This 7 minute (7:15) video starts out with Christian Bauer talking about the so called "distance parry" in sabre where one fencer causes the other to miss by retreating.  It is not a riposte, but rather a failed attack and then a new attack from the other side.  (Attack (right): No, Attack (left): Yes)

Covered are the Parry and Riposte, Remise, Redoublement, Reprise

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Several interesting bits from the maestros interviewed are:

  • When a fencer retreats, he can attack if he starts first.
  • The standard parry and riposte is a "fundamental action of fencing" and fundamental to the theory of fencing.  Opening distance is just opening distance.  They go into the fundamentals of combat sports.
  • The transition of attack to defense and back is a big concern.  They don’t want the transition to be just with distance, but with a definative parry.

At 4:55 the video goes back to competition footage with slow motion replays showing examples of the actions.

Discuss this video at the Fencing Forums.

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