Static Guards

We began with static guards to develop three things:

  • Acting on opportunities from any blade position
  • Countering incoming strikes from any position
  • Avoiding predictability (not relying on 1–2 comfortable guards)

Opposite Guards

  • You and your partner occupy the same side/position
    (e.g., both at 3 o’clock, both high right)
  • The only variation:
    • High vs Low (to avoid matching)

Mirrored Guards

  • Your blade sits directly across from theirs
    (e.g., their 3 o’clock = your 9 o’clock, their high right = your high left)

Most people are uncomfortable here, which creates an advantage.

Moving Guards

We then introduced movement.

Opposite Moving Guards

  • Both partners move through the same pattern:
    • Side to side (3 ↔ 9)
    • Diagonal (high right ↔ low left, etc.)
  • Exception:
    • When one moves high to low, the other moves low to high

Timing Drills – Striking the Arm

When your partner is moving, you attack the endpoints.

Example (high/low movement):

  • Use a rhythm/mantra:

“High… high… high… HIT”

This builds timing so you strike as they arrive—not while they’re moving.

Then repeat for:

  • Low
  • All other angles

Timing Drills – Striking the Body

Now we move past the guard.

Example (high to low movement):

“High… low… high… IN”

  • As their guard drops → you enter and strike
  • Then get back out immediately

Repeat:

  • High entry
  • Low entry
  • All angles

90° Entry with Mirroring

Now match their movement and enter at an angle.

Example:

  • As they cycle high → low → high:

“High to low to high… IN”

You enter as they drop, then exit quickly.

Creating Timing from Static Guards (Using Fakes)

We return to static guards and introduce deception.

Principle:

  • Wherever they are positioned on the circle
  • You fake 180° across the diameter

This forces their blade to move.

Now you have two options:

  • Strike at the end point of your fake (where their blade moves to)
  • Strike where their blade originally was (hardest place for them to recover to)

Using Guards and Deception Together

We discussed how guards are used to:

  • Present opportunity
  • Control perception
  • Set up entries

Using Predictability as a Trap

Repetition is not always bad—if used intentionally.

  • Repeat the same movement 3–4 times
  • Add a slight pause at the endpoint
  • Let them see and feel the opportunity

Then exploit their response.

Key Principles

Pressurizing

Use the threat of the blade (edge, point, or both) to control attention and thinking.

Unpredictability

Avoid patterns so you can’t be read.
Use repetition selectively to set traps.

Guard Manipulation

Your guard is not just defensive—it invites specific attacks.

Rhythm Disruption

Establish a rhythm, then break it to catch them off-balance.

Feigning Readiness (or Lack of It)

Appear open, slow, or distracted—while actually prepared to counter.

Final Point

Guards are not static positions.

They are:

  • Relationships
  • Opportunities
  • Tools for control, deception, and timing

Work them that way.