Classification of Defense in Foil

Introduction

Fencing has many terms unique to the actions of our sport, such as: "parry" and "lunge". These terms are often devoid of any context of what is happening in the bout. As fencers and coaches we need more vocabulary that describes what actually happens on the strip. Terms such as a "marching attack" or "counter-time" sum up important concepts that we can use to communicate about our sport.

It is valuable to name the broader concepts we use in fencing, both to create a shared language in discussing fencing and as an aid to developing categories to structure student learning. In this document, I'm going to discuss some aspects of defense in foil, categorize them, and give a brief description of how to teach some of them.

I identify four distinct categories of defense in foil. These concepts can be extended to saber as well, though they work less well in épeé. These categories are:

• Reactive Defense
• Passive Defense
• Active Defense
• Planned Defense

Reactive Defense is the instinctual response of a fencer when they are attacked unexpectedly. This defense is a trained reaction learned through mechanical repetition. This defense is often unplanned. A reactive defense may be successful if the opponent makes a mechanical mistake in their attack (telegraphing the attack) or an error in distance (launching the attack from too far away) that gives the defender an opportunity to stop the attack in time. By it's nature, a Reactive defense is the least effective defense: it relies on the opponent making an error in execution or judgment to be successful.

Reactive defense leans heavily on blade actions to defend against the attack. Time is critical, and a fencer's hands are much faster then their feet, so expanding the distance is not the first option of the defender making a Reactive defense. However, the Reactive defender may also duck or turn (likely in foil and épeé, not so likely in saber) to assist in escaping an attack.

The riposte from a Reactive defense often tends to be reactive. Sometimes there is no riposte: the defender who parries successfully is surprised so completely that they simply bat away the opponent's blade and then open the space to prevent a remise or continuation from the opponent. In many cases this is sufficient. The fencer has (hopefully) learned what triggered the opponent and is now warned for the future.

It is always more advantageous to riposte after the parry and to make that riposte as effective as possible¹. Too often a reactive defense results in an immediate and direct riposte to the upper high line in reflex. An an alert opponent can defeat this riposte and have a response ready. After all this is exactly the idea behind a second intention attack: using a sudden attack to provoke the Reactive defense, leading to a reactive riposte which is anticipated and countered.

In lesson, demand ripostes to different lines from each parry. Working in the inside high line is easy for you and the student, but they should habitually react by riposting to low lines. Don't ask the student to make an offensive action if they are off balance or unready.

In a Passive Defense the fencer recognizes the developing attack and attempts to expand the distance without taking any other action to stop or slow the opponent's attack. Often a Passive defender may prematurely close the expected line of an attacker's finish, but then switched to a Reactive parry in the line that the attacker finishes in.

The Passive defender ultimately relies on similar skills to a Reactive defender: trained reflexes coupled with observing the line of the attack. The Passive defender is more successful in stopping the opponent's attack because they have expanded the space and made the attacker's job more difficult. However, the Passive defender cannot retreat indefinably. A long attack will push the Passive defender to end of the strip, forcing them to stop. At that point, the Passive defender can no longer control the distance over which the attacker must finish. This makes Passive defenders vulnerable to "marching" attacks in the weapons with priority. Alternatively, the attacker may use a "squeeze" by alternately pushing and pulling the defender to gradually back them to end of the strip or cause the defender to be late in opening the space.

In Active Defense the fencer uses changes in distance and forcing blade actions to "clog the zone" between themselves and the attacker, while also trying to control the space between them. With active blade actions, the defender can find the attacker's blade and stop their attack. By simultaneously controlling the distance and the lines they are opening, the Active defender can goad their attacker into finishing attacks at the incorrect time, incorrect distance, or into a line the Active defender can control.

The Active defender's uses false stops, checks, and sudden openings of the distance fools the attacker into errors of distance or time to finish their attack. Unlike the Passive defender, the Active defender will allow distance to collapse at a time of their own choosing in order to tempt the attacker to finish their attack.

