Parries

Well, what can I say about parries that is new. Not much besides the fact that we all need to practice them. There is a great site that goes through many types of parries based on the Polish system of sabre. Their website is at www.kismeta.com. I hope this website doesn't mind my refering to them. As well, most of the parries I will post on this site will be followed by a riposte. You should practice ripostes when parrying since counterattacking an opponent's attack is difficult to do well.

My Parrying Style

The parries that I was first taught are all based on the use of the quillons and hilt. I fid them quite effective but hard to do instinctively. I often revert back to bell parries. There are five basic parries. I hope you find them helpful. All parries,  begin in my basic guard (3rd), unless otherwise stated.

Low Inside Parry or P1

P!.b Swing your hilt towards the left (to the 4th guard), as your opponent thrusts to your lleft hip. The opponent's blade should passpast the left side of your body.

P1.a Begin in the 3rd guard, and yes I know that my guard is not quite perfect but it works for me.

P1.c Immediately execute a thrust to your opponent's torso, arm or head. The riposte should flow fluidly from the parry.

Low Inside Hilt Parry or HP1

HP1.b

HP1.a

HP1.c

Begin in 3rd. Rather rotating your hand into a supinated position, you kep the quillons pointing up and down with your thumb being on top. Reach forward a bit so that you don't need to parry as far to the left(I always parry too musch as can be seen in the photo).The opponent's blade is deflected by your quillons and continues past your body on your left. I also tend to include my off-hand in the parry, in case I miss with my quillons. Extend your blade to riposte your opponent keeping the quillons in the same vertical position. The off-hand can also trap the opponent's blade as you extend your sword to a thrust to you opponent.

High Inside Parry or P2

P2.b

P2.c

This parry is very similar to P1 but you raise your arm to parry your upper inside torso.The hilt of your sword should be lower than your point (unlike mine in the picture). Keep your point on your opponent at all times in almost evey parry.. This is very important to remember. Your riposte is similar to the previous two but to the upper torso or head,

Parries 2