This strategy is also employed when attacking in opposition, where the opponent's blade is parried with or near your hilt by the movement of your thrust. This is particularly useful for delivering timed hits (counter-thrusts) that attack into your opponent's lunge.
A bind or envelopement is another attacking technique that relies on blade contact. To perform these actions, roll above or below your opponent's blade in a complete (envelopement) or half circle (bind), controlling his point while you deliver your hit.
An engagement strategy is the central tenet of Pallas Armata and works best with fast blades of moderate length.
The most common method of employing absence of the blade is to use the reverse stance, placing your defensive hand & foot forward, and holding the blade hilt lower than your hip (low ward) or to your side (broad ward) or shoulder height (high ward).
Absence of the blade is maintained by performing disengages (moving the blade from the inside to the outside line and vice versa).
It is often useful to avoid contact on the attack. By using deceits (a circular avoidance of a circular parry) and disengages, you can defeat your opponent's defense by avoiding it.
Fighting from engagement is said to favor the more experienced fighter, since absence of the blade allows less control of the opponent's blade. However, I recommend chosing a strategy that suits the weapon you are using.
| Tips Index | Site Index | Prev | Next |