One Star Foil Lesson Planner

One Star Foil Lesson Planner

This series of one hour lessons was designed to follow the B.A.F. One star Foil course. It give an indication of areas covered and an approximate length of each section.

Lesson 1 – Basic Footwork

• Clothing, Safety – what to wear and why. Brief description on the difference between left-handed and right handed weapons. (10 mins)
• Warm-Up if time – stretching exercises. (5 mins)
• The Grip, The stance, the salute (introduced within the stance demonstration.) (5 mins)
• Stepping forward – breakdown into constituent parts:
• 1. Tap front toe
  2. Tap front toe + rear heel
  3. As above, but move front heel forward
  4. Full step (5 mins)
• Stepping back – as above but reversed foot movement
  1. Tap rear heel
  2. Tap front toe + rear heel
  3. As above, but move rear toe backwards
  4. Full Step (5 mins)
• Combine stepping forwards and backwards. (5mins)
• The Lunge + Hit – (arm before leg, hand above point) and recovery.
  Synchronised lunging’ – get each member of the class to lunge in turn. (5 mins)
• Free Fighting – briefly describe target area – (reinforce salute within etiquette.) (10 mins)

Notes: Each step is a natural progression from the previous step and reinforces lessons learnt. Final activity combines all items 3-7 and is an introduction to use of the blade.

Lesson 2 – High-line Parries

• Warm-Up – stretching exercises (10 mins)
• Footwork (Revise stance, step and lunge.) (10 mins)
• Define the parts of the blade (naming game.) (5 mins)
• Parry Quarte – avoid common faults – ensure movement is lateral, not over extended – introduce the concept of open and closed lines. (10 mins)
• Direct and indirect repostes. (5 mins)
• Parry Circular Sixte - fine motor movement around shell, also with direct and indirect repostes. (10 mins)
• Free Fighting – use of parries in action (10 mins)

Handout: Parts of the Foil

Notes: Use of props worked well i.e. beer glass to avoid rotation on parry quarte ‘Don’t spill the beer’ – note that 4 pint bottle of milk would also work. Tambourine for footwork exercise – i.e. - 1 tap to step forward, 2 taps to step back , shake to lunge. At this point the novice is overloaded and makes mistakes.

Lesson 3 – Step-Lunge/Parry Reposte

• Warm-Up – ‘stepping up and down a line’ exercises (10 mins)
• Introduce the step-lunge (5 mins)
• Revise Lateral paries (5 mins)
• Parry Quarte with step backwards. (10 mins)
• Circular Sixte with step backwards (10 mins)
• Free Fighting (10 mins)
  
  

Notes: This lesson builds on the previous two by combining bladework and footwork.

Lesson 4 – Engagements, Disengagements + Counter Disengagements

• Warm-Up – stepping exercises, ‘glove game’ (10 mins)
• Introduce Quarte Engagement (with a step)
  1. Step Engage Quarte – opponent does nothing - lunge
  2. Step Engage Quarte – opponent returns pressure – disengage lunge (10 mins)
• Repeat with Sixte Engagement (with a step)
  1. Step Engage Circle Sixte – opponent does nothing - lunge
  2. Step Engage Circle Sixte – opponent returns pressure – disengage lunge (10 mins)
• If time introduce beat attack (with disengage) (5 mins)
• Free Fighting (10 mins)

Handout: B.F.A. Fencing Terms

Notes: Engagement follows on from the concept of a parry ‘closing the line’, disengagement leads on to feints.

Lesson 5– Feints

• Warm-Up – ‘Sumo’ (10 mins)
• Revise Beat Attack (5mins)
• Introduction to Feints
  1. Threaten Quarte direct, disengage parry, lunge
  2. One - Two
  3. Beat - Threaten Quarte , avoid parry, lunge
  4. Beat One - Two
  5. Doublé (20 mins)
• Footwork Exercises – change of speed, size of step, direction, combinations.
• Free Fighting (10 mins)

Lesson 6 – Low-Line Parries

• Warm-Up – stepping exercises ‘Simon says’ (10 mins)
• Introduction to Penalties –
  1. Yellow, Red and Black Cards
  2. Offence Groups 1st - 4th (10 mins)
• Revise hit and introduce hit into the low line.
• Introduce Parry Octave
  1. opponent attacks inside low-line – parry octave - direct reposte
  2. opponent attacks inside low-line – parry octave - indirect reposte
  3. repeat with intial step back – reposte with lunge (10 mins)
• Repeat with Parry Septime
  1. opponent attacks outside low-line – parry septime - direct reposte
  2. opponent attacks outside low-line – parry septime - indirect reposte
  3. repeat with intial step back – reposte with lunge (10 mins)
• Free Fighting (10 mins)

Handout: Summary of Offences and Penalties

Notes: By this stage, should be able to encourage start of participation within the club or an entry into first small local competition. Concentrate on common penalties (Corps-a-Corps, Turning) – what to do on the piste.

Lesson 7 – Cutover, 1st counter Reposte

• Warm-Up – shuttle run (10 mins)
• Discussion – Insurance (5 mins)
• Cut-Over
  1. Step forward, engage in Quarte – on pressure cutover hit (10 mins)
• 1st Counter Reposte
  Attacker attacks direct, defender parries quarte and repostes direct followed by:
  1. attacker parries quarte , no pressure – lunge direct
  2. attacker parries quarte , wait for pressure, disengage lunge
  3. attacker parries circular sixte , no pressure – lunge direct
  4. attacker parries circular sixte , wait for pressure, disengage lunge (20 mins)
• Free Fighting (10 mins)

Lesson 8 – Revision

• Warm-Up (10 mins)
• Exam (30 mins)
  1. First Question – Safety – Spot the difference
  2. Three question to each individual – One demonstrate footwork, one demonstrate bladework, one theory
  3. Repeat with questions increasing in difficulty
• Introduction to the Fleche (10 mins)
• Any Questions? (10 mins)

Notes: Theory questions should concentrate on the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ aspects of the course whereas demonstration questions can cover the ‘How’ e.g. Why Cutover? Why not do it all the time? What is a preparation? Name one. What area is covered by a Quarte Parry? Demonstrate - A Step Forward; A Lateral Parry of Quarte with a Direct Reposte; A cutover

This course may be followed by a two star course.