Zufechten

Pre-fencing/Onset

The first of the Stages of the Exchange in which the combatants approach and seek an opening.

The initial section of the fight in which we seek the advantage over the opponent. The fencers move between the guards looking for an opening or a weakness to exploit, and may strike various feints as a way of probing the opponent's defences. often this is where the Provoker comes into play as one fencer uses threats and deceptions to force a reaction, then leverages it to close and attack.