I'm a writer and I am interested in showing a better fight. Videos like this which explain mistakes are extremely useful.

I have very limited experience with fencing, but have lately developed an interest in rapier. I've got to say, your videos are the best I've seen. Well presented with really useful information. I've also really enjoyed the videos you have of you competing. Keep up the good work and thanks for posting content that is not only useful, but also entertaining to watch.

Thank you for keeping this wonderful martial art alive. It has often appeared to me (as a non-fencer) that the modern attitude of "scoring points" has very much affected it’s utility. Modern competition and tournament emphasis has changed all the martial arts. I’m grateful that there are some old film footage on YT, of fencers from the turn of the century. I feel your video will also contribute to the authenticity of using sword ..and dagger.

Watching this was like watching Anderson Silva in his prime, they come in and then you win 😂 Love watching the best!

Hi Robert, I like the video and I think it makes a good point. Though I think a part of that is you did it well in convincing people there is a chance to exploit - and many will try to take it, including the good ones. Of course, it is hard to be successful against the reall good ones like yourself. I wonder what you will do if you have such an opponent who lowers their weapons and make a trap. Especially when you know this opponent is tall, flexible, skilled and fast.

All good points! I have fell for it.

This is the hardest flex I’ve ever seen… Subscribed. Arena Weapon Arts in Austin, TX. Stop by if you’re ever around.

It is sort of obvious that the all-or-nothing fencers let their daggers flop around forgotten in the middle of their lunge.

Most of them lost their dagger. Treating it like an afterthought or not using it at all.

I'd like to order a good, but not crazy expensive rapier/dagger set to start learning this kind of thing. What is your suggestion? I used to do some double stick fighting in Kali Escrima back in the way (which is rare as most folks cannot use two weapons at once in that style). And while there are few traps I see in this kind of thing aside from what can be done with the dagger, some of the parries look very similar as well as the use of both hands simultaneously.

Would you use a similar motion slash tactic for defeating the flèche in single sword? Maybe even sabre? I've recently started sparring with someone who uses it in sabre (and other weapons) with good timing and distance management, and it is making it very difficult to utilize my ingrained parry-counters.

Hi Rob, what I noticed is that nobody took the effort to manage your blade in some way, before attacking

Close the line before you go in.

I watched the video at quarter speed and it appears that the fencers are all attempting a fleche from out of measure (even for a fleche) and furthermore they are moving their body before or at the same time that they move their arm, as opposed to extending the arm and then following with the body per a textbook fleche. Per conventional coaching, a fleche should be executed at the same distance that one would execute a passing step lunge, and I notice that Mr. Childs breaks a little bit of ground while his opponent is in mid fleche which compounds his advantages in this situation. My gut feeling about this is that they were intimidated to be fencing Rob Childs in rapier and dagger and this contributed to the impulse to make a desperate attack. I imagine I would feel intimidated in their position as well so I'm not implying I would necessarily do something better even if intellectually I know better. It would be interesting to see if they used this tactic only against Mr. Childs and if they in fact fenced in a technically more conventional manner against other contestants. Perhaps due to having seen this video, if I fence against Mr. Childs at SoCal I will have the self-awareness to try a different tactic, or at least be mindful to extend my arm before following with my body if going with a fleche seems like the proverbial good idea at the time. Thank you for this video!

I'm baffled by how the rapierists displayed in this video do a simple attack with no preparation or engagement. A simple attack against a static opponent has a high percentage of failure against advanced rapierists, so either an engagement or a compound attack that force the opponent to move increase the probability of a successful hit. Even if the simple attack with engagement or a compound attack fail to land, the rapierist has a better chance of prolonging the phrase with counterriposte, though prolonging the phrase with daggers increases the risk of getting hit compared to single rapier.