These are my notes on a “close viewing” of the video “Stop Getting Stabbed!” (6:32) by “Woody’s Fencing Clips”.

The video packs a lot of information into less than 7 minutes, which I outline for my own purposes here.

Motivation: We want to control the opponent’s sword through blade engagement so that they cannot stab us

Problem: Getting stabbed while seeking blade engagement

1. Disengage, thrust
   • A crosses P‘s sword
   • P disengages under A‘s guard and thrusts in the new line
2. Ceding thrust
   • A crosses P‘s sword
   • P yields to A‘s crossing and thrusts around it without changing sides
3. Strengthen, thrust
   • A crosses P‘s sword
   • P pushes their forte through A‘s debole to make a thrust with opposition (either directly or after a small strengthening action)

Goal: Solve all three of those options with any blade action we make

• Sidebar: we do not need to solve all three, we could solve just two and then use our knowledge of which option remains to create a plan
  • Example:
    • A crosses P‘s sword with a pronounced overbind and both the hilt and the point of A‘s sword far from P‘s forte
      • (1) unavailable: P cannot easily disengage (under or over)
      • (3) unavailable: If P wants to move his forte to A‘s debole, he must withdraw his sword and/or bring it out of presence
      • (2) is still viable: P can easily do a ceding action

Method: Identify the requisites for each of the three stabs and engage in such a way that none of the requisites are given.

1. Requisite for disengage: If your opponent’s point is near your hilt/forte, the disengage is easy
   • Solution: make sure your hilt/forte is sufficiently far away from their point
2. Requisite for ceding thrust: If the blades are middle to middle, the ceding thrust is easy
   • Solution: make sure your body is far enough away that, if they go for a ceding thrust, you have plenty of time to move your forte to their foible
3. Requisite for direct thrust: If your debole is too high (or simply too close to your opponent’s forte), they can push their forte through your debole and thrust with opposition
   • Solution: make sure your point/debole is sufficiently far away from their forte

Solution:

1. Your hilt/forte is sufficiently far away from their point
2. Your body is sufficiently hidden behind your sword
3. Your point/debole is sufficiently far away from their hilt

What does “sufficiently” mean here?

• The goal of all of these rules of thumb is to ensure that the duration of your attack is always shorter than the duration of your opponent’s attack
• Duration of an attack has two components:
  • The time needed to traverse the physical distance of the action
    • Example: Compare the distance of a disengage to the distance of a direct thrust
  • The time needed to stop and change directions where momentum is involved
    • Example: If there is pressure in the crossing and A leaves the crossing, P‘s sword will move somewhat due to the release of pressure – the time needed to arrest and change that momentum is added to the duration of P‘s direct attack.
• Therefore, “sufficiently” depends on:
  • the position of the swords relative to one another
  • the pressure (or lack of it) in the crossing

Training suggestion: Try estimating how much your hand or sword falls out of line when pressure is released. Consider the impact this has on your estimation of the length of your and your opponent’s tempo during blade engagement.