Fencing Tips- How and When To Perform a Prise De Fer

Hey everyone, welcome to Tim Morehouse Fencing Club's YouTube channel. I am Tim Morehouse. In this video we're going to be talking about prise de fer. When to use it, when not to use it, what are the most common mistakes people make when using prise de fer. We're also going to be talking about how to set it up and also what else is created by the prise de fer. Because you may not get the blade, but you may create another situation where you're going to be able to score. My first expert tip for you in doing a prise de fer is don't go for a prise de fer first. When I'm fencing, I'm actually trying to pull the distance of my opponent first. And if they run into my distance or they come into my distance with their blade in a place that I can get it, then I'm going to execute my prise de fer. My second expert tip is you've got to make your prise de fer an efficient movement. The bigger your arm movement, the easier it's going to be for your opponent to see. And you want the prise de fer to be a surprise. You want them to be moving and then suddenly boom boom. My third expert tip for prise de fer is to try to make sure you do it when your feet are set and you're reaching forward. A big mistake that people make is trying to do a prise de fer as they're moving backwards. There has to be a subtle moment when you stop your feet and reach for your opponent's blade. A good prise de fer, even if you don't get your opponent's blade, might create other situations where you can score. A lot of times an opponent might pull their arm back, they might lunge earlier, or they might stop their attack. So a prise de fer is an excellent tool, not just directly but also indirectly, to try to create situations where you can score the point in a bout. You have to pick your spot for when to use prise de fer. Like any movement fencing, you want to give yourself multiple chances to succeed. That means the distance and the timing of when you execute your move is critical. You want to be at a distance where your opponent is just coming into range, but they're stepping into your distance, and you have a realistic chance of getting the blade. But you're not so close that if you miss, you can't also move and set up for another move. I hope you enjoyed our video on taking prise de fers. If there are videos you'd like to see, please let us know. If you enjoyed the video, please share it. Please subscribe somewhere. The subscribe button is located, and I look forward to sharing more videos with you.