The use of beats, blade sweeps, false parries, and false counter-attacks leads the attacker into lines the defender can anticipate. By closing some lines and leaving another open, the defender can "ambush" the attacker's blade in the line left open for the attacker to finish in. The use of blade "noise" can cause an attacker to overly complicate their blade work on their attack, forcing their point off target, or delaying the extension of their arm as they look for an open line. This makes the attacker vulnerable to an attack on their preparation or a successful counter-attack (with or without opposition). It may be that the Active defender's response to a developing attack is so confusing to the attacker that the opponent simply breaks off the attack completely, allowing the defender to take the initiative back with an attack of their own.

In a Planned defense the fencer has chosen not to be the attacker in that phrase. The fencer intends to score with a defensive action, goading the attacker to finish at a time of the defenders choosing. Planned defense encompasses second intention actions and preparations, using an Active defense as part of their strategy.

Planned defense may often start with an attack against the opponent. While the initial attack is prosecuted with the full intention of scoring, the fencer is also aware of the possible chance of failure on the attack and will draw the opponent out into a Planned defensive trap if the attack fails. The opponent, having "escaped" the offensive action, may rush forward in anticipation of scoring, only to be hit in with a pre-planned defensive action.

Planned defense differs from Active defense in the intention of the fencer. An Active defense is mounted if the fencer is forced to defend, or the opponent has quickly taken the initiative and is not allowing the fencer to attack. In a Planned defense, the fencer may be making assertive or aggressive actions against the opponent, but their intention is to score with a defensive or counter-offensive action.

Each of these stages of defense shows an increasing level of control that the defender has over their environment. The control is exerted over the use of distance, relative blade positions, position on the strip, rhythm of the bout, and relative speeds of opening and closing the space between the two fencers. The more control the defender has over their environment, the more likely their defensive actions will be successful.

Elements of Reactive and Passive Defense

The preference for the defender should always be to mount an Active or Planned defense. Even so, the opponent may surprise the fencer by taking the initiative at unexpected times, or making actions that seem counter-intuitive (and thus, by their very nature, surprising). More ominous, the fencer may find themselves in a situation in which they have properly taken the priority (in those weapons that involve priority), but the referee does not acknowledge it, and allows attacks against the fencer. Rather than abandon a plan or action which might be advantageous the fencer simply proceeds with their plan, knowing that there are occasions in which the opponent will act aggressively, and the fencer will need to fall back on a Reactive Defense as part of a change-of-decision action.². Or the fencer incorporates the decision on the referee into a Planned defense using counter-time.

Successful Reactive and Passive defense relies on the fencer being in, and moving from, balance, as well as good blade technique. Parries that are too big, or done with a tense and locked arm will either be ineffective or deceived. Even if the fencer's defense is Reactive the subsequent riposte should be varied in the choice of targets. It may even be compound, when required. The fencer should not be in the habit of riposting to the most likely spot, even when surprised. This is primarily reinforced though the lesson, by requiring the student to make ripostes to different targets instinctively and without a great deal of reflection.

Elements of Active and Planned Defense...Distance

The most critical part of pursing an Active defense is in controlling the distance between the fencer and the attacker. Rather than "opening" the space as quickly as possible (essentially running away), the defender should—by the use of starts, stops, hesitations, and changing the size of their steps stay "sticky" to the attacker. Never too far away, and never too close. This forces the attacker to guess about what the true space will be from moment to moment. If the fencer opens from the opponent without a plan, the attacker is free to pursue at their own pace and convenience. The attacker should never be in full control of how they close the space or when they close the space.

The defender is attempting to trick the attacker into attacking too early (for a parry riposte), too late (to allow a counter-attack or attack in preparation), or to attack into a line the fencer is ready to control and parry.

The amount of space kept on defense will depend on the attacker's speed relative to the defender's and the defenders technical skills. A fencer with fast reactions and good technical skills can maintain a closer distance to the opponent than a fencer that is slower or has weaker technical skills.

