Find The Blade

Experience
Intermediate to Advanced

Application
This drill helps teach fencers not to move forward after a failed attempted search. It also gives fencers a good feel for finding the blade and making an attack immediately after they find the blade.

Description
Fencers A and B are just outside step distance (distance will vary with skill level - if Fencer A is much stronger then the distance will be bigger and vice versa).

Neither fencer can move initially. Fencer A is allowed to search for Fencer B's blade in counter 6. Fencer B is allowed to disengage, that's it. If fencer A is able to find B's blade, then fencer A is permitted to attack with a single lunge (no steps). Fencer B can retreat and avoid the attack with distance.

When people are a little more comfortable: If fencer A mistakenly begins moving forward before finding the blade (this happens often with some fencers who assume they'll find the blade and want to start the lunge early) and fencer B is able to avoid the search for the blade, fencer B is allowed to impale fencer A.

Another addition if you're getting the hang of things: Fencer B can attack/riposte with a lunge if he has successfully avoided fencer A's attack with distance.