The Tactical Wheel is a continuing development of actions popular to instruct tactics to fencers. Nevertheless, there are significant issues within the utilisation of the wheel in most three weapons, as a previous piece of mine stated, it will serve to get fencers contemplating how to choose the best tactic on the correct time to score a touch. But how does an instructor have the beginning or intermediate fencer to comprehend the relationships on this tool? One approach I have successfully used is a modification of the game Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Step one would be to ensure that your fencers know the elements within the wheel. Being a standard section of our warm-up we recite the wheel loudly being a group. I want my fencers to learn the flow of easy attack, defeated through the parry and riposte, deceived by the compound attack, intercepted by the stop hit, and as a result defeated from the simple attack.

The next step would be to assign amounts of fingers to every action: 1 for easy attack, 2 for parry-riposte, 3 for compound attack, and 4 for stop hit. As opposed to the balled fist, flat hand, or forked fingers of games like rock paper scissors the fencers will get rid of 1-4 fingers.

The third step is always to define which action beats which other actions. To varying degrees depends on your own evaluation of the wheel and also the weapon the fencers fence. As an example, 2 (parry riposte) beats 1 (simple attack) in most three weapons. However, 4 (stop hit) will forfeit to 1 (simple attack) in foil, but might cause a double hit or success in epee or sabre sometimes (a coin toss can be used to inject this degree of uncertainty).

Finally you are to fence. This drill can be achieved being a pair of fencers, an organization of three versus another group of three, or as two lines against each other with fencers rotating from one line to another as they are defeated. When the intent is to apply the drill being a warm-up activity, the number of repetitions should be limited. One solution in the rotating format is the winner of a touch stays up and loser rotates. However, it is also found in 5 touch (bout), 10 or 15 touch (direct elimination), or team formats. The more formats allow fencers to begin to evaluate opponent patterns (even though the 4 option structure probably prevents using pure iocaine powder logic), and for team mates to observe and share that information. Utilize the standard commands “on guard,” “ready,” and “fence,” with all the fencers throwing out one to four fingers on “fence.” The amount of stress on decision-making could be increased by reduction of the interval between commands to fence.

It might seem that you could attain the same training by actually fencing, but the isolation of the decision as to which action in the variable of fencer ability to carry it out emphasizes the choice of technique. The drill doesn’t require equipment, and thus fits well in warm-up or cool-down activity. It’s faster than a bout, but looks after a high degree of competitiveness between the fencers. Recommendations so that it is an efficient training tool inside our efforts to enhance our fencers’ tactical sense.
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