The distance from the opponent can be controlled through:

• Making pauses. For example: fast double retreat (short steps) *pause* long retreat. By reaching back with the back foot, but keeping the weight on the front foot for a split second the defender gives the illusion of stopping. This will often cause the opponent to finish. Pauses in footwork patterns can be as important as the actual steps the fencer is making. This is analogous to "building a wall", appearing to defend it, and then leaving the space. This keeps the attacker constantly guessing about where the defense is actually going to happen.³
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• Long retreats mixed with short retreats. Opponents will often accelerate when they feel that the distance is expanding. A long retreat and a short retreat will often see the opponent rushing into the space and make them vulnerable to a counter-attack or attack in preparation.
• Check forward steps when the distance is still large. The opponent may interpret this as a counter-attack and attempt to beat the defender to the finish, even if the space is not ideal.
• Mixing the speed of the steps, such as *fast*-*slow*-*fast*.
• Agressive half steps forward into a pressing attacker.

Finally,the fencer may wish to suddenly close the distance so much that the opponent gets "jammed up" and cannot finish. This works best with an attacker who is moving too fast, making large blade preparations, or making a blade action that can be anticipated and opposed with opposition or a strong blocking parry. More often than not this is not a defensive action, but a counter-attack/attack in preparation. In the same vein, an opponent that "runs past their hand" attempting to catch up or finish their attack too quickly is vulnerable to an attack in preparation or a counter-attack.

Elements of Active Defense...Blade Work

In addition to controlling the distance, the defender should be attempting to control the line the opponent finishes in. This implies such actions as

• False parries
• False counter-attacks
• Early searching parries (sweeps) for the opponent's blade

A false parry presents an invitation for the opponent to disengage and accelerate to hit. False parries are best used with a hesitation or stop, giving the opponent the impression that the defender has grown uncomfortable and elected to stop and make a stand. The attacker avoids the first parry and accelerates to finish their attack: only to run into a second, pre-planned parry by the defender who scores with a subsequent riposte. The choice of time for the false parry is critical. Too early, and the attacker will ignore the parry and continue coming forward. Too late and the defender will not have enough time to make two parries. This skill is one that has to be explored mechanically in lesson, but learning the timing comes from practice in bouting.

It is often best to make the false parry on the front foot with a pause in the retreat. The weight is left on on the front foot while making the false parry. The opponent starts an attack during the pause, and the fencer pushes off the front foot to make the second parry on the finish of the retreat as the front foot recovers and lands, opening the space and giving the defender a chance for a second parry.

A false counter-attack seeks to force the attacker to finish an attack prematurely, without a change of line. The attacker sees the start of the defender's counter-attack and accelerates to finish before they are hit, only to be parried in the line they are trying to finish in. If the defender makes the false counter with a strong check backwards ⁴, they "turn the corner" and begin pulling the space, denying the attacker a one tempo distance and giving the defender time to make a parry and riposte. While the false counter-attack tends to influence when the attack finishes, it also has some ability to influence where the attack finishes, since counter-attack should close out one possible line.

(Note, in the following examples we assume that the Coach and Student are of the same hand).

By choosing the timing of the counter-attack and using careful blade placement, the student has some influence on where the attacker finishes their attack. The most important aspect of the false counter-attack, however, is forcing the opponent to finish prematurely and without a change of line.

The initial forward motion of the front foot on the check backwards gives credence that the counter-attack has began, convincing the opponent that they should finish their own attack. Since there is rarely a change in line in this situation, the student is ready to parry in the appropriate line as soon as they move backwards. The expansion of the distance in the backwards check allows the student time to make the parry.

Sweeps for the opponent's blade fill the space between the two fencers. With the student aggressively searching, the opponent is likely to slow down and "protect" their blade, either moving it into another line or by withdrawing it out of line completely. This puts the attacker at a disadvantage if they want to finish an action quickly. Because their blade may be far out of place, it makes the opponent vulnerable to counter-attacks and attacks in the preparation. They may not be able to finish their attack on target or in a timely manner if their blade is far out of line. Broad, fast sweeping motions with the defender's blade takes the attacker's attention, focusing the attacker on solving a blade problem and distracting any collapse or change of distance.

Teaching Defense

In teaching defense, there is a role for Reactive Defense in training the fencer. Training in reactive parries schools the studentr in recognizing the line of an attack and the approprite parry needed to cover it. However, from Reactive blade drilling you should move lessons directly to Active and then Planned defense.

In all cases, your emphasis to the student is that their role is to actively control how distance opens, closes, and ultimately collapses. "Keeping distance" is something that should be rarely done in lesson, expect at the beginning of learning a new action.

