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Lesson 5: The Defense, Part 2

© Mike Rightmire

In the last lesson we looked at the four basic parries. These, when mastered, offer basic defense from onslaught. However, when left to this method alone a fencer is a sure candidate for defeat. Parrying attacks is the fundamental component to taking control of a bout, but movement and counter-attacking arethe heart of timing and offense. And offense, after all, is how the game is won.

We also learned in the previous lesson that there are three methods of thwarting an attack ...

1. The parry.
2. Displacement of the target area.
3. The counter attack.

First let's talk about option number two, displacement of the target area. This is a perfectly legal and effective method to avoid being hit. Parries move the blade, displacement moves the body. Displacement is easy to discuss since there is only one real form: get the body out of the way. There are few rules limiting it, and its strongest limitations will be imposed by the fencer's own ability.

To displace the target area a fencer may duck, jump, twist, crouch, turn, bend or otherwise do whatever is necessary to put the body somewhere other than where the attacker is aiming. A well-timed displacement will leave the best executed lunge hanging in mid-air while the defender plunges his tip into the unwary attackers body. The only restrictions to the displacement are as follows:

1. Neither fencer may allow their rear shoulder to come forward of the front shoulder. This means that although you may twist to allow an attack to slide harmlessly past (remember only the point counts as a score, the edge of the blade can touch you all it wants), you may not turn your back to the opponent or twist so far as to break this limitation. This is predominantly a safety rule and was implemented with the electrical scoring rules (because in electric fencing you have a cord attached to your back which you might twist.)

2. No fencer may cover the target area. For example, in foil where only the trunk of the body (and not the hand) is target, a fencer may not place his hand in front of his body to guard it. This would cause the attacking fencer to hit the hand (an off target hit) which stops the bout (without a point being awarded) for an attack which would otherwise have landed on valid target area. This rule is pretty much moot when dealing with saber and epee' where the hand is target, although the legs can be called as "covering" too. I personally don't card if I score the point on the body or the arm, as long as I score the point.