One of the challenges for developing fencers is developing their ability to recognize the actions of their opponents and use that knowledge to gain a tactical advantage. The fencer who has this skill has a significant advantage in combat, but many fencers struggle to develop it. The Tactical Analysis Drill can provide a tool that you, as a coach, can use to help in that fight.

The Tactical Analysis Drill develops the shooter’s ability to recognize and act on the opponent’s actions by presenting the shooter with a series of actions and requiring the shooter to predict what the next action will be. This drill can be performed as a coach and fencer drill in a tail drill format at any level. It can be done as a pair exercise with two fencers, but that format requires higher intermediate or advanced participants.

(1) The coach identifies a set of related actions that the shooter is capable of performing well. At the same time, the coach identifies three cues that reflect reasonable responses to be expected from an opponent the fencer will face. In my experience, three actions work well as a set: two actions don’t provide enough variety, and four or more actions make the exercise cycle too long.

(2) The coach (or fencing partner) decides whether the skills will be presented randomly or only one skill will be presented. For example, the three actions the student is expected to take might be (a) change of contact, direct push if the opponent does not react, (b) change of contact, disengagement against lateral pressure on the blade, and (c) change of contact. commit, counter-disengage against attempting to change commit to its original line.

(3) The shooter and the coach perform three actions. In our example, if the coach wants the fencer to use all three actions, the coach would randomly respond to the change of contact with no reaction, with lateral pressure on the blade, or with an attempt to change contact. The coach uses all three signals or just one signal three times.

(4) The student has to identify if it is a series of all the actions known to the opponent (three different random actions) or if the opponent is repeating a favorite action (three of the same from any of the set of actions). This identification must be completed at the end of the second action.

(5) The student reacts appropriately to each signal.

(6) At the end of the first action, if the learner is willing to take risks, he or she can assess the likelihood of the next action and fully commit to the counteraction. This requires significant risk, as the student doesn’t know if the cycle is three of the same actions or three different actions, leading to a rather complicated set of mental math to determine the best course of action. Alternatively, the student can wait for the second action to fully commit.

(7) At the end of the second action, the student must know for sure what the next action will be and fully commit to the appropriate counter.

The Tactical Analysis Drill does not require students to make and stay with a choice to the degree required in the Analysis/Commitment Drill. His strength is in being able to determine the opponent’s scenario and in recognizing a number of different actions and combinations of actions.

This drill forces the student to keep their eyes wide open for the first and second actions, and helps train the student to recognize specific actions and action sequences. It also helps develop the ability to assess the probabilities of the opponent’s specific courses of action. By focusing on the role of identification and prediction in exercise, the student begins to develop the observational skills necessary to be a successful competitive athlete.