When a fencer first learns to parry in the lesson, they should be given the option of opening the distance to defend rather than using their blade. Once you've fallen short on the attack, the student should immediately take back the space and hit, either simply or with a compound action. Right at the start this drill introduces the student to using space to actively defend. The student that retreats out of distance may always make a small blocking parry as a safeguard, or—as the prelude to a false parry/real parry defense.

After using distance in an active way, the next step letting the student to first bait and then expand the distance to tempt the coch to attck into the wrong space.

In the previous two lessons, the impetus was on controlling the space. In the next lesson, the student controls the space exposess a line to encourage the coach/opponent to make an attack to a target the student is ready to close off

This next lesson can be enhanced by the student showing the coach a tendency to sweep early and slowly, encouraging the coach/opponent to be ready to deceive an identical sweep at a closer distance.

On the first sweep, the distance is large (you should not have to do much to avoid the student's blade). The student is showing a potential opponent: "Look. Here is the line and the timing of how I am going to defend myself". On the next step, the student has allowed distance to collapse, and repeats the sweep. Now the distance is much closer and there is an opportunity for you (as the opponent) to finish your attack into the line opened by the sweep. The student makes a distance change and a parry and riposte.

The student can also crush the space rather than open the space. In this action, the student first shows a tendency to open the space, and then changes the opponent's expectation of how the distance is going to close.

In this lesson the student "teaches" the coach that when faced with a strong attack, the student will "bail" on the distance, setting an expectation that they will open the space in the face of pressure. The student alternates this expansion of space with stepping into the start of the long attack with a short attack on the blade in preparation or counter-attack.

The Point in Line

Show this article to a bunch of coaches, then ask: "Is a point in line Active or Planned defense?". Step back as the argument starts!

Ultimately, the classification of a PIL (as it's most commonly abbreviated) is going to be determined by the intention of the fencer using it. For some fencers, the PIL is a mechanism of Active defense: designed to slow the opponent down, make them think, and perhaps to encourage the opponent to break off an attack. Or the fencer hopes the opponent will make a mistake and run onto the point, or make a big enough search to be hit with the line.

Fencers at all levels of competition—both men and women—make effective use of the point in line as an active defense. Giving a PIL demands that the opponent make an action if they wish to attack. A well trained fencer knows that the number of actions the opponent can do are very limited by the demand that the fencer's point be removed before the attack can score. There are only a limited number of ways that can happen, all of which the skill fencer is prepared for. Hence, PIL is more often a component of a Planned defense.

Conclusion

By making logical and clear delineation of defensive foil situations we can communicate more efficiently with the students both in class and during a break in the bout, when we have to convey a great deal of information in a short time. For example, we might want to explain to the student that the opponent is vulnerable to a marching attack, because they are using Passive Defense. Or we might want to advise our student that they are being too reactive, and they must take a more Active Defense against this opponent by opening up the space early.

To a lessor extent, these classifications of defensive actions help us in our teaching by being able to rank students in their abilities and in their tactical concepts. When we see a student using passive defense, we know our next step is the introduction of more active and planned actions in defense. With clearly defined goals it's easier to "carve away anything that doesn't look like a fencer" in teaching our students to defend against active opponents.

¹Reactive parries tend to be beat parries, however. Beat parries are harder than a blocking parry to turn into a riposte.⏎

² A change of decision action is one in which a fencer may start with a known beginning and a known end (such as making a feint and disengage) but must change the final action when the opponent reacts differently than expected. For example, the fencer intends to make a feint on the advance, and a lunge with a disengage, expecting the opponent to parry. However, on the feint, the opponent attacks, and the fencer is forced to change decision and execute a parry and riposte.⏎

³. Many thanks to author John Chow for making this analogy in his book ⏎

⁴.The check back starts with a small step forward on the front leg, loading the leg so the fencer can subsequently step backwards.⏎

Copyright © 2024 by Allen Evans. This article may be reproduced freely, as long as it remains unmodified and his copyright notice is included.

As a sport, we are not always descriptive about the wide variety of tactics and ideas that we use regularly. Here are some ideas on the classification of defense in foil.