How to Flick in Foil Fencing

Flicking is often perceived as the secret weapon of fencing, a magical tool used by some fencers to conquer all others. Traditional fencers scoff at flicks and bad fencers, unable to defend themselves, consider flicks tantamount to cheating. To be fair, recent timing changes by USFA (modifying how long a tip must be depressed to register a hit) have reduced the effectiveness of flicks. Nevertheless, the truth is that flicks are an element of any well-trained fencer's arsenal.

This guide will outline the basic principles behind the flick and a basic defense against it.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An electrically wired foil
• A padded chair

1. The goal of the flick is to depress the tip, just like a regular attack, only faster. Stand at en garde, with your hand in neutral position (see "How to Hold a Fencing Weapon" for details).

2. Extend towards the target, usually your opponent's upper shoulder.

3. Cock your wrist back, and pushing up with your pointer finger, snap your wrist down. The action comes ONLY from your wrist, and should snap the tip the like a whip, "flicking" the target.

4. To drill this, stand behind a padded chair. Flick the seat, making sure your blade never touches the back of the chair. You should only hear the click of your tip touching the seat before your hand returns to neutral position. Notice that flicks needn't be sharp and painful to work; to the contrary, good flicks are very subtle.

5. Don't hit people until you've mastered this drill.

6. To defend against the flick, stand at en garde with your hand in neutral position.

7. Now cock your wrist up, as if you were showing your palm to your opponent. Your blade should be straight in the air, with your tip pointing slightly behind you. This is parry 3. You may wish to augment this parry by moving your forearm out slightly, thereby covering more of your back. Like all parries, your elbow should not move.

8. Riposte immediately, either directly to the chest or, fittingly, with a flick.

Tips & Warnings

• Parry 3 tends to take your opponent's blade with the foilible (upper-third of the blade).
• This guide makes no difference between flicking with a French grip and a pistol grip, because a properly executed flick is possible with both. However, pistol grips do make it easier.
• Only use your wrist to flick. If you involve your elbow and/or arm in the action, the action will be too forceful, too whip-like. You'll hit the other fencer with the whole blade, not just the tip. The action won't work, while you'll only succeed in hurting your opponent and making a bad name for yourself.