Fencing Training
The Structure of your Fencing Training byBernie Moss
Training for fencing must be conducted in a logical step by step method. The basis of all fencing is being able to hit without being hit. To do this requires balance, agility, speed and clear thinking. You must learn firstly the basic starting position called en guard, and then the footwork movements of stepping forwards and backwards. You must be able to do this correctly at speed once you have learnt to do it. Then it is important to learn how to lunge correctly. These footwork movements are the building blocks of your fencing development. You should be practicing these movements individually and then putting them together in a sequence so that they become flowing movements that you can execute at speed in control and balance. This has to be completed first before moving on to more complicated footwork movements. You should be trying to do your footwork movements three times a week (once on your fencing evening) and the other times on your own for about fifteen minutes. You must start slowly to get the correct heel and toe movement before gaining speed. (remember practice makes permanent so it is very important to make the practice correct).
Before starting fencing footwork or free play you must warm up correctly and make sure that you have stretched properly.
When you can do this footwork, you can then look at practice with your epee so that steps and lunges are done with your sword in your hand. You can lunge at a lunge pad secured to the wall. You must concentrate on making sure that the arm is straight before you start your foot movement when lunging, as well as making sure the rear arm is used correctly to aid movement and balance. When recovering back to your en guard position the arm should be left straight until the feet have finished moving. (It is advisable to make sure that you do your footwork on both sides. That means leading with the right foot and the left foot in turn so that you reduce the likelihood of injury by exercising both sides of the body and do not develop one side more than the other)
To start with when you do your free play fencing it is more important how you fence and not what the score is. Fencing is summed up in a couple of words. These are ?timing and distance?. So when you are fencing (and bear in mind how important the fencing is as an event; it is the only event where you can stop your opponent scoring points), it is important to develop form the start a style that is mobile and aggressive (going forward). You do this by being aware of what your opponent is doing and reacting to their movements and activities at the appropriate time, not deciding ?in ten seconds I am going to?.. irrespective of what your opponent is doing. Having a game plan for each opponent is necessary but it must be flexible.
Tactics for your fencing are something that you can build on once you have mastered the basics.
If you require any further information contact the NDC.