Lesson 2: Parry 4 and 6, with riposte
In the last class we learned how to move and how to attack, today
we will learn how to defend and counterattack. In fencing, there are 8 basic
defensive blade motions/positions, called parries. This class we will cover
parry 4 and parry 6, the two most important and commonly used
of the 8. Now, along with the defensive actions there are counter
attacks called ripostes, so as we learn the parries we will also
learn the appropriate ripostes.
Warmup
- Jumping jacks - just a few minutes to get arms and legs warm
- Neck rolls - note: don't roll back! It is bad for your neck.
- Arm circles - both ways, getting bigger
- Arms circles - big, arms going opposite ways (I like this one since I
can do it :-)
- Hip bends
- Partner stretches - get to know people in the club! :-)
- Ham strings - partner is behind you and assisting
- Right-left ham strings - partner is to the side and assisting
- Butterfly's - partner is in front of you and assisting, partner
also provides resistance
Footwork warmup
- 1 line drills
- Say footwork
- Follow the leader
- 2 line drills
- With switching sides in the middle
- With mask in hand (fun)
Lesson 2
- Parry 6 or En Garde
- Foil protects weapon side of body
- Point at opponents chest
- Elbow about a hands width from body
- Forearm about parallel with floor
- Parry 4
- Foil protects non weapon side of body
- Point should be toward opponent
- To get to 4 from 6 is a purely lateral motion
- Only very small motion needed to defend non weapon side
- Riposte
- Attack should immediately follow parry
- Important to extend, then lunge
- Be prepared to recover and parry again
Drills
- 2 line drills
- Wall drill
- Line up with back foot next to wall and blade parallel to wall
- Hit opponent
- Opponent parries and ripostes
- If bell hits wall on parry you have gone to far
- 2 line drills
- One side lunges and the other parries
- One side lunges and the other parries and ripostes
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redrod@glue.umd.edu
Last modified: Wed Dec 4 20:24:10 1996