Beginner Lesson Ten

In this lesson, we are not cutting any more! We will be discussing point in line as well as the disengage. 

Point in Line is a combination of a new guard and an attack which gives the fencer a great deal of advantages. To assume point in line, extend your arm so your point is near center of mass on your opponent and there is a straight line from the point of your sword to your shoulder with your knucklebow pointing to your outside. 

When you assume point in line, if your opponent takes at minimum two advances toward you they are recognizing your point and you now have right of way. Because of this, it is best to get some distance between you and your opponent to force them to come for you. When you attack, you must land with your point, otherwise it is considered two attacks. If your opponent breaks your point (say with a beat) you loose right of way. If you break your own point, you loose right of way. These restrictions make point in line risky but highly effective when paired with the disengage.

The disengage is a feint made up of a small movement of the point where you feign with one thrust, then make a dip with your point and finish the thrust to another line. You can also disengage to a cut if you choose. The disengage is something that needs to be practiced extensively before you use it in a live bout as a sloppy disengage is easily parried. I suggest you start by holding your arm at full extension with your sabre in hand. You will then draw figure eight's with the point by articulating your wrist to move the point. You should draw this large at first, and as you get more comfortable, make that figure eight smaller and smaller. If you are able to make a tight figure eight, then try the disengage in class and in bouts.