As I started to write part 5 (the hierarchy of actions for the outside stringer), I realised I could put the entire list of actions in a single post. Therefore, for convenience, I have taken the content from parts 2, 3 and 4 and combined them in this post to make it easier to follow. Make sure you read parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 before reading this, otherwise this post will not make sense.
As a reminder, here is the hierarchy of actions from both fencer's perspectives:
I will go through each of these boxes one by one.
You have them stringered. If they do nothing, thrust them
Blue fencer (fencer A) approaches orange fencer (fencer B) and gains a weak stringer on the inside, and then a strong stringer by turning towards quarta. If orange fencer does nothing, blue thrusts them in quarta.
If you are stringered, disengage from the stringer and counter-attack
The above takes at least two tempos, therefore orange fencer will disengage from the stringer and attempt to counter-thrust blue fencer on the outside in seconda.
(Note, as we have seen from part 3, this assumes that orange fencer is NOT a clever fencer.)
Blue fencer has four main categories of actions to counter this, with a few more advanced variations that can be performed. These are:
1. To counter-thrust in one tempo
2. To parry and riposte in two tempos
3. To perform a void attack
4. To counter-disengage and attack
1. Counter-thrust in one tempo
As orange disengages from the inside to outside to thrust, blue counter-thrusts with (or without) a lunge in seconda.
Advanced variations
There are two variations of this same play, both of which involve fencer A making a passing step forwards with their left foot instead of a lunge, and performing an action with the left hand:
Fencer A uses their left hand to grab the hand/hilt/wrist of fencer B while they thrust in seconda. Video here: https://swordschool.com/wiki/index.php/Plate_9
Fencer A grabs the strong of their own blade and half-swords to gain leverage on fencer B's sword, and they stab fencer B in the throat.
If orange was a clever fencer...
Parry and riposte in two tempos
The counter to this is that, when orange disengages to the inside, they should feint a thrust. Then when blue performs the counter-thrust, orange should parry and riposte in two tempos. The parry can be in seconda, or it can be a beat to the blade. The riposte is then a thrust in seconda.
2. Parry and riposte in two tempos
As orange fencer disengages from the inside to the outside and makes a thrust, blue fencer parries the thrust in seconda or with a beat, and then ripostes with a thrust in seconda.
If orange was a clever fencer...
Disengage
When blue attempts the parry, orange fencer will avoid the parry with a disengage and then thrust in quarta.
3. Void attack
Orange disengages from the inside and thrusts on the outside. Blue steps to his/her left and thrusts orange in seconda under the arm.
If orange was a clever fencer...
Parry-riposte in two tempos
If orange fencer was clever, when stringered, they would disengage with a feint, and then parry blue's attack and riposte a thrust in seconda.
4. Counter-disengage
As orange disengages from the inside to the outside, blue counter-disengages by following orange's sword, with the result that both fencer fencer up on the inside, where blue then thrusts in quarta.
If orange was a clever fencer...
Counter-disengage
Orange can actually do a number of things against a counter-disengage, including a parry-riposte or a counter-thrust. However, for learning purposes, orange will counter-disengage. This basically means that, following orange's first disengage from inside to outside, blue counter-disengages to get orange back on the inside, so orange disengages again during blue's counter-disengage to get back on the outside, and then thrusts in seconda.
Videos
The entire hierarchy of actions drill can be seen from both stringers here: https://www.swordschool.com/wiki/index.php/Hierarchy_of_Actions_drill
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