Refers to the leading unit in a military advance or, by extension, the forefront of a movement or field.
His unit charged into the enemy camp as the advance guard.
The company introduced new technology as a vanguard of the industry.
first competitor in a team match
Used in sports like kendo and judo for the athlete who competes in the opening bout of a team competition.
The first competitor scored an ippon and gave momentum to the team.
先鋒 names the frontmost fighter or spearhead of a group action, close to 先駆け's second sense of leading an attack.
vanguard; forefront; leading figure
A Sino-Japanese word inherited from Chinese 先鋒, combining 先, “foremost,” and 鋒, “weapon point” or “spearhead.” It originally denoted the foremost attacking force and later the first competitor in a team match.