Pivot Rear

How to throw it

Keep your lead foot planted and swing your body toward your rear side, rotating around that lead-foot anchor to open a new angle. Stay low with the knees bent and hold your guard so the pivot leaves you covered and set. This one commonly follows a parry, so let the parry's redirection feed the turn.

When to use it

Pivot toward the rear side, usually straight off a parry, to redirect an incoming attack and rotate out to a countering angle. It turns a defensive parry into an offensive position on the opponent's flank.

Common mistakes

• Lifting the lead foot instead of pivoting on it, which loses the anchor and your balance
• Rushing the turn before the parry has done its job, so you rotate into the strike
• Rising up out of stance as you pivot, leaving you tall and exposed on the new angle