Lesson 80

I taught this lesson to a student at an SCA practice recently. The student has been fencing around 6 months and has recently started taking classes with me. This is first time we’ve worked together in an individual lesson. My goal in the lesson was to reinforce some of the technical concepts we’ve been working on in class – hand positions, placement of parries, opposition, etc… as well as to introduce some tactical thoughts. I used actions 17 and 18 to demonstrate scenarios where it makes sense to parry vs counterattack in rapier, and to introduce the idea of controlling the timing of an opponent’s attack by provoking actions in tempo. My student did a great job of keeping up with this lesson, and now that I’m thinking back over it to write it down, I’m rather impressed with how much material we were able to cover:

1. From invitation in third, straight thrust
2. In time, as the instructor invites in third, straight thrust, then add mobility
3. From invitation in fourth, straight thrust
4. In time, as the instructor invites in fourth, straight thrust, then add mobility
5. From the instructor’s engagement in third, disengagement
6. As the instructor attempts to engage in third, disengagement, then add mobility
7. As the instructor attempts to engage in fourth, disengagement, then add mobility
8. Instructor’s choice between 6 and 7
9. From the student’s engagement in fourth, glide
10. From the student’s engagement in third, parry fourth, riposte by glide
11. As the student attempts to engage in third, parry fourth, riposte by glide
12. Same thing, but initiate the engagement as the instructor places blade in line
13. Engage in third with an advance and glide (blade seizure)
14. Attempt a blade seizure in third, instructor attacks with a disengagement in time, parry fourth riposte by glide
15. Attempt a blade seizure in third, instructor frees the blade but does not attack, engage in fourth and glide
16. Instructor’s choice between 13, 14, and 15
17. From the student’s engagement in third, time thrust in fourth (not successful)
18. In time, as the student attempts to engage in third, time thrust in fourth (successful)
19. Student attempts a blade seizure in third, instructor counterattacks with a disengagement in time, time thrust in fourth
20. Instructor’s choice between 13, 14, and 19
21. From invitation in third, three straight thrusts, end of lesson

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