beats or takes. Then move on to 2nd intention, false attacks into that line to provoke a response. Either they parry riposte or counter attack. Most likely they parry, then you will counter-parry and will be in a phrase that will give you new opportunities to score, even in their 4 line. If they try to counter into the false attack just finish the attack or parry riposte. If you are directly attacking their 4 line and they are scoring parry riposte to your back, then you are either over extended "going for broke" with your lunge or you started the lunge from out of distance.

Think about these ideas and the other postings before you step on the strip, then give them a try.
Good Fencing,
Steve

[daveb]

My coach was a lefty. The tough part about fencing a left handed person is he has encountered more right handed people than you have left handed people. They can get rather used to defending and attacking a right handed person.

There are some pretty good replys here already. I sometimes would hold my guard closer to center or even six. This would invite attacks to my six which I was ready to defend (being aware that I had opened it.

[Fencing Angel]

well being a lefty, i've found what works on other leftys too..

1) go under the arm.. Like follow the blade down and go right under the hand. Feels like a simple engage.. but it could be called a beat (unless you have a ditz for a ref.)

2) 4 is about the WOST spot to attack. (me anyways) because i don't buy a feint to 6 unless you've already hit me there. and if i do buy the feint i have a good four, repost.

3) second intention is about the only way that i get touches against me.. (either that or i'm being stupid.)

4) again i don't really buy a feint to eight unless you've already hit me there. or unless you are a really good salesperson. for me at least i don't really go for feints.. Just go out there and hit me.

5) whatever you do don't attack my 6 line unless you've got other ideas.. i'll circle 6, flick to the shoulder. unlese you see a darn good opening don't attack there.

i think that about covers it.. Just keep in mind that leftys are sneaky.. the worst part is.. they know it too. so don't be afraid to try things on them. if you're salle has a lefty fence s/he when ever you can. even if you are a lefty, it's that final pool at the compatitions that there is always a evil lefty looking for you.

[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: Fencing Angel ]</p>

[shyHeidi]

Aaah... You just basically said "don't try for 4, don't do 6, don't do 8."... Kinda... sorta... narrows the choices down to 7, no? Which... if it's obvious that 7 is the only place that works, then you would know that people would go for 7, you would be prepared for it, and it wouldn't work either.
One of my teachers is a lefty and I fenced a tiny bit with him today and he kept telling me I have good defense but I never attack... but... I hear so many different things about where I should attack a lefty, that I just kinda stand there clueless.... ack. I get totally intimidated. I think half of the lefty advantage is the fear that they give people by talking about how things are so difficult.

[Fencing Angel]

AHHHHH Someone FINNALLY FIGURED IT OUT!!! by the way.. a lefty hit squad will be at your house at midnight.. to make sure that this info never gets out.. (JUST KIDDING!!!)

But what i said differs from person to person.. i have seen leftys with NO holes.. Albeit he was a *B* fencer.. but still. these are just rough things that i have found from fencing.. and from watching other leftys.. Even those who have very little experance. still for a lefty the 6 line is hard to get into..

(i'm feeling like i'm giving away all my secreats here.. )

but a good spot to hit a lefty is the Flank.. Hard to protect.. Good target if you know how to flick.. and not much you can do to get away from it.... (well run away.. but other then that)

ALWAYS remember second intention against leftys too.. fient to 4.. counter-repost to 4, or flick to the shoulder..

i'm talking to much.. Everone is gonna know how to defeat us leftys now..

[peircer]

[quote]Originally posted by Fencing Angel:
<strong>i'm talking to much.. Everone is gonna know how to defeat us leftys now.. </strong><hr></blockquote>

We already know. You hit them in the knees with a crowbar in the changing room.

[shyHeidi]

Ouchies!

[LeftyMutantChild]

Could be good publicity.
Actually, I once fenced this guy who couldn't seem to be able to hit me anywhere on-target (I was having a good day), but he was a flicker. He started going for my low line and for some reason decided that attempting to flick the back of my knee worked better than anything else. Ehhh. Pain. <img src="graemlins/crap.gif" border="0" alt="[Crap]" />

[Pierfrancesco]

my comment whenever i fence a lefty and lose (i'm a lefty too) is 'damn leftys'
which the rightys find amusing

at my club i'm one of 3 lefty foilists which means everyone gets plenty of experience!

[Fencing Angel]

heh.... yes i know the feeling... 'damn leftys' indeed.... when that happens it's like the few fighting the fewer....(if that makes any sense)

Crowbars?? Hmm.... He's been to Miss Hartings (sp) class of defeating your evil adversary.... hub caps work too. or so i've heard.


One spot that i left out is 4 kinda low.. Like right about the hand.. cause that forces us to either parry high 7, low 4, or back out. but this can also be used aginst rightys/other leftys. so watch out.



AHH!!! the more i think about it, the more holes i can find..

Oppsition parrys work too.. Like 4 and 8 work about the best. Just a simple take of the blade and then step into 'em.. Work on this for a while, and then add it to your bag of tricks. i still haven't gotten to to work on rightys...

[ 03-15-2002: Message edited by: Fencing Angel ]

[ 03-15-2002: Message edited by: Fencing Angel ]</p>

[Zelda]

Angel keep this up and I will sit on you to stop you selling state secrets.

[Fencing Angel]

ok..... mouth is closed...



<img src="graemlins/fett.gif" border="0" alt="[The Fett]" />

[shyHeidi]

Awwwww! <img src="graemlins/crap.gif" border="0" alt="[Crap]" /> I want more secrets!!!! <img src="graemlins/evild.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil]" />

[Stryder]

I think it is an unhealthy mindset to worry about some kind of special actions for lefties only.
Fencing a lefty is no different than fencing a righty.
You feint to move their blade, then you hit them where their blade isn't.

Don't overcomplicate it. If you want to have more success fencing lefties, train more. Guess what my advice is on how to be more successful fencing righties is?

Personally, when I fence an unfamiliar opponant, I would prefer it be a lefty. They expect an advantage to come from being a lefty, and that expectation can be used against them easily.

[shyHeidi]

Well I'd take any secrets, not just secrets for fencing against lefties.
I only get to fence against opponents about 2 hours a week. I have 6 hours of class, but only the last 30 min of each class is actuall free-fencing, and then if I want more practice, my only option is to fence against a tennis ball, (see my profile) which is boooooorrrring! So secrets are great stuff if you can't practice as much as you'd like.
...Especially if you're in on them and your opponent isn't...

[LeftyMutantChild]

Lefties and their secrets are all protected under the lefty union. We even have cards and an official looking declaration of sorts. Didn't you know that?

[Zelda]

I knew that!!!! (Lefty and proud ofit here!)