| The lunge is one of the axioms of the
| |
| | of the lunge, the recovery will be
|
| attack, and one of the most vital to
| |
| | impossible. Here are the tips for the
|
| perfect. The lunge is the basic technique
| |
| | proper extension.
|
| used to extend an attack quickly and
| |
| | 1. Do NOT overextend. As the lunge is
|
| effectively, while still maintaining the
| |
| | intended to extend the distance of an
|
| ability to control a retreat (in the
| |
| | attack, the temptation lies in kicking
|
| instance of failure.) The attacking
| |
| | your self out so far you are practically
|
| portion of the lunge is relatively
| |
| | doing the splits. This, of course, is
|
| simple, in-and-of itself. However, the
| |
| | impossible to recover from. You may do
|
| attacking portion sets the stage for the
| |
| | this if you like, but DO NOT miss the
|
| recovery, which is the difficult portion.
| |
| | point. When the lunge is completed
|
| The lunge is intended to quickly extend
| |
| | (before recovery) the thigh should be
|
| the reach of a fencer by thrusting the
| |
| | parallel to the ground, the front knee at
|
| entire body forward to close the distance
| |
| | a 90 degree angle and the knee directly
|
| between fencers. We have discussed that
| |
| | over the toes (which should be facing
|
| the basic attack is the extension of the
| |
| | directly towards the opponent.) The back
|
| arm until straight. This is effective,
| |
| | leg should be straight. Throwing your
|
| yet relatively easy to foil. Simply stay
| |
| | self too far forward will make it slow
|
| out of the other's player's arm reach.
| |
| | and difficult to recover, making you an
|
| The lunge follows the completed extension
| |
| | easy target.
|
| of the arm, by throwing the body forward
| |
| | 2. Leave the rear foot planted. The back
|
| in a single large step. The attacking
| |
| | foot is your anchor and the pulling
|
| fencer thus gains another good 2 or 3
| |
| | action of the rear leg is vital to bring
|
| feet on his/her attack. This, when done
| |
| | yourself upright again. Without solid
|
| quickly and cleanly, can close the
| |
| | contact with the ground, you will not be
|
| distance with enough surprise to win the
| |
| | able to pull back. The rear foot should
|
| point.
| |
| | still be in its 90 degree position to the
|
| The difficulty of the lunge lies not in
| |
| | front foot (just like when On Guard.)
|
| its success, but in its failure. The
| |
| | Through out the entire lunge and
|
| fencer who has just completed a lunge is
| |
| | recovery, the entire sole of the foot
|
| in an extremely vulnerable position.
| |
| | should remain in contact with the ground.
|
| Although defendable, it is nearly
| |
| | As you will find, the does require an
|
| impossible to fence when stuck in a
| |
| | unusual turn to the ankle. Start
|
| lunged position. The real challenge of
| |
| | stretching those muscles now. You will
|
| the lunge is making a quick, balanced and
| |
| | need them.
|
| clean recovery back to the basic fencing
| |
| | 3. The arm. This is perhaps the most
|
| stance after the lunge is completed.
| |
| | important part, however it is the rear
|
| From the basic fencing the stance, the
| |
| | arm not the forward arm of which we
|
| lunge is started as a simple attack with
| |
| | speak. The rear arm, normally held behind
|
| the arm thrust forward to the intended
| |
| | the head in a curl, is unfurled behind
|
| area until straight. With the lunge
| |
| | the fencer as he/she lunges. This creates
|
| however, the forward motion of the arm is
| |
| | the effect of the cat's tail. Helping the
|
| continued by thrusting the body forward.
| |
| | body throw forward (by its added
|
| After the arm is straight in an attack,
| |
| | inertia), helping bring the body back up
|
| the forward leg kicks out until the knee
| |
| | (for the sane reason), and providing
|
| is straight. This does not mean kicking
| |
| | ballast all the way through. The rear arm
|
| the leg up into a goose-step, but simply
| |
| | should be unfurled rapidly to the rear
|
| kicking the foot forward while keeping
| |
| | until it is parallel with the rear leg
|
| the thigh and hip immobile.
| |
| | (when both are straight) and the palm
|
| The back leg is now straightened in such
| |
| | should be up. As you are throwing the
|
| a manner that the body is thrust forward
| |
| | rear arm back, you should invision
|
| toward the opponent. This (of course) has
| |
| | pushing forward against an invisible
|
| to be done while the forward leg is still
| |
| | brick wall. This WILL increase the
|
| in the air. This continues the straight
| |
| | forward motion of the attack.
|
| attacking arm towards the opponent
| |
| | Graphic of a picture perfect lunge
|
| another 2 or 3 feet.
| |
| | (thanks to the USFA) A graphic of a
|
| While still moving forward, the front
| |
| | picture perfect lunge (compliments of the
|
| foot now lands (heel first, toes rolling
| |
| | USFA logo.) Note that the back foot is
|
| to the floor) in such a manner that the
| |
| | still flat to the floor and is 90 degrees
|
| front leg is straight, and the back leg
| |
| | to the forward foot.
