Drill of the Week - Antagonistic Drill: Feint or Attack (24-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). In the tempo of the invitation or attempted gaining of the Sword, the Patient makes a feint with advance to the appropriate target. The Agent does one of two things:

1. The Agent attempts to parry the feint, at which point the Patient avoids the parry with a cavazione and attacks the new opening.
2. Agent does not react to the feint, in which case the Patient finishes his feint as an attack on the same line as the feint.

Once the attack is executed, 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.

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
The general goal of this drill is to teach the attacker to perform his feint with the enough speed to appear real, but without anticipating the reaction of his opponent. If his opponent does not react to his feint, the attacker should be able to transform his feint into a real attack on the same line.

Notes
This simple drill is a good introduction for learning the ability to execute techniques so that you can change your plan of action based on the reaction of the opponent (something that Fabris stresses in his book). On a basic level, the attacker should learn the correct timing of a feint; many fencers execute their feints too quickly, forcing the feints to be executed as scripted actions, with no ability to modify the technique should the opponent fail to react as anticipated. While the mechanics are simple, the mental focus and calm demeanor required to do this can require considerable practice.

List of Drills