sword

Course notes provided with a foil personal performance course run in Rickmansworth for the British Academy of Fencing by Ziemek Wojciechowski

All information is © Ziemek Wojciechowski

1 Technique and Co-ordination (Fencing Gymnastics)

  1. Execution of chosen strokes with varying footwork
  2. Execution of chosen strokes from moving forward (with two steps) and backwards (just hand). Person who practices chooses moment of initiation. For more advanced fencers possibilities to change second step into lunge if distance increases.
  3. Co-ordination of particular stroke with changing distance forward and backwards. Fencer responds to the signal of the coach and the distance he is creating.
    Examples of strokes with and without the blade:
    • Circular sixte one-two
    • Three deceptions-two circular sixte and quarte
    Explain and demonstrate possibility of "open eyes" for more advanced fencers.
  4. After stop hit leave point on target and block continuation with opposition while stepping diagonally forward.

2 Speed and Cardiovascular Fitness (correctness first and a.s.a.p. speed)

  1. Speed of hand exercises: three parries in a row mechanically, standing still and moving; and with choices.
    • Double take, sixte shoulder redouble to flank and sixte shoulder again.
    • Counter parry-ripostes.
  2. Maximum speed lunge, recover and flèche with chosen stroke.
  3. Maximum speed twenty flèche attacks with chosen stroke.
  4. After any attack, with the lunge, on the step forward, defend with distance and flèche.
  5. After stop hit, break distance and attack with feint step-disengage-lunge (possibilities of choice between parry riposte and attack).
  6. Attack with lunge from continous breaking the distance whilst maintaining initiative over footwork. Timing as usual on step forward or if target is stationary.
  7. Flèche attack from enagement when coach drops the weapon and lean back whilst parrying.
  8. Change of speed: any combination of enagagement and beat or any o...ne, two-three.

3 Technically Tactical Exercises

  1. Ability to hit various sectors of target (fencer chooses or coach chooses) in riposting and attacking exercises.
  2. Ability to recognise line of attack and adapt footwork to changeable distance in riposte with or without flè.
  3. Ability to change footwork and stroke with the distance whilst attacking with lunge or step lunge and retire from attacking when distance increases.
  4. Ability to direct point into opening sector of target.

4 Tactical Exercises

  1. Choice between any attack with a lunge on trainer - step forward or parry reposte at last moment.
  2. Second intention attack for counterparry-reposte or first intention attack by feint disenage.
  3. Choice between parry-reposte and counterattack after feint of counterattack.
  4. Various developments after preparation with two short steps forward whilst partly extending arm.
  5. Choice between parry-reposte and attack in simultaneous situation.
  6. Attack direct or disengage (or feint disengage if arranged) from pressing at longer than lunging distance when trainer stops, but if he changes direction then fencer gives him intiative.

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