|
| is nearly straight (but not quite. We
| |
| | When recovering, the rear arm should be
|
| will see why in a moment.) After the
| |
| | rapidly returned to the behind the head
|
| front foot lands, the rear leg continues
| |
| | position to provide ballast. Invision you
|
| to push forward until completely
| |
| | are grabbing an iron bar anchored into
|
| straight. As the front foot is immobile
| |
| | this imaginary brick wall and are using
|
| now, the front knee bends until the knee
| |
| | it to pull your self upright. Again, this
|
| is directly over the toes. The front leg
| |
| | will increase the speed of the recovery.
|
| is a 90 degree angle at the knee, and the
| |
| | Throughout the lunge the arm will provide
|
| rear leg is completely straight. The arm
| |
| | front to rear and side to side balance to
|
| is straight and forward completing the
| |
| | keep the attack on target.
|
| attack to the target area.
| |
| | 4. The attacking arm. The attacking arm
|
| Good however rear arm should be parallel
| |
| | is the first part of the attack to move
|
| to rear leg.
| |
| | forward, and the last to recover. When
|
| Note: This image shows a pretty good
| |
| | attacking, the quickest part of the
|
| lunge, however for all weapons the rear
| |
| | attack comes from the thrust of the arm.
|
| arm should have been thrust back,
| |
| | This actually applies to all attacks.
|
| parallel with the rear leg and the
| |
| | Always start attacks with the point.
|
| forward arm should be absolutely straight
| |
| | Nothing moves until the point has started
|
| to get the greatest possible reach and to
| |
| | its way towards the target area. This
|
| maintain the right of way. When done
| |
| | will help avoid telegraphing of the
|
| correctly, the attack is swift and
| |
| | attack, and add speed. I have always told
|
| beautiful.
| |
| | students to imagine the sword is an
|
| What happens if you do a beautiful,
| |
| | arrow, which is magically drawn to the
|
| perfect lunge, close the distance to the
| |
| | target of the opponent. This arrow has
|
| opponent and miss. Hard thought to
| |
| | suddenly launched itself towards your
|
| swallow, but it does happen.
| |
| | opponent (much to your surprise) and you
|
| Unfortunately, the lunge is a terrible
| |
| | are lunging after it simply to maintain
|
| position to defend from. You need to get
| |
| | your hold of the sword. This will amaze
|
| back to a fighting stance, quickly,
| |
| | you in the speed it adds to the attack.
|
| before your opponent can riposte'. Here
| |
| | After the lunge is completed, and you are
|
| lies the difficulty: committing yourself
| |
| | recovering, the arm remains straight to
|
| to the lunge while leaving yourself the
| |
| | continue threatening the opponent. In a
|
| ability to recover. Recovery is
| |
| | full lunge you are unable to retreat, at
|
| relatively simply in its purest form.
| |
| | a disadvantage to even parry, and could
|
| Reverse the lunge.
| |
| | not add motion to the attack easily. The
|
| 1. Keeping the arm straight in an
| |
| | last thing we want is for the opposing
|
| offensive position (this helps cover you
| |
| | fencer to close the distance thus
|
| as you are vulnerable) kick the body
| |
| | exacerbating the situation. The extended
|
| backwards with the front foot, beginning
| |
| | point keeps the opponent at bay until a
|
| the process of standing back upright.
| |
| | recovery can be executed.
|
| 2. As you kick off with the front foot,
| |
| | Although, there is no guarantee the
|
| pull your body back to the upright
| |
| | extended arm will concern the opponent, I
|
| position with the rear foot. As you come
| |
| | will guarantee removing the extended arm
|
| to the stance again, the front foot will
| |
| | will encourage him/her.
|
| need to be peeled off the ground and
| |
| | 5. Keep the head up and look at your
|
| brought back to the shoulder width
| |
| | opponent. There is a tendency to drop the
|
| position. This is done just like a
| |
| | head in a lunge. You can't hit what you
|
| regular step to the rear. I.E. Peel, step
| |
| | can't see. Simple enough.
|
| back, plant the heel, roll the toes back
| |
| | 6. Speed, speed, speed. Drill the lunge
|
| down.
| |
| | everyday. A slow lunge is more worthless
|
| 3. After arising to the regular fencing
| |
| | than no attack at all.
|
| stance, re-center yourself and then
| |
| | We have discussed the basic lunge, of
|
| withdraw the arm to the On Guard
| |
| | which there are countless variations. We
|
| position. And here we are ready to
| |
| | will explore all of these in time,
|
| continue fighting.
| |
| | however for now drill, perfect and study.
|
| Although simple, without the proper
| |
| | The rewards will be self evident.
|
| preparation during the attacking portion
| |
| |
|