RIGHT vs LEFT FOOT FORWARD - Which Stance is Better?

00:06:46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt6dCRD7f0s

Summary

TLDRThe video examines the dilemma of choosing between right foot forward and left foot forward stances in fencing, emphasizing that this choice depends on personal comfort, style, and tactical requirements. Historically, the prominence of each stance has varied, and the video suggests that practice should focus on functionality over historical averages. The right foot forward position supports aggressive attacking maneuvers but may compromise defense, especially on the outside line, whereas the left foot forward stance offers robust defense but makes attacks easier to predict due to the more frontal torso alignment. Ultimately, fencers are advised to select the stance that suits their style and objectives, aligning with the idea that the best stance is one that works, rather than one that conforms to statistics or trends.

Takeaways

  • ðŸĪš Right foot forward stance is generally more offensive.
  • ðŸ›Ąïļ Left foot forward stance tends to be more defensive.
  • 📜 Historical changes in stance prominence suggest varied influences.
  • ðŸ’Ą Personal comfort and style dictate stance choice.
  • ❓ Defense and attack balance should be considered in sporty contexts.
  • 🔍 Study different styles to find best stance for your fencing.
  • ⚔ïļ Training and environment also impact stance choices.
  • ðŸĪ” Approach fencing with function over idealism.
  • 👟 Footwork is key to effective fencing strategy.
  • 📈 Statistics and trends should not solely dictate stance choice.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:06:46

    The speaker discusses the debate between right foot forward vs. left foot forward stances in fencing. They explore historical perspectives, noting a divide between those who prefer the right foot forward for sports reasons versus left foot forward for more medieval or defensive approaches. They also share personal experiences trying to improve left foot forward techniques, though finding it naturally more defensive and limiting in attack compared to the right foot stance. Overall, the balance between defense and offense in these stances is influenced by personal preference, style, and historical context.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What are the main stances in fencing?

    The main stances are right foot forward and left foot forward.

  • Why is right foot forward stance considered better for attack?

    The right foot forward stance is considered better for attack because it allows for easier and quicker offensive actions.

  • Why might left foot forward stance be favored by some fencers?

    The left foot forward stance is often favored for its defensive capabilities.

  • What are the historical aspects of stances in fencing?

    Historically, the prominence of stances has varied across periods, styles, and regions.

  • How does being right-handed affect stance choice?

    Right-handed fencers might find the right foot forward stance more natural for offensive maneuvers.

  • Is the choice of stance purely personal preference?

    Yes, the choice of stance often depends on personal comfort and fencing style.

  • Why does the video suggest not worrying about stance statistics?

    Fencers should focus on what works best for them rather than adhering strictly to stance statistics.

  • Does the environment impact stance choice?

    Yes, factors such as sporting environment and training methods can influence stance choice.

