Drill of the Week - Antagonistic Drill: The Feint with Advance (17-June-06)

Description
The Fencers begin one step out of measure. The Agent begins by either making an invitation or gaining the sword (with or without contact, as according to the system being practiced). The Patient makes a feint, either directly (in the case of an invitation) or with a cavazione in the case that his sword is being found. The feint is accompanied with an advance into measure. When the Agent attempts to parry the feint, the Patient avoids the parry with a cavazione and attacks the new opening. Once the attack is made, the Patient immediately recovers and retreats back out of measure while covering the Agent's blade with his own to protect against a straight-line riposte.

This is an antagonistic drill, so the selection of gaining the sword or invitation is left entirely to the discretion of the Agent. Furthermore, the Agent should attempt to parry the real attack. It should quickly become apparently that for the feint to succeed, it must be made in the tempo that the Agent finds the sword or makes the invitation. Also, so that the Patient does not anticipate the parry, the Agent should occasionally fail to react to the feint, forcing the Patient to immediately attack on the same line, thus forcing the Patient to make the feint only in response to the Agent's defensive reaction.

Prerequisites
All of the mechanics of all of the possible actions must be mastered. That is, advancing, retreating, lunging, recovering, attacking, parrying and performing the cavazione should all be second nature. Also, the fencers must understand the concept of tempo and measure. Remember that as in all offensive actions, the hand moves before the feet: the sword should be extended for the feint before the step into measure (but everything performed as one complete and fluid motion). Finally, never withdraw the weapon between the feint and the real attack.

Goal
As this drill is practiced, the fencers will slowly develop the ability to immediately recognize and utilize tempi made by their opponents. The agility required will also refine the mechanics of the cavazione so that its execution is made with greater celerity and economy of motion.

Notes
This is a foundational tactic of all point weapons from 1600 onward, therefore it should be mastered and used as the basis for more complex antagonistic drills. For example, the Agent can be allowed the option of countering the feint or the real attack with an attack with a void. Alternatively, if the Agent successfully parries the real attack, he can riposte (with or without feint) as the Agent recovers. For further complexity, the Patient could have the option of countering a riposte with a void of his own.

List of Drills