As a “first touch” sport, speed is obviously a critical factor to victory in Lightspeed Saber. However, speed is often erroneously tied to excessive force or power, which both diminishes our sport, and can lead to penalties or disqualification for individual competitors. Here’s how to fence competitively and safely, and how to spot instances of reckless or irresponsible fencing.

WHAT IS EXCESSIVE FORCE/POWER?

Excessive force is the inaccurate acceleration of an attack.

Because Lightspeed Saber contacts (aka “hits”) are judged based on the slightest touch, the only acceleration necessary for a successful attack is that which delivers it to a target’s surface and no further. Any acceleration beyond this point may be charitably considered a misjudgment of the target area’s distance and/or place in space.

Accurate vs Inaccurate Acceleration

 

ARE YOU USING EXCESSIVE FORCE? (BLADE-SIGN)

We advocate for understanding visual markers of excessive force so that you can self-correct and correct your teammates.

  • Strike multiple targets on the opponent

  • Bounce or hit multiple times on the same target on said opponent

  • Vibrate or wobble

  • Press or bend into the target

  • Glance off the target

Attack strikes multiple targets on opponent

Attack bounces or strikes multiple times

Attack bends severely into opponent

Attack glances off or presses into target

Attack skips, bounces, wobbles, or vibrates on the opponent

The visual cues are collectively known as “blade-sign”. Not every fair attack lacks blade-sign, but every excessive attack has some.

 

WHAT DOES A GOOD ATTACK LOOK LIKE?

Throwing a successful attack is easy. Throwing a safe attack is too. Throwing a good attack— one that is successful and safe— takes nuance and skill.

A good attack does two things: 1) accelerates rapidly to a specific target (not a whole person), and 2) brakes as the attack is arriving on the target.

Good attacks are also usually accurate, hit one target once, and usually do not needlessly windup or exceed the target.

But even wound up sweeps can be done safely and competitively.

 

WHAT IS BRAKING AND HOW SHOULD IT BE DONE?

Braking is the act of reducing the speed of an attack, usually just as it is arriving on the surface of the intended target area. This can be achieved with two primary methods: 1) a PERCUSSIVE CUT or 2) a DECELERATING CUT.

PERCUSSIVE CUT

In a percussive cut, the weapon accelerates to the target then rapidly accelerates in the opposite direction as it touches the surface of the target, returning more or less to its original position when the attack was initiated.

To perform a good percussive cut:

  1. Accelerate your attack up to to the surface of the target (preferrably an armored one).

  2. Quickly retract your arm or wrist and withdraw the weapon.

  3. DO NOT leave the weapon extended after the contact.

A set of well-executed percussive attacks.

Leaving the weapon at extension after a percussive cut is called “holding” and is unsafe and illegal.

DECELERATING CUT

In a decelerating cut, the blade continues to move in its original arc even after making contact with the surface of the target area, but with a distinct relaxation, collapse, or demotivation of the arms as the contact is being made.

To perform a good decelerating cut:

  1. Accelerate your attack.

  2. At the apex of the attack (when the attack reaches its maximum range) relax or collapse your arm.

  3. You can allow momentum to carry the weapon through the remainder of its path.

  4. Keep the tip of the weapon in front of you, rather than to your side or behind you (this adds unnecessary torque to the cut).

Note how the arm collapses after reaching the apex of the attack

The continuously accelerating attack cuts a large angle, 180° or more (pay attention to the travel of the blade tip). This is excessive and unnecessary.

Continuous acceleration offers little to no speed advantage, but can lead to joint damage and self-injury. The decelerating attacks are fast, safe(r), and effective.