strategy of individual combat

[RoaK]

Strategy? There's strategy involved in this?

In all honesty I’m not quit at that stage in my fighting where I could claim the proficiency to where I’d have a set strategy. I’m at the point right now where I’m trying to master throwing combo shots without thinking about them. Of this I’m thinking the strategy part to this would be knowing when to throw them… and there are more and more times I now see that when I fight.

Like everything else in this sport, for me anyways, my strategy is still a work in progress.

I am probably at a very similar place in my fighting as you. With all due respect, if you are not thinking constantly about what you and your opponent are doing now - you won't have learned to do it when you need it later.

Perhaps a poor choice of words on my part... I think about the fight at hand and what's going on. It's just that some of my shot combos are "automatic" for the most part once I decide to throw them. Hope that clears things up a bit.

[jester]

1) Initiative. Control the fight by controlling distance, timing, and position.
2) Distance. If you are within the reach of your opponent's weapon, then you must create a threat that he has to respond to.
3) Position. Stand where you can fight well and your opponent cannot. Position closes off lines of attack (the space your opponent's weapon must travel through to reach you) and opens lines of attack.
4) Timing. Get there first.

In less general terms:
A) Stand in a good position that you are thoroughly familiar with (you know all the ways to attack out of that position and all the ways in which you can be attacked). Attack from a good position and end your attack in another good position.
B) Enter into range behind the threat your weapon has created.
C) The first shot probably won't kill him, but you should throw it as a killing blow. Know the ways he is likely to respond to your attack and what your options are for each.
D) Three shots and out of range unless you really own him. The furball favors the man with the fast hand and the good luck.
E) Don't cross your feet, always be balanced, and keep your weight forward.
F) Fight on the oblique.
G) Never go backwards. Step sideways to create distance.
H) Deceive your opponent.

What I think I know about fighting is that the human body only moves in some very limited ways. A fendente is a fendente no matter how much you vary it. This means that you can use a solid core of bread and butter technique to become a very good fighter. If you want to be a master, talk to someone other than me, I'm still working on good let alone very good.

[Richard GateCrasher]

Why should any man at arms share their strategy?

John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus
www.mron.org

By teaching people how to beat us, we make ourselves advance and develop new strategies, sharpen skills, and learn more about ourselves. By teaching people how to beat us, we make ourselves less beatable.

Totally agree with Morgan. This is typically something I do is tell the newer folks (mostly) how to kill me. It improves both theirs and my own game.

[Vebrand]

I can add one more thing.

Throw every shot with telling force. Don't start a 4 shot combo with a weak opening shot that you expect to be blocked so you can have force on the next two or three shots. You may land that first shot and if thrown weakly you have just wasted a blow.

Vebrand

[Richard GateCrasher]

Jester... HAHHA>..

I fail miserably!

1) Initiative. Control the fight by controlling distance, timing, and position.
FAIL

2) Distance. If you are within the reach of your opponent's weapon, then you must create a threat that he has to respond to.
SOMETIMES

3) Position. Stand where you can fight well and your opponent cannot. Position closes off lines of attack (the space your opponent's weapon must travel through to reach you) and opens lines of attack.
FAIL (miserably!)

4) Timing. Get there first.
BAH.. FAIL


In less general terms:
A) Stand in a good position that you are thoroughly familiar with (you know all the ways to attack out of that position and all the ways in which you can be attacked). Attack from a good position and end your attack in another good position.
FAIL!

B) Enter into range behind the threat your weapon has created.
FAIL

C) The first shot probably won't kill him, but you should throw it as a killing blow. Know the ways he is likely to respond to your attack and what your options are for each.
PASS Hooray!

D) Three shots and out of range unless you really own him. The furball favors the man with the fast hand and the good luck.
bah.. Failed!

E) Don't cross your feet, always be balanced, and keep your weight forward.
Grrr... Failed...

F) Fight on the oblique.
failed again..
G) Never go backwards. Step sideways to create distance.
This one is depressing.. Failed!

H) Deceive your opponent.
I'm a decrepit gimp.. I can't hit.. (sometimes works)

[iomtalach]

Speaking strategically instead of tactically...

For people I know I will fight often, I make a point of finding out what their biggest strength is.

Then I find a way to beat it.

Tends to take the wind out of their sails and make them a little anxious every time they fight you after that.

Then I can fight my fight.

[jester]

Jester... HAHHA>..

I fail miserably!

Yeah, well, what I think I know and what I can actually do are two entirely different things. But understanding what I'm working towards is a big help for me.

[audax]

Yeah, Gatecrasher really sucks. That's why he's a Centurion.

[jester]

I think my next phrase should be "D'oh!"

Do you disagree with the principles, Richard? What would you say your guiding princples and strategies are?