Approaching with Rapier II: Strategy

Prerequisite: This course assumes the knowledge of the three Rapier Fundamentals courses.

Approaching is the part of the sword fight where we move toward the opponent to control and attack. It may be how the sword fight begins, or a particular moment when we decide to approach.

Strategic Pressure: Now that we have the mechanical tools we need to control the opponent’s weapon, we will look at the strategic implications of that control. We’ll look at how “finding the sword” constrains the opponent in such a way that their next action becomes predictable and more easily exploited.

The Flow of Combat: We will explore a straight forward flow chart for rapier strategy called “The True Fight”. This flow chart explores how to constrain the opponent and then respond to them logically at each measure based on their direction of movement and the actions of their sword. This strategy is the foundation of all Italian Rapier combat.