Training of a Champion: Sabre Fencing

Footwork Combinations

There are three basic footwork techniques used when making attacks:

1. A quick short forward step, and lunge is used to attack and opponent who comes forwards unexpectedly and closes the distance.

2. A balestra, i.e. a quick forward jump, and lunge is used to attack a stationary or slowly retreating opponent.

3. Series of quick forward steps, and lunge are used to attack a quickly retreating opponent.

When practicing these footwork combinations, the coach should independently alternate the distance by closing in, stopping suddenly, retreating etc., so that the fencer gets experience of having to react in a great number of situations.

When making attacks, the most basic way of advancing is made with series of steps forwards, and lunges. In situations where the opponent is retreating, the attack is made longer by the fencer adding a series of steps to his advance and finishing with a lunge.

The next step is mastering how deep the fencer should make his feints, choosing the correct moment to make the beat and choosing the correct moment to finish his attack, judging by the timing and distance.

Parry technique

To counteract opponent's attacks and ripostes, a sabreur uses three types of upper parry: tierce, quarte, quinte. Both amplitude of parry and depth of weapon's approach to the valid target depend on delivering distance.

Exercises for sabre manipulation

Exercise 1: Combinations of cuts to arm from above and cuts to the mask.

Exercise 2: Combinations of cuts with coupe on the right and on the left.

Training of attacks. Choice among alternative actions

Situation 1: Attack on a coach (opponent) who arbitrarily alternates retreat with approach, or stop. A sabreur must prolong or shorten attack anticipating distant and instant parameters of the bout.

Situation 2: Attack on a coach or opponent who arbitrarily alternates counterattacks with defense. A cut is delivered at an opening sector.

Situation 3: Attack on a coach or opponent with counterattacks from different distances. A sabreur parries counterattacks in the course of approach.

Situation 4: Attack on a coach or opponent who undertakes early or late counter-attacks and parries. A sabreur should not react to false actions.

Training of attacks in situations with probable choice should become an integral part of each training session. Traditional attacks preceded with feints to a predetermined sector may be expedient when following retreat, of the preparation.

Training of Parries with Riposte and Counter-Attack. Choice Among Alternative Actions

Situation 5: A sabreur parries simple attacks and ripostes, finding proper defense area in the course of opponent’s attacks.

Situation 6: A sabreur parries opponent’s attacks ignoring his false approach, feints and beets.

Situation 7: A sabreur parries opponents deep attacks and delivers ripostes. Ignoring a short attack, he parries a remise.

Situation 8: A sabreur parries opponent's deep attacks and delivers ripostes to the mask. He parries short attacks and delivers ripostes switching to the side.

Situation 9: A sabreur parries opponents simple attacks and delivers ripostes. He counterattacks delivering a cut to the opponent's attacking arm and performs a combination of feints.

Situation 10: A sabreur parries opponents simple attacks and delivers ripostes. He counterattacks by a cut to the mask in a deep approach.

Situation 11: A sabreur parries opponents deep attacks and delivers ripostes. He parries short-term attacks and counterattacks with a jump and lunge.

Situation 12: Following retreat, a sabreur parries opponent's rapid and deep attacks and delivers ripostes. Following a deep retreat he performs an attack with feints.

Each standard situation is practiced separately and in different combinations. Specifics of compound motor-visual reactions place high demands on athlete’s psychics and therefore require reasonable number of exercises to be made.

Combinations of actions in defense

Combination 1: Counterattack with a cut to the mask in retreat and parry with riposte.

Combination 2: Attack on the preparation with a hit and lunge and semicircular parry of prime with riposte.

Combination 3: Counterattack by a cut to the arm with retreat and parry with riposte.

Combination 4: Parry with retreat and counterattack by a cut to the arm. Combination 5. Attack on the preparation by a cut to the mask with a lunge and parry of quinte with riposte.

Combination 6: Parry with retreat and counterattack with a hit.

Independent choice of actions in standard situations

Model 1: A coach attacks. A sabreur alternates parry of quarte with riposte to the mask and with beat attack on the preparation with quarte engagement with a cut to the mask.

Model 2: A coach attacks. A sabreur alternates attack on the preparation with a hit and lunge, with a total parry of prime and riposte, as well as counterattack with a hit and retreat, with a total parry of prime and riposte.

Choice of actions with modeling probable tactical decisions of opponent

A fencer should be able to anticipate opponent’s intentions on the basis of his probable tactical solutions based on previous bouts. To serve this purpose, a coach selects actions for a fencer to perform with a certain consistency.

Model 3: A coach or opponent defends by alternating counterattack with parry. A sabreur performs in turn the following techniques: simple attack, attack preceded with feints and attacks by prise-de-fer.

Model 4: A coach or opponent attacks by alternating simple attacks with attacks preceded with feints or approach of the preparation. A sabreur performs in turn the following techniques: parry with riposte, counterattack, combinations of actions.