The Phoenix Center

If you’ve stopped in lately you may have seen the Parent/Spectator Information Packet. If you didn’t pick one up, we still have some, or you can download it from USA Fencing’s website at http://usfencing.org/resources/documents/parent-spectator-guide

This is an excellent resource for parents and friends. Inside you will find information on the basics of competitions, Interesting facts about fencing, a Glossary of terms, and much, much more. Check it out, you’ll be glad you did!



The Notebook

Every youth student must have a notebook (composition is recommended) that they will bring to every class, lesson and competition. The notebook contains information necessary to learn new techniques and actions.  Every topic gets it’s own page front and back.

Topic 1

This is where students write down their goals. These can be as simple as having fun to getting gold at a competition. We ask that the parents be supportive of their child’s goals. Everyone starts with two goals already (They are listed below). If you worry that the goals your child sets are too high, please come talk to us, we will work with your child to help create realistic goals.

Pre-Set Goals

1. Have Fun
2. Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect. Always practice perfect. (Perfect example of a pipe dream).

Topic 2

Footwork

Draw a line across the middle of the page.  List every footwork step you know. These should be practiced every day.

Topic 3

Attack

Attack Rules:

1. You must move forward first.
2. You have to move continuously. You may not stop moving forward.
3. You have to try to hit
4. The other fencer cannot hit your blade during the attack.
5. You have to stay in a threatening distance.
6. You must hit before the end of your lunge (saber only).

Types:

Straight Attack: An attack that starts towards one target and finishes to the same target.

The Michael Marx clinic this past weekend was awesome!  For those of you who missed the event, we will have DVDs available.  Michael packed in our weekend with a ton of great fencing information, from what motivates you to how do you prepare your action.  We also worked on finger development drills, problem solving, and how to attack.  For those of you who missed the event this year, we will be trying to bring him out again next year.  Make sure you are ready for it!

Here are some photos from the event:

Big thanks to Tim Morehouse for pointing this out and posting the link on his blog.  Pretty awesome if you ask me, if only your opponent would turn to smoke and dust after you defeat them!

MTV “VS” fencers from Yvette Paxinos on Vimeo.

We will be closed Monday 5/31  in honor of Memorial Day.

Hey Everyone!

Pomme de Terre is coming up fast make sure you register on askFRED.net!  We will be sending quite a few fencers out to this event.  If you have any questions on hotel info, or if you are looking for someone to room with talk to Jeff or Eric and we will try to help you as best we can.  Classes that weekend (June 18-20) will be cancelled as all our coaching staff will be attending this event.

Classes in Poughkeepsie are cancelled today.  New Windsor class is still on for tonight.