Rock, Papers, Scissors for Fencers

The Tactical Wheel is a progression of actions commonly used to teach tactics to fencers. Nevertheless, there are significant issues in the technique wheel in all three weapons, like a previous article of mine pointed out, it can are designed to get fencers thinking about how to choose the proper tactic on the correct time gain an impression. But wait, how does an instructor get the beginning or intermediate fencer to understand the relationships within this tool? One approach We have proven to work is really a modification with the game Rock, Paper, Scissors.

The initial step is always to be sure that your fencers know the elements in the wheel. As a standard part of our warm-up we recite the wheel loudly like a group. I would like my fencers to understand the flow of straightforward attack, defeated through the parry and riposte, deceived from the compound attack, intercepted by the stop hit, and in turn defeated through the simple attack.

The 2nd step is to assign numbers of fingers to each action: 1 for easy attack, 2 for parry-riposte, 3 for compound attack, and 4 for stop hit. Rather than the balled fist, flat hand, or forked fingers of rock paper scissors lizard the fencers will get rid of one to four fingers.

The third step is to define which action beats which other actions. To some extent this relies on your own look at the wheel and also the weapon the fencers fence. For instance, 2 (parry riposte) beats 1 (simple attack) in most three weapons. However, 4 (stop hit) will miss to a single (simple attack) in foil, but might result in a double hit or success in epee or sabre sometimes (a coin toss can be used to inject this degree of uncertainty).

Finally you are to fence. This drill can be done like a pair of fencers, a team of three versus another team of three, or as two lines in opposition to the other person with fencers rotating in one line to the other since they are defeated. When the intent is by using the drill as a warm-up activity, the amount of repetitions needs to be limited. One solution within the rotating format is the winner of the touch stays up and loser rotates. However, it is also found in 5 touch (bout), 10 or 15 touch (direct elimination), or team formats. The more formats allow fencers to start out to evaluate opponent patterns (although the 4 option structure probably prevents using pure iocaine powder logic), and for team mates to look at and share that information. Make use of the standard commands “on guard,” “ready,” and “fence,” using the fencers throwing out one to four fingers on “fence.” The level of force on decision-making can be increased by lessening the interval between commands to fence.

It could seem that one could attain the same training by actually fencing, however the isolation with the decision regarding which action from the variable of fencer ability to carry it out emphasizes a choice of technique. The drill doesn’t need equipment, therefore fits well in warm-up or cool-down activity. It is faster than a bout, but looks after a high degree of competitiveness involving the fencers. We have found that it is a highly effective training tool in our efforts to boost our fencers’ tactical sense.
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