The 4 Strategic Positions

Why Study Classical Fencing?  Art Or Sport?  IFV Classical Fencing Method  Maître d'Armes  List Of Articles  Salle du Lion  Book Pre-order  Chivalry  Local Class Schedule  HOME

There are five possible strategies, based on the pre-existing physical relationship between the opponents. These can and should be determined Before the fight begins. Either you can effectively outreach your opponent he can outreach you, or you are exactly equal. Either you are stronger/faster than your opponent he is stronger/faster than you, or you are exactly equal. This gives us four primary strategic positions as indicated in the table below. The fifth possibility is that you and your opponent are exactly equal, in which case the encounter becomes purely a tactical fight. That is, the fencer strives to work with the same strategy against his adversary that his adversary is trying to work against him. LONGER LONGER/STRONGER LONGER/weaker shorter shorter/STRONGER shorter/weaker   STRONGER (faster) weaker (slower) Longer or Shorter Out-fighting means to fight from the farthest distance from which it is possible to score. In-fighting means fighting from the closest possible distance. The longer fighter should always employ out-fighting. The shorter opponent must always employ in-fighting. Stronger or Weaker Offensive fighting means using strong, direct, immediate, simple actions. Defensive fighting means using deceptive, indirect, syncopated, compound actions. The stronger fighter should always employ offensive (direct) fighting. The weaker fighter should use defensive (indirect) fighting. The Four Primary Strategies The longer/stronger swordman should employ offensive out-fighting. The longer/weaker swordman should employ defensive out-fighting. The shorter/stronger swordman should employ offensive in-fighting. The shorter/weaker swordman should employ defensive in-fighting. The use of the "correct" strategy does not guarantee victory, but correlates substantially enough with success that using an incorrect strategy can almost guarantee defeat. Your opponent may employ the wrong strategy. For example, a longer fighter may fight as if he had no reach advantage -- making it true. You must then adopt the strategy appropriate to your opponent's actual position, rather than potential or theoretical position. A longer fighter may sometimes be effective in-fighting; but a smaller fighter will NEVER be effective by out-fighting. [ Return to Top ]   How to Defend a Monopoly | A Propos d'un Accident | Who Benefits? The Dubious Quick Kill part 1 | The Dubious Quick Kill part 2 When Valor Preys Upon Reason | Review and Commentary Duels with the Sword | Starting with Foil | Grim Realities | Jean-Louis The Adventures of La Maupin | Liancour's Tercentenary The Manuel d'escrime of 1877 | The Military Masters Fencing Program Acamillo Palladini's Discourse | Analysis of the Patton Fencing Manual The Red Court | Fencing's Royal Connection Rafael Sabatini Prince of Swashbucklers | The Practical Saviolo part 1 Saddle, Lance and Stirrup | Demystification of the Spanish School 1 Demystification of the Spanish School 2 | Demystification of the Spanish School 3 At Sword's Point: Swashbuckling in films | A Brief Look at Joseph Swetnam The Top 10 Swashbuckling Films | Ithacan Retains Title | Third Time's a Charm Cross-Training Not Cross-Purposes | Riposte Direct | Use of the Word "Sparring" Chivalry Makes a Come-back | Teachings of Marozzo | Top 10 Misconceptions The Play's The Thing | The 5 Tactical Principles | The 4 Strategic Positions What's New?   The Master's Bookshelf  FAQ  Glossary  Links  © A.A. Crown 1999-2002 info@classicalfencing.com About This Site IFV Inc is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit educational corporation This file was last modified Monday, 28-Oct-2002 18:43:14 EST