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  • 00:00:00
    Hello himo friends and welcome to this
  • 00:00:02
    new video today I want to spend a couple
  • 00:00:04
    words talking about the right foot
  • 00:00:06
    forward versus left foot forward stance
  • 00:00:09
    dilemma for years there have been people
  • 00:00:12
    advocating that the prominence of the
  • 00:00:14
    right foot forward stance over the left
  • 00:00:16
    foot forward one is due to the fact that
  • 00:00:19
    our practice is a sport and not a
  • 00:00:22
    fighting SL martial art mean to H and Ma
  • 00:00:26
    people etc etc the prominence of left
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    foot forward stances over right foot
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    ones in certain medieval treaties is
  • 00:00:34
    always taken as a proof of this and a
  • 00:00:37
    line was sometimes carved to divide
  • 00:00:40
    sporty guys namely people fighting the
  • 00:00:43
    greatest majority of the times with
  • 00:00:45
    right foot forward and the point online
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    versus people standing with the left
  • 00:00:50
    foot forward while out of distance using
  • 00:00:53
    a variety of guards now this subject has
  • 00:00:56
    never been treated in a way which I
  • 00:00:58
    consider convincing basically but for
  • 00:01:02
    quite some time I considered it as
  • 00:01:04
    something really important between 2017
  • 00:01:07
    and 2019 in fact I worked a lot on my
  • 00:01:11
    left forward stances trying to deliver
  • 00:01:14
    various actions with it and exploring
  • 00:01:17
    various foor combinations to make the
  • 00:01:19
    attack out of it lesser
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    predictable spoiler alert it didn't work
  • 00:01:25
    very well but why well because the left
  • 00:01:29
    foot forward Ward stance is more
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    defensive in nature while being left
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    foot forward the Torso tend to be more
  • 00:01:36
    squared in front of the opponent so you
  • 00:01:39
    have a more frontal stance rather than a
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    bladed one which tend to naturally
  • 00:01:44
    happen more while being right foot
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    forward instead of course I'm talking
  • 00:01:49
    about the subject as a right-handed
  • 00:01:51
    dominant fencer for LEF is it's the
  • 00:01:53
    opposite as always having a frontal
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    torso makes easier to defend almost
  • 00:01:58
    equally both on the inside and on the
  • 00:02:01
    outside line but at the same time it
  • 00:02:03
    limits a little bit your performance
  • 00:02:06
    while being on the attack and here I'm
  • 00:02:08
    not talking about the technical aspects
  • 00:02:11
    of footwork you can lunge step passing
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    step side step or whatever I am talking
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    instead about the fact that your sword
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    through the hand and arm is attached to
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    your right shoulder and no matter your
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    skill level while starting an action
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    while being left forward your shoulder
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    and too will have to move more compared
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    to Landing the same action by starting
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    right foot forward and this will make
  • 00:02:41
    your attack slightly easier to
  • 00:02:44
    spot this is the main difference between
  • 00:02:47
    the two stances on average while talking
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    about long Z fencing of course with
  • 00:02:53
    one-ended weapons the topic has to be
  • 00:02:55
    treated slightly differently the right
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    foot forward stance makes makes
  • 00:03:00
    attacking slightly easier but defends
  • 00:03:03
    the outside line in a kind of meh way
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    the left forward makes for a very good
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    defense on both sides but makes the
  • 00:03:13
    initial part of your attacking motion
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    slightly easier to spot there are for
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    sure other aspects that can be touched
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    such as power development during certain
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    motions which definitely relate with
  • 00:03:27
    footwork tors rotation and does with
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    your stuns of course but this goes
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    beyond what I am discussing today which
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    is the m tactical difference between the
  • 00:03:37
    two guards and why the right foot
  • 00:03:40
    forward is so prominent nowadays if this
  • 00:03:44
    is due to the so-called sportivation of
  • 00:03:48
    the martial art this is honestly
  • 00:03:50
    something I can't know for sure but
  • 00:03:53
    looking at other styles such as the
  • 00:03:56
    Renaissance ones or as I touched the
  • 00:03:59
    topic Rec ly certain kutu styles for
  • 00:04:02
    instance we see how much the right foot
  • 00:04:05
    forward versus left foot forward balance
  • 00:04:08
    changes making in certain cases the
  • 00:04:11
    right foot forward stance the most
  • 00:04:13
    prominent one certainly the way of
  • 00:04:16
    training culture and even something as
  • 00:04:19
    trivial as what was trending at that
  • 00:04:22
    moment are all factors which may have
  • 00:04:25
    influenced why it seems that for a
  • 00:04:28
    certain given period of time the left
  • 00:04:30
    foot forward stance was the way to go
  • 00:04:33
    today our practice is most probably
  • 00:04:36
    slightly different we can thrust more
  • 00:04:38
    easily and safely and yes of course in
  • 00:04:42
    the sportive environment the fencer who
  • 00:04:44
    hits scores the point so attacking is
  • 00:04:48
    clearly important and maybe not risking
  • 00:04:51
    our life in the process makes the
  • 00:04:53
    balance between defense and offense
  • 00:04:56
    different too but this has to be
  • 00:04:58
    considered together with all the other
  • 00:05:01
    aspects I already mentioned anyway so to
  • 00:05:05
    put it short historically speaking who
  • 00:05:08
    knows we have great variety depending
  • 00:05:10
    from style period and region while
  • 00:05:13
    talking about this subject noway instead
  • 00:05:17
    well just pick the one that you find
  • 00:05:19
    more comfortable depending from your
  • 00:05:22
    fencing style for instance if you fence
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    from poona or vag quite a lot being left
  • 00:05:28
    foot forward is a good choice even if
  • 00:05:31
    you are an aggressive fencer you see
  • 00:05:34
    it's not always a black or white kind of
  • 00:05:36
    situation the right foot forward is on
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    average a better aggressive stance and
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    the left foot forward is on average a
  • 00:05:44
    better defensive stance so pick the
  • 00:05:46
    stance that works best for your style
  • 00:05:49
    and don't care about how much times f is
  • 00:05:52
    start the right foot forward or left
  • 00:05:53
    foot forward in percentage turns you're
  • 00:05:56
    not fur and neither am I make your
  • 00:06:00
    fencing work this is the main goal
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    eventually you will end up looking more
  • 00:06:05
    like an old Master by researching
  • 00:06:08
    function over ideal funny enough in fact
  • 00:06:12
    as Bruce Lee never said if you put water
  • 00:06:15
    into a cup it becomes the cup but if you
  • 00:06:18
    put water into the toilet it disappears
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    so try doing something useful with your
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    fencing don't chase ideal Chase goals
  • 00:06:28
    instead
  • 00:06:29
    very good people I hope you will find
  • 00:06:31
    this video useful in some ways thanks
  • 00:06:33
    for watching as always and remember to
  • 00:06:35
    check my patreon link in the description
  • 00:06:38
    if you want to help me and the
  • 00:06:40
    channel thanks for watching and uh as
  • 00:06:43
    always see you next time
Tags
  • fencing
  • stances
  • right foot forward
  • left foot forward
  • defense
  • attack
  • footwork
  • historical fencing
  • tactical choices
  • personal preference