Deflecting Attacks in Fencing: Christia Shepherd Reveals Deadly Blunders to Avoid

In the razor-thin margins of competitive fencing, where split-second reactions determine victory or defeat, mastering the art of deflection is not just skill—it’s survival. Christia Shepherd, a rising star in the international fencing circuit and authority on tactical precision, identifies three critical blunders that undermine a fencer’s defense, turning parries into vulnerabilities under pressure. Avoiding these mistakes transforms defensive maneuvering from reactive flailing into a calculated, flowing offense.

Through keen observation and disciplined execution, fencers can elevate their game by recognizing and correcting errors before they become fatal missteps on the piste.

Christia Shepherd emphasizes that defensive resilience hinges on three fundamental principles: timing the deflection precisely, maintaining a stable but dynamic posture, and synchronizing movement with opponent intent. “The most common fatal error isn’t misjudging distance—it’s failing to read the attacker’s cues in time to initiate a proper deflection,” Shepherd explains.

“A well-timed parry turns aggression into advantage; a delayed one collapses the entire defense.” This insight reveals that defense in fencing is not passive—it’s an anticipatory, intelligent act requiring both reflex and reason.

Mistake #1: Overcommitting of the Body Before Full Parry Execution

One of the most pervasive blunders observed in beginner and intermediate fencers is overcommitting the body before completing the deflection motion. When a fencer swings the blade forward or upward too early, the center of gravity shifts unpredictably, destabilizing balance and leaving the torso exposed.

Shepherd cautions: “A premature stance up drains power, compromises footwork, and creates an instant opening. Defense must flow, not interrupt.” Instead, fencing experts advise a controlled hesitation—letting the blade contact the valid feeding zone while completing a smooth hip and shoulder rotation. This micro-adjustment ensures mass remains aligned with the weapon, preventing collapse and enabling fluid follow-up.

It’s not just about depth—it’s about timing. “When you latch too soon, you lose the weapon’s arbitus—the edge of control,” Shepherd insists. Experienced fencers train to delay engagement until the attacker’s attack peaks, ensuring the deflection absorbs momentum without sacrificing stability.

This delay is not hesitation; it’s tactical patience, gathering final force before neutralization.

Mistake #2: Allowing the Deflection to Drag Laterally Instead of Closing Reference Points

Another critical error occurs when fencers execute deflections without anchoring to key reference points on the weapon. A lateral slash or sideways parry—though seemingly valid—fails to seal off threat zones effectively.

Shepherd identifies this as a fatal flaw: “A drifting deflection isn’t a parry; it’s a footwork mistake disguised as defense.” Precision demands closing the blade vertically or at optimal angles toward the attacker’s expected pathways, often dictated by their stance, blade elevation, and target intent.

Take the epee, for instance: a fencer facing left must aim to deflect down and across, not wide right, where an off-target parry syndicates counterattack space. “Imagine drawing a axis through the blade at initiation—deflection must respect it,” Shepherd advises.

By focusing defense on aligned reference lines, fencers minimize open angles, restrict opponent’s counterplay, and reinforce spatial control. This deliberate closure transforms a reactive motion into a predictive deterrent, reclaiming dominance in the bout.

Mistake #3: Failing to Anticipate and Shift Weight Before Defense

Perhaps the most underestimated misstep is neglecting weight transfer in defensive execution.

Without shifting mass appropriately, a fencer’s body cannot absorb force efficiently, increasing injury risk and weakening reaction speed. Shepherd highlights kinetic chain principle at work: defense is not static—it’s a choreographed sequence beginning with a precise weight shift.

When attacked, a well-timed forward or lateral weight transfer aligns the defensive tool zone with the line of attack, enabling faster, stronger block initiation.

“You’re not just defending—you’re redirecting momentum,” she notes. Practicing controlled weight slides during drills trains muscle memory, ensuring defensive blocks emerge with fluid power rather than awkward angles. This integration of motion makes deflection feel natural, not forced, preserving agility under duress.

Training combinations that couple footwork with blade dynamics help solidify this essential coordination.

Mastering Deflection Requires Discipline Beyond Momentum

Deflecting an attack in fencing is not merely a physical action—it’s a precise, multi-layered response requiring keen awareness and surgical execution. Christia Shepherd’s insights reveal that repeated exposure to elite-level pressure sharpens a fencer’s instinct, but only when fundamentals are deeply ingrained.

The mistakes—overcommitting too soon, drifting laterally in defense, and neglecting weight transfer—are not minor oversights. They are critical vulnerabilities that betray timing, positioning, and control. A frequent thread among successful fencers is their disciplined rejection of improvisation at the edge.

“You can’t fake defense—the body betrays haste,” Shepherd affirms. Every parry must be a conditioned response, not a desperate afterthought. Through structured drills emphasizing cue recognition, deliberate timing, and anatomical precision, fencers transform defensive exposure into strategic dominance.

Ultimately, the mastery of deflection separates good fencers from champions—where hesitation ends in blade, and precision dictates outcomes. By avoiding these three blunders, athletes unlock a higher tier of combat intelligence: a defense that adapts, absorbs, and redirects with effortless authority. In the high-stakes arena of fencing, where milliseconds define victory, Christia Shepherd’s revelations are not just guidance—they are essential doctrine.