Tactics in Fencing

“Fencing is a competitive sport. The will-power and the intelligence of the opponent have to be reckoned with in it. In such a sport tactics, stratagems have equal weight and an equal role with technique. One without the other is worth nothing. The fencer’s performance cannot be productive, however brilliant the development of his technical skill, if he is utterly lacking in tactical imagination,” (Beke and Polgár, 1963:29)

Greetings,

The title of this blog, as you can see above is tactics in fencing. This is a very important consideration for all fencers. Some of this was discussed in the previous blog about the thinking game. This blog will be a more in-depth discussion of fencing tactics and the details associated with them. The first thing to examine in this discussion is to see exactly what fencing tactics means.

“The process of fencing is your blueprint for producing touches. It is the combining of the mental and physical components of fencing into an effective whole.” (Evangelista, 2000:88)

As stated by Evangelista (2000) above tactics is a part of the process of fencing and provides the blueprint of how you may strike your opponent, of course without being struck yourself. It is tactics which makes fencing a thinker's game as it involves the fencer examining the situation, evaluating what is going on, formulating a solution for the situation, and then acting on it. This involves a level of thought by the fencer in order to perform. Fencint tactics is more than just reaction, they are planned actions and show the difference between the thinking fencer and thos who just react to the actions of the opponent.

“Strategy is how you relate to your opponent ... This is the science of fencing. How successful you are in strategy will underscore your effectiveness as a fencer. A good strategic game adds much depth and variety to your fencing.” (Evangelista, 2000:192)

Tactics demonstrates and shows the relationship between the actions of the fencer and the opponent. This is an important point. Not only do your tactics need to take into account what you want to do, but it also must take into account how your opponent will respond to your actions. In many ways, your tactics are answers to the questions posed by the opponent in the actions that they perform against you. These answers are made on the basis of the evidence supplied by the actions of the opponent.

“Tactics are the brainwork of fencing; they are based upon observation and analysis of the opponent and upon intelligent choices of actions against him." (Palffy-Alpar, 1967:47)

There are tactics in fencing at all levels, from the purely responsive actions of the physical fencer to the complex and detailed actions of the thinking fencer in response to the opponent. The level of thinking behind the actions defines where in this scale the actions of the fencer sits. It is important that we strive for the higher end of this scale in order that we are more successful in fencing, and this reauires thinking, “more than anything a good fencer has brains.” (Barth and Barth, 2003:84). This thought process supplies the prepatory material for compound actions performed by the opponent. Any complex action performed by the fencer requires a level of thought behind it, this means evidence gathered by the fencer and used in order to plan a response to the opponent's actions. There are requirements in order to be able to use fencing tactics and these requirements will be discussed next.

“This [tactical application] requires cool judgement, anticipation, opportunism, bluff and counter-bluff and the ability to think at least on move ahead, combined with courage and controlled reaction of muscles and limbs which enables the fencer to carry out simple or complex movements of his weapon as required by the situation at any given moment.” (De Beaumont, 1960:197)

The first requirement for fencing tactics is the ability to perform the actions required. This means that the fencer needs to learn the fencing skills and gain technical competence in them before he is able to perform them at will, on demand. Without the technical ability firmly in place, the fencer can see what he wants to do, can plan ahead in order to be able to perform it, but if he does not have the technical skills in order to perform the action then the process is a waste of time. This highlights the importance of practing the fencing skills in order that they can be called upon to be used at a moment's notice. Of course this is the first requirement, to add to this, there are others,

“A fencer poor in tactical thinking is like a well-trained army with a poor general, lacking imaginative leadership.” (Beke and Polgár, 1963:30)

What is being spoken about here is simply the ability to think. The use of the fencer's brain. It is necessary for the fencer to be able to use their brain in order to use tactics and fence well. The purely physical fencer can do quite well, but will be defeated most often by the fencer who has progressed past the physical and into the mental side of fencing. The ability to think while fencing enables you to use the information that you gain from your opponent in order to plan how you will deal with him, in other words form tactics. Without the thought process in action tactics can only be used at their most basic, reactive level. In combination with raw intellectual power, there is more. There psychological aspects which are involved in fencing as well and these abilities are also necessary.

“Among the psychological qualities we must also emphasize diligence and will-power. The development of these ensures that the physical and psychological inhibitions arising in a competitive fencer can be overcome.” (Beke and Polgár, 1963:30)

Diligence is being attentive to what is going on. A diligent student can overcome almost any obstacle which is placed in their path. Only the diligent student of fencing will really grasp what fencing is all about and be able to see the importance of the skills that are being learnt. A fencer with diligence can utilise those skills which they are most proficient at and reduce the importance of those skills which they are not so talented at, but they need to be aware of this. Tactically the student needs to be diligent in order to be able to pay attention to all which is going on around them and in order to be aware of these things so that they can act on them. The thinking process is enhanced by willpower as it is what drives us to succeed where we may fail.

Bibliography:
Barth, Dr. B. and Barth, K. (2003) Learning Fencing, Meyer & Meyer Sport Ltd, Oxford, UK
Beke, Z. and Polgár, J. (1963) The Methodology of Sabre Fencing, Corvina Press, Budapest, Hungary
De Beaumont, C.L. (1960) Fencing: Ancient Art and Modern Sport, Nicholas Kaye, London, UK
Evangelista, N. (2000) The Inner Game of Fencing: Excellence in Form, Technique, Strategy, and Spirit, Masters Press, Illinois, USA
Palffy-Alpar, J. (1967) Sword and Masque, F. A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, USA

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The rest of this article can be found in Un-Blogged: A Fencer's Ramblings by Henry Walker, which is available in paperback from:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blogged-Ramblings-Henry-Leigh-Walker/dp/098764470X
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/un-blogged-henry-leigh-walker/book/9780987644701.html
Among other places...

It is also available in electronic format (pdf) from: https://buy.stripe.com/fZecP419c7CB9VKeUV

... or direct from the author.