Point In Line, In Depth!

     I was recently made aware of a misconception regarding the point in line and right of way among the fencers at Goucher.  These people operate under the assumption that the Point In Line (hereafter abbreviated PIL) is the ‘ultimate weapon’ in foil and saber; they hold that if PIL is established the only thing the opponent may do is break the PIL via a beat or a parry.
     

     The PIL is not the Death Star of the fencer’s repertoire.  It is correct that the PIL takes priority over any other action - the attack included!  Now, does that mean PIL is an attack or not?  More on this later.
     

     However, it is erroneous to believe that the establishment of a PIL limits the opponent’s options.  It doesn’t.  In some cases, putting up a PIL makes it EASIER for the opponent to score (though not so much now since the hands were declared invalid target area).

     The point in line is established by the meeting of the following conditions PRIOR to an opponent’s attack:
     1.  Weapon arm must be fully extended
     2.  Straight line from the point of the weapon, through the hand, to the shoulder
     3.  Point is directed at a valid target area
     4.  No blade movement except to derobe the opponent’s efforts to find the blade
     5.  The fencer must be standing still, moving forward or backward.

     Now, let’s analyze those conditions before I continue.  Question:  What’s the first condition required for the establishment of a valid point in line?  Think it over...

     Okay, time’s up.  Did you say the weapon arm must be fully extended?  If you did, you’re wrong.  “But Rudi,” you say.  “That’s what the list says!”

     “But no,” I reply, “you forget the preceding sentence!”  That’s the one which states “...following conditions PRIOR to an opponent’s attack.”  So, if your opponent starts an attack and you extend your arm and he runs into it, assuming you both hit who gets the point?  Your opponent, that’s who.  He attacks, and you counterattacked.  You did not have PIL because you waited until after he began his attack.

     Therefore, the first thing you must do is make sure that you establish ALL FIVE of the conditions before your opponent starts his attack.  No argument, no question.

     That said, let’s keep going.
     1.  “Weapon arm must be fully extended.”  That means what it says - your weapon arm can NOT be moving.  Your arm is straight and your arm is outstretched towards your opponent.  Nothing else matters here.
     2.  “Straight line from the point of the weapon, through the hand, to the shoulder.”  Again, very simple.  There must be a straight line created and maintained.  If you lose this straight line you lose the point in line.  No V-shaped points in line.
     3.  “Point is directed at a valid target area.”  You can’t, for example, point your saber towards the floor and expect that to be called PIL.  You can’t even point your saber at your opponent’s legs.  It must be pointed directly at a valid target area, IE if you were to just walk forward and not move your blade you’d still hit and score.
     4.  “No blade movement except to derobe the opponent’s efforts to find the blade.”  Simplified a little, that means you can disengage only if your opponent tries to find, beat, or otherwise take control of your blade.  No beatings, parries or anything else on your part is permissible.
     5.  “The fencer must be standing still, moving forward or backward.”  This is included to placate the rules-fencers and also to avoid physical contact so that when Fencer A who fleches into Fencer B’s point in line and also runs over Fencer B, Fencer B can maintain the PIL by retreating to avoid getting run over again.  It’s a call to cleaner fencing (and a big fat card for Fencer A, the git).
    
     If the PIL is established correctly, the opponent must avoid it (IE Not Get Hit), remove it (either by beat or parry) or otherwise cause the fencer who has PIL to no longer have PIL.  Ideas for this include a feint or a deliberately left-open opening.  The act of establishing a valid PIL does not grant the fencer any immunity whatsoever from counterattacks or having their blades taken.  In fact, there are several ways to screw around with someone’s PIL.
    
     **Ways to get them to break it**
     1.  Pretend to launch a beat and “miss,” the idea here being to go second intention and hit them on a parry riposte.
     2.  Step back out of range.  Most people who use PIL aren’t used to following their opponent, so this provides you a wealth of options to back up, have them follow you, fake an attack to get them to flinch, then proceed with the scoring.  One example of this uses the balestra and a faked attack (NOT a feint) to make a noise loud enough to make the opponent flinch - which breaks the point - and then proceeds with the attack.

     **Ways to break it**
     1.  Beat attack:  It is what it says.  If you successfully beat your opponent’s blade you have broken their point and now have right of way to attack.
     2.  Blade bind in opposition:  A variant on the beat, you bind up their blade - thus taking control of it - and slide down to score.  Not entirely recommended for saber since the guard is “automatic parryland,” but if you have clearly established control of the blade and happen to slide down into the lower third of the blade, you still have right of way and a broken point on your opponent’s side.
    
     **Ways to avoid it**
     1.  The riskiest is always to just attack into the line.  This is NOT RECOMMENDED as there’s the issue that the PIL was set up to be most effective against such a tactic.  But, it’s an option.
     2.  For foil, hit them somewhere off target and make them do it again.  For saber, hit them somewhere off target but since the off target doesn’t stop the action slide your blade up onto valid scoring area as soon as possible.

     There is a significant difference between what the opponent MUST do and what they SHOULD do; nary shall the two meet.  For example, in order to score with a riposte a fencer MUST first parry successfully. Contrariwise, a fencer SHOULD parry when attacked, but may choose to counterattack, launch an attack into preparation, or some other random thing.  Do Not make the mistake of thinking PIL will keep you safe from everything & everyone.  Like all other fencing techniques and actions, it works best when used appropriately.

     Lastly, is the point in line an attack?  What’s the difference between the two, if there even IS one?

     Point in Line is NOT an attack.  For the attack, an extendING arm is required.  A PIL requires an extendED arm.  The difference lies in the motion (or lack thereof) and the timing.  When your weapon arm is moving, you’re attacking (or counterattacking, don’t be literal).  If your arm is stationary, you’re Pointing-In-Line.  Theoretically, you can lunge, miss, keep your arm extended and if your opponent runs back onto your point, you’re good. 

     However, I should stress the point that the preceding scenario is extremely rare in occurrence because most directors tend to call that as “initial attack no, continuation yes” ONLY IF the opponent’s attack does not arrive.  If it does arrive and there’s no attempt made to parry, it’s “attack no, counterattack arrives, continuation.”

     The best thing for you to do is experiment with the point in line against different fencers.  See who it works against, and who it doesn’t.  Find out why it doesn’t work against them and try to create scenarios where it DOES work.  Experiment, review, and repeat the process against as many people as you need to in order to feel comfortable.  I will be more than happy to assist by playing out different styles of fencing I’ve seen and fenced against - all you have to do is ask.

     That concludes this edition of Coachly Thoughts.  Stay tuned for next time where I take on the Lunge!