Lunge

This section shows lunges similar to the ones used for attacks in Fencing. I am just a novice fencer and these lunges are not used in Aikido so the point here is not to teach Fencing. The point of this section is to show how fighting works.

Example 1, Basic Lunge

Movie of Basic Lunge.

Fig. 1 Start		Fig. 2 Jump

1. Fig. 1 shows the start position. Nage is ready to start the Lunge. The elbow of Nage's sword hand is about four inches from Nage's body and Nage's right arm is up in something close to a fencing position.
2. In Fig. 2 Nage is jumping forward. The jump coordinates the upward movement of Nage's arm with Nage's step. In fencing I was taught to get the arm up and straight early so that I could get credit for attacking. This coordination is very different from a Karate punch and many students have trouble with it. High level fencers appear to me to be using the jumping coordination.

   Fig. 3 Finish

3. Fig. 3 shows the finish. Nage is stretched out as far as possible. The lunge is deep with Nage leaning forward. The rear arm is reaching back so that Nage can lean as far forward as possible. The sword arm should be fully extended. My elbows will not straighten out so I was never considered to be the attacker. The idea of this position is to enter very quickly and stab your partner while keeping your body as far back as possible. The next section will consider your partner parrying Nage's attack. In that case Nage has to quickly retreat to avoid being stabbed. In real fighting Nage cannot stop. At this point Nage must either retreat or continue advancing.

Example 2, Step Lunge

Movie of Step Lunge.

Fig. 4 Start		Fig. 5 Jump

1. Fig. 4 shows the start position. Nage is ready to start the Lunge. This is the same as the basic lunge.
2. Fig. 5 shows Nage jumping. Nage's sword arm is coming up just like a regular jump. Nage's right arm is extending back like a Fencing lunge.

   Fig. 6 Arm Extended		Fig. 7 Step

3. Fig. 6 shows Nage's back (right) leg coming forward and the sword extended in the middle of the jump.
4. Fig. 7 shows the step.

   Fig. 8 Finish

5. Fig. 8 shows the point at which the training knife hit the wall. Even with this short sword there was not enough room to complete the lunge. It should end like the Basic Lunge in Fig. 3. For Fencers having the rear foot cross in front of the front foot is considered risky. For Aikido a modification of this lunge makes a fast, powerful and effective move.