The Attacker

Who's the attacker?

The attacker is the fencer who initiates the exchange with a committed offensive action. All other actions, such as defense and counterattacks, happen in response to this decision.

RoW has the advantage of action over reaction (virtual but sound). This is because the person who can react is obliged to do so. Simply striking back after ignoring the attack is a risky and unsafe trade.

To maintain priority, an attack must be continuous, accelerated, simple or compound with the intention to hit. Subtle technical deviations from the "ideal cut" do not remove priority; however, hesitation, withdrawal, or passive waiting will. Attacks require forward intention and presence. A retreating or reactive fencer cannot be the attacker.

Knowing who the attacker is enables the referee to correctly interpret the exchange and reward fencing that demonstrates initiative and tactical thinking.

These clips are tactically asymmetrical situations. Only one attacker. Situation descriptions: attack right/left - counter-attack (left/rigt) - point for attacker.

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Questions to this example

Q1: i have a question to this video. In this case right initiates the movement but lowers sword (loses threat here or not? i think should) and left counters into this. So left should get the point because right was not threatening at a point. Do I get this right?

Q2: RoW is new to me so please excuse me for some basic questions. I am wondering how one parries to take the priority. For example, can one do a blade beat/academic parry or does it need to be against an incoming attack?

Answers:

Q1: i have a question to this video. In this case right initiates the movement but lowers sword (loses threat here or not? i think should) and left counters into this. So left should get the point because right was not threatening at a point. Do I get this right?

A1: that is a cut from below, i don't think he takes it back at any point. he just makes a simple cut from below - which includes lowering the point. i think this is a clean case of a simple attack from right.

the movement of the point while the fencer guides the blade is normal, every cut has an arc of movement, why would lowering the point be different from a cut from above?

attacks are attacks because they are comitted actions, and they fail when they are cancelled, retracted, and/or fall short.

in this video the move shows none of those, its just a cut from below. his hands are moving straight forward, even accelerating.

the opposite point of view: the attacked fencer has to defend against incoming attacks, not hope that dome technicality will save them. (there is no technicality here, i mean this as a general approach)

there are tactics for preventing, manipulating attacks, and there are ways we can recognise, anticipate, and manipulate the opponents intent during movement, but this snippet does not show this kind of preparation. it's a reflexive counterattack into an attack. if there had been relevant preparation and a successful defensive tactic not shown in the video, this situation would not have looked like this.

the attack is fine, from the intent and execution point of view, although some rulesets might to add a flat/edge requirement -- which does not change the dynamic of the action itself.

btw cutting with the short edge from below is done like this, even if maybe in this case he probably used the thumb grip which changes the edge alignment (its a question of technique, but it remains a simple attack anyway.)

btw thank you for asking it's important to keep up a conversation about such issues

Q2: RoW is new to me so please excuse me for some basic questions. I am wondering how one parries to take the priority. For example, can one do a blade beat/academic parry or does it need to be against an incoming attack?

A2: yes parries are done against incoming attacks. attacks on the blade (engagement or bind, and beats) are a different category.

we did discuss with @Anton Kohutovič that the attacks on the blade should be added to the rules, to clarify exactly this question, without it some referees think someone who made a beat got parried. i am not sure if it has been added already.

attacks on the blade can be made by an attacker or a defender, the attacker retains, the defender seizes the right of way. it is not a defensive action.

the same requirements stand as to other actions, if someone only does a beat but then doesnt take on the offensive, or fails the attack, they can lose it again.

if both of them beat at the same time, traditionally it is the attacker who keeps the right of way.