Attacking Into the Break: Refereeing Examples

Some examples of sabre fencers attacking into a hesitation. Clips from ‪@FencingVision‬ and ‪@FIEvideo‬
Follow Slicer Sabre on Instagram for more fencing highlights:
/ slicersabre

[@leftysabreuse3257]

Great video! Do you know of recent examples where the fencer A is on a long attack and makes a small back step/retreat, fencer B attempts to make an attack during this tempo but fails (or in your opinion doesn't, but the ref still calls it in an attack for A)?

[@SlicerSabre]

This is the only one I have to hand, I disagree with the call but maybe should have included it anyway:
ruclips.net/video/Gnkd-fX1CyM/видео.html

[@johnrohde5510]

A "long attack" is what preparation was called in the time when preparation was counted as attacking.

[@giovannilorizio8137]

Very difficult action but very cool

[@stevep1762]

These are really good examples. Fencers have moved this from a stop with an instant restart (window too small to respond) to a step back with one foot (small window), to a step back with both feet (medium window). You have to be retreating on your front foot, ready to change direction instantly, but if there's an opening, all you have to do is start moving forward in it and that should be enough. You have to be prepared to "challenge" the referee to some extent on this though. If they call the attack still, you have to be ready to ask why.

[@teakew8217]

Really, I would say the single most important thing in pulling this off is _anticipating_ it. If you look at most of the successful examples, they're not on the first attempt (which would be more likely to be pure reaction) but instead they follow the attacker having a pattern of these stops - allowing the defender to plan to execute it and position themselves accordingly.

[@stevep1762]

@@teakew8217 Yes exactly, I almost wrote this too. Predictable patterns in the step back is why this is possible.

[@TalesForWhales]

@@teakew8217 Agreed. My coach taught me to make this footwork pattern to either invite or break tempo in strategic ways. Got to be careful on the invite with the quick twitchy people though. They might get ya.

[@MorganLefeuvre]

Thanks, you answered a big question 👍 but I guess it's really hard to attack into break, like if you go just a moment too soon or too late your attack isn't valable ?

[@esgrimaxativa5175]

REFS, GROW SOME BALLS AND START CALLING THIS ALL THE TIME! The170ms timing and refs reluctance to call this action along with AIP outside the box has led to the current state of affairs with all the fun shit in the 4 meter zone. The attack in saber should not end up like the attack in foil and giving too much power to the attack in the last couple of seasons has led to inmo a slight stagnation of the game. I am also in favor of calling attack no any failed blade search by the attacker along with a few other minor adjustments that should get us back to the proper ratio of 50% attacks, 25% parries, and 25% counter attacks.

[@SlicerSabre]

The referees cannot reward an action until the fencers start looking for it. The problem is if the fencers don't have trust in the referee to reward them for the action then they will never look for it. It takes a few of the more influential fencers to start challenging the conventions for things to change.

[@stevep1762]

@@SlicerSabre This is what I was saying before - you have to be ready to challenge the referee here.

[@iainmcclure416]

I think this being better reffed these days. An attempt to find the blade that fails, halting with the footwork, a step backwards - all these things should be "attaque non" - and they're being called this way more often.

[@samsignorelli]

Otherwise known as "You stopped., he launched."

[@donaldbadowski290]

I look at this the same way as your Reprise video, a reluctance of referees to call any sort of attack in preparation. So retreats after a failed attack, arms pulled back, jumping up and down instead of moving forward, all still count as attack. I'm happy to see this being corrected at the highest level. But at lower levels of fencing, the refs are still more likely to simply turn their eyes to one who last evaded an attack, and keep focusing on that one fencer until a touche is made, an obvious parry or obvious falling short.
ruclips.net/video/h6ExIKbPZQE/видео.html

[@bikingfencer]

I called them as the refs did

[@connord5827]

0:54 he goes to close out and it's not one light so it should be attack right?

[@prototoast]

Assuming a fencer executed this correctly, how often do you think he would actually get the call?

[@iainmcclure416]

To be honest, you will get more success the higher up you go in competition standards.

[@kimphill2008]

Great idea if it were called consistently.