This edition concerns itself with the tactical progression of a bout. Most fencers learn these concepts through the progression of drills and lessons with a coach, but often the actual theory of tactical progression is not taught until well into one’s fencing career.
I will be going into the basics of the “Tactical Wheel” or “Tactical Tree”. After reading over this newsletter, take a look at the progression of drills at Fencing.Net (https://fencing.net/drills/) and place each set of drills in the tactical progression.
By understanding the tactical progression of a bout, you will better understand how to choose the correct tactics for each situation in both 5 and 15 touch bouts. These strategy variations are applicable to all 3 weapons.
Tactical Progression Overview
First Intention Attack/Defense
Depending on how you approach the bout (whether you are offensive or defensive minded), you generally need to start the bout with a first intention move in order to establish your primary game. In the first one or two touches of a bout, complex actions should be avoided as you are should be scouting your opponent’s real attack distance and primary attack/defensive sequences.
– Offensive First Intention:
+ Attack (Simple or Compound)
– Defensive First Intention:
+ Attack –> Parry and Riposte (Simple or Compound)
Second Intention Tactics
Once you have established either your ability to carry out a simple attack or defense, you will need to be able to “spin the wheel” to move to the next set of tactics. This, of course, assumes that your opponent is thinking of their actions in the bout and adjusting their tactics to counter what you are doing well.
If you have established your attack as your primary weapon thus far in the bout, your opponent will attempt to counter with either Defensive First Intention (Parry/Riposte) or Counter-Offensive First Intention (Counter-Attack or Stop-Thrust).
Examples of Counter-Offensive First Intention:
I. a. Preparation of Attack
b. Stop Thrust (Counter-Attack)
II. a. Attack
b. Time-Thrust (Counter Attack in Opposition)
III. a. Attack or Preparation
b. Pris de fer
If you have established your defense as your primary weapon, then the wheen spins on to Second Intention moves. This includes Offensive and Defensive Second Intention.
Offensive Second Intention (OSI) defines actions where the initial attack is not expected to be successful but is instead followed by another counter-offensive or offensive action that is expected to succeed. (You are working to draw a Parry/Riposte and respond with an offensive action.
Examples of OSI:
I. Attack –> Parry (no riposte) –> Immediate Remise
II. Attack –> Parry/Riposte –> Remise in Opposition
III. Attack –> Parry/Riposte –> Counter-Attack with Displacement (ducking)
Defensive Second Intention (DSI) defines actions where the attack is started but never finished, inviting either a defensive or counter-offensive action. The primary difference between OSI and DSI is that in DSI the second intention response is Defensive in nature. (In DSI, you can use your ‘real’ attack, but it hurts your ability to control distance for the second intention part.)
Examples of DSI:
I. Preparation (forward movement holding the guard back)
–> Attack by opponent
–> Parry/Riposte
II. Preparation of attack –> Stop Thrust –> Parry/Riposte of Stop-Thrust.
III. Attack –> Parry/Riposte –> Counter-Parry/Riposte
Next Steps: Once you have moved to a second intention tactic, your opponent has two choices. They can either move up a notch in complexity to counter your moves or they can attempt a “harder, stronger” first intention tactic to catch you in between tempos on a complex action.
When your opponent changes tactics in the bout, it is your turn to “Spin the Wheel” to reach the next set of tactics for an effective counter. The reason why I choose a “wheel” as an approach is because the best counter to a very complex tactic is a simple attack or riposte. (This is why beginners end up scoring touches on veteran fencers. The veteran fencer wants to “confuse” or “wow” the beginner with complex blade actions. The beginner, not knowing how they should react to the actions, execute strong, simple attacks that end up catching the veteran in between steps or actions!)
The next edition will go into more detail of First Intention tactics for the beginning of a bout.
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