Saber Forum

Hey guys, I posted this in the other thread but figured it would be more appropriate to make a new one.  There were some questions on the concept of the "riposte" and I thought one way to clear it up would be to demonstrate the technique using a video.  This one has a main section on ripostes, then delves a bit into some other Makashi concepts (drawn heavily from fencing as that is my background) such as counterattacks and distance parries.

Without further ado, here is the vid!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6cIDy2BVc#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6cIDy2BVc#ws)

Any questions please feel free to ask... I made this one for you guys, to demonstrate some educational material and hopefully clear up some confusion.  I hope you enjoy it!

P.S.  I am using my new Emerald "Jacen Solo" Dark Prophecy, and my gf is using her beloved GB Aeon.

This looks incredible!! I've got the house to myself tomorrow so I'll watch the video then...and probably break out my Dark Prophecy while I'm at it ;)

Nice, love fencing styles. Really makes some people mad when they come in with a ton of heavy blows just to be jabbed in the chest with the end of the weapon.

Bee-yootiful, dude.  Really digging your take on Makashi; I'd love to see some more in-depth tutorials.  Keep it up!

Very nice! I do wish I could see more of you as it was dark, but I think the concepts are introduced well.

Obviously, we have the same concepts in our Makashi (Wudang Jian), but categorize them a bit different.

For instance: the parry-then-attack technique you showed we would separate into two exchanges-One attacking then the other one. If it is blocked we say dang (block or parry) and then the conventional word for the following technique (i.e. Pi-to chop down). 

When we counter attack right after the parry we say it is "lien" or linked. This is for the single parry/attack combo that does not offer the opponent an opportunity to respond. In other words a straight counter.

Your distance parries we classify as dodges or feints.

If we launch an attack and beat the person to it, we call it "interception".

For counter that use the opponents technique and energy, we call it a reversal (fan).

So, when I use the word "riposte" I usual mean entire family of strategies.

Again, nice work. It's good to see some more from your neck of the woods. Keep it coming!

Great work, really helps outline some of the concepts for people wanting to use makashi as their primary form.

As a hand and a half wielder, i can take a lot out of this myself, I plan to watch it more in depth again in the next little while. ive been slacking on my solo training lately and need to remedy that.

Agreed, I noticed after I started editing the video just how dark it was.  My original intent was to get outside just when it started getting dark, capture that perfect moment when the sabers are visible but so am I.  Unfortunately, after that point it's a very short window until it gets really dark, so my timing wasn't great.


Very interesting, once again we see how the techniques used are very similar - it's just the terminology that trips us up.  I would definitely say a distance parry would fall under the category of dodging, it's really the same concept (just used in a different dimension - backwards rather than to the side).  Your description of "lien" sounds most like what a fencing parry would consist of, but all of these concepts line up rather well regardless.


Thanks a lot!  I'm glad to contribute a bit, especially to take some of the pressure off you guys.  You've been putting out videos like clockwork and I've been slacking, so I figured this was a good opportunity to give the forum something to check out.


Glad you like it man, if anything is unclear I'd be happy to explain (or demonstrate in a future vid).

This was also the first time I got to edit something I put up here, I used Microsoft Movie Maker.  It took me a little bit to get used to it, but once I did it was quite simple to add the music and do the edits, and I think it turned out pretty well.

Great work, great video. It's really nice to see the two of you working together to help us! Thank you!

Most excellent. I only had time to watch the first half (just finishing my lunch break) but I will go back and review this again for sure. I love how easy it was to follow, even though I had the volume muted. :) I would have liked to see more of the body as well, but at the same time I think the blade showed a lot of the movement.

Actually we don't define direction in the technique. Any of our techs can be used in any direction. they are a bit more conceptual. One of the best feints is a false start that gets the opponent to commit and then go for the opening. That is done backward as well. VorNach pulls of a beautiful example in the Safety gear video at the end.

Brilliant sir... Wonderful demonstration of what Makashi should look like... Very precise, and very measured. Aside from the darkness the video was very clear I could see the techniques you were utilizing. Thanks for posting this!

You shold annotate those duels you an Artorious have up. There are some very clear examples of these concepts.

That is an excellent idea, not to mention making some new ones would be nice.  I will take a look at them!

Nicely done i think i can incorporate some of that into my duels!
Just curious that was some boss music whered you find it?

It's actually two tracks from the Final Fantasy VII Advent Children soundtrack.  The first is Black Water and the second is Battle at the Forgotten City.

Ok first thing I want to get this out the only formal training I had was basic defensive parries and footwork with a foil made for a ten year old. Secondly I recognized some of the same techniques in your video that I regularly use all the time. Which was awesome.

Glad I could help!  My fencing background is in foil, so I'm not surprised you recognize many of the concepts.  I'll have to make some more of these tutorials in the future to clear some things up.

Thank you. That would be awesome. :)

Can you do some Soresu next? I'm having trouble getting the hang of that one. Like the horizontal spins and such. Some dueling ideas would be nice too though.

Out of curiosity, why do you always lead with your primary foot?  If you lead with your other foot you can still use your tip to pick up the parry but it allows you to step through greatly increasing the distance of the lunge.

What it sounds like you are talking about is a crossover advance used for closing distance except your opponent attacks half way through so you are off balance and this is where I turn to master Nero to add his expertise.

Not exactly.  From a balance position you are still as just as balanced as you would be in a normal En Guarde position as you are in an En Guarde position, it's just that your front is pointed in the opposite direction.  It leaves your back open and significantly shortens your non-lunge attack distance, but in a defensive stance (like Master Nero was demostrating) it still gives enough mobility to parry while hiding your attack distance and if you are squaring your sholders you don't really loose that much in your parries.

Thank you I stand corrected. another thing I've found is that although the basics of the foil are are a good starting point. when facing off against multiple opponents E.G. 8 or so 8-10 year old boys you have to be very light on your feet.

I do know what you're suggesting, and I sometimes try that (the defensive stance with your non-weapon foot forward is quite good for disguising your reach).  However, I personally favor the traditional en garde simply because I'm used to it - all of my attacks and maneuvers are highly dependent on distance, which changes completely when you're launching an attack from that stance.  The extra reach is great for surprising somebody, but I'd rather stick with my comfort zone until I get that particular set of distances down.