A feint is a deception to provoke or cause your opponent to react. A typical feint would be a half cut which provokes an opponent to change their guard (believing they are about to be struck by a full cut), which creates a new opening for you to strike. You can feint with cuts, thrusts, and even beats of the foot. Anything which provokes a response, ideally the response you wanted from them.
A simple and common feint would be like this. Both fencers start in the outside guard, opposing each other’s blades to the outside. The attacker disengages over and delivers a half cut 1, causing the defender to react by forming the inside guard to defend against the perceived blow. During the defender’s reaction, the attacker disengages over and back to the outside and strikes with cut 2 against the forearm of the defender.
Feints with the thrust can be very quick and provide excellent defensive cover. You can also feint during ripostes (a return attack after you make a parry). A good example would be after you have successfully parried in the inside hanging guard. Most people riposte from this position but a cut 1, which is powerful, but predictable. Try launching that riposte as a feint cut 1 and then strike at the opponent’s ribs or leg with a cut 2 or 6 as they go to their inside or hanging guard in reaction to your feint.
Double feints are when you make one feint after another. Be aware that any time an opponent recognizes that you have launched a feint and not an actual attack, they are free to strike you. Reckless fencers will also strike into feints regardless as to whether they recognize what they are or not. The more feints you do, the more susceptible you will be to timed hits, where the opponent strikes you during your movement.
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