False tempo

[dunastor]

I got thinking about the use of false tempo, and how to counter-act it...

The only ideas i've come up with are either waiting till the opponent (using false tempo) finally makes his finale, and then parry-riposte, or during his attack a beat-counter-attack.

Are there any other ideas?

And on the other hand...
How can I train false tempo myself?

btw I'm talking sabre fencing here....

[sabreur]

Not entirely sure what you mean by false tempo, but it sounds like you are trying to figure out how to stop the sabre equivalent of a "marching attack" in foil.

Several options--you've hit on two. Others:

--Retreat out of distance and establish a line (good luck with the director!).
--Stop cut.
--Stop cut out of distance to try to get him to end his attack out of distance--usually good to tag the bell and jump back.
--Stutter retreat to make him think you are stopping, so he ends his attack short.
--Counter attack.
--Throw a big fake counter attack (while retreating, extend high and forcefully, basically throwing your bell right in his face--keep the blade back, and keep retreating) so he ends his attack--this is good matched with a stutter-step retreat.

If by false tempo, you mean broken tempo, you learn it by practicing. My new trainer (Ukranian) has a Zen expression: no footwork without footwork. Practice changing speeds as you advance, and mixing jumps with advances. If you can get a video of Luigi Tarantino, watch it--he is an absolute master at broken tempo attacks.

Cheers, MR