Refused Posture with Rapier

Fencing with the offside leading or lead-side “refused” can be an excellent way to remove the weapon from your opponent’s control, maximize your striking measure, and bring your offside defence or weapon to bear.

Guards and Attacks: In this first pair of lessons on the subject we will explore the mechanics of attacking from offside leading postures.

Gaining and Stringere: We look at how to gain the opponent’s sword when beginning from a refused position. We then look at how to adapt to an opponent’s responses in order to maintain control and strike.

Recovering Control: If your opponent gains your sword strongly and attacks with a bold forward attack, the refused postures can be an excellent way to move back strongly and regain control with the sword or with your offhand. These lessons look at both of these options.

Countering Refused: We look at how to counter the refused position by first exploiting the withdrawn distance of the opponent’s sword, then by drawing the refused fighter into parrying with their offhand and then deceiving it.

Acknowledgement of Safety and Risk

  1. Practice all exercises slowly and with control.
  2. Practice using training swords that are not sharp and are specifically made for practice.
  3. Use protective gear for all exercises. In many of our videos we are not wearing head, throat or body protection in order to make clear explanation more possible. You should always use protective gear when practicing these arts regardless of the exercise.
  4. Be aware that injuries in training are always possible. Ensure that you are practicing with care and caution at all times.
  5. DuelloTV is not responsible for any injuries that occur as a result of sword practice inspired from our videos.

About Instructor

Devon Boorman

115 Courses

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Course Includes

  • 8 Lessons
  • 23 Topics