Parry Repost

In fighting the most common scenario is for one person to attack and the other person to defend and counter attack. In fencing the sequence might look something like what follows. In Aikido the training about basic fighting is usually conducted using the 50 inch staff called a Jo. Here I am using fencing because I believe it makes the basic principles more obvious than the Jo exercises do.

Example 1, Parry Repost

Movie of Parry Repost.

Fig. 1 Start

1. Fig. 1 shows the start position with the two swordsmen facing each other.

   Fig. 2 Attack

2. In Fig. 2 the swordsman on the right is attacking.

   Fig. 3 Parry

3. Fig. 3 the swordsman on the left has stepped back and parried the attack. One steps back to parry for two reasons. First, it gives more time and puts the defender further away. As will be seen, it is not easy to parry an attack. If the defender can move back beyond the reach of the attack that adds a large margin of safety. The second reason is that if the defender does not step back the two contestants lock in a power struggle to see who can push harder, the attacker trying to keep the sword pointing at the defender and the defender trying to push the attacking sword to the side. There are always people bigger and stronger than the defender.

   Fig. 4 Repost

4. Fig. 4 shows the repost. The defender on the left has successfully parried and stepped back in to stab the original attacker. The contestants are so close that a lunge is not necessary.

Example 2, Parry Evade

Even though basic Fencing moves are fairly simple Fencing can get very complex and difficult. This example shows one way of countering a parry. Winning this game requires a high level of innate ability and a tremendous amount of practice.

Movie of Parry Evade.

Fig. 5 Start

1. Fig. 5 shows the start position with the two swordsmen facing each other.

   Fig. 6 Attack

2. In Fig. 6 the swordsman on the left is attacking.

   Fig. 7 Evade the Parry

3. In Fig. 7 the swordsman on the right attempts to parry the attack. As the right swordsman parries the swordsman on the left's sword drops avoiding the parry. Do not get the idea that this is not like Japanese sword fighting. There are slight differences but the principles of defending and stabbing in Japanese sword are essentially the same.

   Fig. 8 Stab

4. In Fig. 8 the swordsman on the left has avoided the parry and thrust into the defending swordsman.

Example 3, Aiki Parry

Aikido takes a different approach. Rather that staying as far away as possible and parrying the Aikidoka closes with the partner using the sword as a shield. Here the sword is not used as a weapon in the normal sense.

Movie of Aiki Parry.

Fig. 9 Start	Fig. 10 Shield

1. Fig. 9 shows the start position with the two swordsmen facing each other.
2. In Fig. 10 the swordsman on the left's sword is used as a shield to press down the opponent's sword. The left swordsman hides behind his sword rather than staying away from the opponent.

   Fig. 11 Strike		Fig. 12 Finish

3. In Fig. 11 the swordsman on the left's sword is being used as a shield so it is difficult to stab with it. For this reason the left swordsman's free hand strikes the opponent in the face.
4. In Fig. 12 the left swordsman's sword has been a shield as the left swordsman struck the opponent. Now the left swordsman has entered behind the opponent and can now finish the opponent. This kind of move is illegal in Fencing but it is the norm in Aikido.