Home  |  Sports & Leisure  |  Other Individual Sports  |  Basic and Intermediate Fencing Techniques

Fencing - The Basic Attack

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player

  • George Schleh

    Recreational Fencing of Manassas
     
    703-330-9028

    George Schleh is an instructor at Recreational Fencing of Manassas, which has been in existance since the 1980s.  Founded by four IBM employees, it started as a club of fencers who hadn't been in the sport for many years.  Over the years, membership has expanded and contracted as we moved from location to location, always in Manassas, trying to find a permanent home.   Now, co-located with Team Ruthless, we are a group ranging in ages from pre-teen to the 60s.  Some of our members compete in USFA tournaments sanctioned by the Virginia, Maryland, and Capitol divisions.  Younger members also compete in the Virginia High School (and Jr High) Fencing League.   Visitors (non-fencers too) are always welcome, and lessons for beginners are available.

  • Fencing - The Basic Attack

    George Schleh demonstrates basic and intermediate techniques for fencing.

    This series: 5952 views

    This segment: 572 views

    Rate this Video

    • Currently 0.0/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    Download to Mobile Device
    Tags:

    Fence, Foil, Lance, Point, Sport, Gear, Handle, Target, Fencing

    Comments:

    0 (Read Comments) (Add Comment)

  • Transcripts

    George Slay: Good evening, I am George Slay, fencing Instructor with Recreational Fencing of Manassas. Tonights lesson will cover the Right-of-way and the direct attack. In fencing, its not enough just to put your point on the other opponents target area.

    There are some important rules to keep in mind. First, there are rules of etiquette. Now, well cover that briefly here before I ask the fencers to put their masks on. Again, you may remember, were in the opening stance. Id like each of the fencers to salute, and this is done at the beginning of every match to show respect for the opponent and then to put the masks on.

    Of course you always want to see your opponents face prior to the match. Gentlemen, get on the guard position. Now, I am going to ask Ivan to advance on Don, Don will stay in place which is not usual stance, but Ivan will advance on Don and attack. One thing weve to keep in mind in fencing is that attacks must come with a straight arm, and this is to indicate priority. Priority is very important in fencing and it originates back in the days when duals were fought with sharp swords and in this case, no one would ever walk up to another fencer whose arm was extended, that would be a suicide mission. So, the idea is to get your arm extended first into the other fencer. That fencer has priority over the other and his hit will score over the opponents.

    Ivan go ahead and advance on Don to within striking distance, please. The key here of course, extend the arm and push into the inside, high inside target area. The bent blade here indicates its a good touch and Ivan is at the correct distance. Now, am going to ask Ivan to retreat back to the on guard line and Don will take his turn and advance on Ivan and keep in mind that Don should be straightening his arm as he comes in for the attack and a nice bent blade, perfect attack on the high inside line, the four, of course. Both were able to score, touches here because each did not oppose the others blade. Were going to talk about that in a later lesson, but the next lesson will cover striking your opponent from outside of this close distance and to do that were going to employ the classic fencing maneuver, the lunge.

Other Videos