Counter Attacking in Foil Fencing

Video Transcript

"The counter attack is any attack that I begin after my opponent has begun an attack and I do it before I attempt to parry. So a counter attack is like it sounds an attack I make in response to my opponent's attack. It is kind of a risky attack to take in foil because if my opponent has established right of way the odds are on her side, if her touch lands at the same time my touch lands, right of way is hers. But there are a couple of instances where a straight counter attack would actually win even though she has established right of way. So if Syria extends her arm establishing right of way and thrusts just before I extend my arm and attempt to establish right of way late and we both hit there are a couple of ways in which I can still score the touch. One of these is if Syria flies off and does not make the touch. If you can see that she slid just over my arm and her point never met the target area. Another way is if she misses the target area altogether if she hits off target area. So again if she established right of way first by extending right of way just before I did but she hit my arm, say even if she were to hit my arm squarely it is off target. So if I land a touch here on her chest which is prime target area at the same time that the touch is mine then I have performed a successful if risky counter attack."