Old Stuff - Reading comittment to attacks. Beathing a charger via pivot
Wow, been a long time since I updated this thing. Lets recap the last single session before XMas which was dealing with chargers via pivot.
Beating a charger via pivot actually falls into the larger category of skills, which is reading your opponent. It is important to try and read your opponent, what are their objectives, what are they going to do when I attack them, when will they attack me. In particular it is important to be able to distinguish between when they are attacking right now, and when they are in fact just feinting as a preparation for a real attack to come.
There are two good indicators that someone is attacking. In order to attack they must extend their sword. Also, given that you are maintaining the proper range and have not let them sneak up on you already (see later in this post), they will have to move their body towards you. Someone who has been classically trained will first extend the sword and second the body (a classic 1-2 lounge). However, you will see all variations on this. Some people will do both at the same time, other will lounge then extend, who knows. Assuming that they are going to attack in a classic lounge you can get the first indication of their attack by reading the shoulder. When they extend the sword their shoulder (on their sword arm) will rise up a bit. You can watch for this by placing the center of your gaze (which is like a good fencer unfocused and wide seeing) on their upper body and shoulder area. Then when their shoulder rises up you know that they are at least beginning to extend. Maybe at this point you wish to initiate a preemptive attack on their now extending hand. Maybe you want to prepare to parry.
The advantage of watching the shoulder is that it is the first possible tell that they are moving. However, the problem with the shoulder is that it only indicates an extension. The extension may be a feint, or other non threatening motion. This is why I prefer to watch the hips. When someone moves their body (like to lounge or slope step or advance) the first indication that they are doing so is in their hips. Depending on how squared up they are to you (with their hips facing you) their hips will either rotate, or move strait forward. It is impossible to lie with your hips (sexual innuendo aside). When the hips move forward, the rest of the person must do so also. So, assuming you are maintaining proper range, it will be impossible for your opponent to hit you without first moving forward either by advancing or lounging, or some combination there of.
The way this ties into chargers and pivots is that you can’t pivot against a uncommitted attack. Or rather, you can but it is a bad idea. If you pivot before your charger buddy is committed (read moving forward, rotating his hips), then he will be able to adjust his charge to track your pivot. He will then peg you right in the chest (yes! victory for brute strength!). Congratulations you are on your way to a big bruise, or worse. So, the solution is simple, don’t do that. Wait until you see their hips begin to move. Now that charger is committed to a strait line attack right through the space you are standing. PIVOT! Now you are not in that space. If you have time throw in a power eight parry on top of all that and you will be standing safely to the side as they blast through like a freight train. If you really have time, pivot, parry, and leave your sword pointed at them. You need to be careful while doing this however, because they could hurt them selfs by slamming into your point, which is now fixed in their path. So, be ready, keep your elbow bent, have a loose grip, be ready to drop the sword when the force gets to be to much. Not only does this work, but it looks super cool. Like a dexterous matador deftly evading and stabbing the poor brute strength bull.