If we’re talking fencing maybe? Sure? I wouldn’t know I’ve not trained fencing. You’d know better than I. If we’re talking actual combat where I’ve trained a tiny bit with the sword and staff, I mean there’s just ways around that. Where I hold my sword or staff or whatever has little bearing on my defensive range. You’re just assuming you’re much faster than me because I’m guessing that’s what fencing is more about. But that’s with something extremely light and flexible. If where you held your weapon was all that was too it people would have been much less inclined to use say a giant battle axe. Also an actual fight ends quickly id never risk being inside your weapon range unless I knew I had a good shot. There’s no constraint on me attacking first or having to attack you a specific way.