Tag: foil

How to Drill Part 3

Now it is time to talk about rules to follow while drilling.

Rule 1:

When drilling you should be able to have an 80% success rate. The only exception to this is if you are doing a 50/50 drill. In which case each fencer should be equally successful when drilling their actions.

Rule 2:

If the drill is not working then go back one step! The drill may be too complicated or the skill may be too challenging. Either way if it is too hard go back one step!

Rule 3:

Avoid going too fast or too slow. Do not make things too big or too small. Everything should be performed at an appropriate speed and size to facilitate learning.

Rule 4:

Keep it realistic. Act as though you were in a bout. Keep in mind the realistic does not mean at a speed you would use in a bout, however it does mean perform actions and respond as though you were in a bout. The speed an size should still be appropriate to the fencer learning the skill.

Rule 5:

Wear all proper gear. It’s no fun if someone gets hurt!

Rule 6:

Keep it fun! Things that are simple and too slow are BORING! Things that are fast and too complex are frustrating. We must keep a drill at a level that allows people to learn without being bored or frustrated.

Look for the final installment of this next week.

How to Drill Part 2

Here is part 2 of a continuously growing series! When drilling we have to not only assess what skill we want to work on but also what other parts of that skill we may need to practice. For example, I may need to work on my parry riposte, but what I really need to practice is seeing where the attack is going and choosing the right parry. I need to practice my tracking skills. It is also possible that I may need to practice timing of my parry or timing of my riposte. The list can go on! I am going to list out here some of the skills you may need to work on within an action. It is important to isolate and practice these skills specifically as practicing tracking will not help my technique or my timing necessarily.

List of possible skills to practice:

Timing
Distance
Technique
Tracking
Reaction
Speed
Acceleration
Deceleration
Accuracy
Tactics

Hope this helps. Keep your eyes open for the next post on how to create a successful drilling environment!

How to Drill Part 1

There are quite a few things to consider while practicing. First and most importantly is select a skill that you wish to practice. You might choose a skill you have a hard time with or a skill that you are already good at that you want to improve. Once you have selected a skill, you need to think of the scenario you might use it in while bouting. Next you want to create rules so that both sides can accomplish what they need to. For example if I want to practice a disengage attack with a fleche, I might have someone search for the blade and then step back. Remember it is important to know the skill you are practicing and make sure to design a situation where you can accomplish it and then practice with everyone in the club until you have the skill down!

What are Simple Attacks?

A simple attack can be performed by making a straight attack, a disengage, or a coupe (also known as cut over). Simple attacks are very useful for scoring touches with. To execute a simple attack the fencer performing the action needs to have good timing, distance, speed, technique, and tactics. A great drill to practice your simple attacks would be to practice hitting straight with a lunge on your partner’s step forward. Once you can do this with everyone in the club that you know, move on to the following drill. You are only allowed to hit on a forward step with a cue. The cues are the blade dropping down for a straight attack, the blade sweeping a specific line for disengage, or the blade sweeping any line for coupe. The other rules for this drill are that the fencers partner is only allowed to move forward and the fencers partner must give a cue within 3 steps. Try this with everyone at the club. Make sure you lunge on the step forward with the cue. Any half steps backwards will mess up the timing!

Summer Camps

Here’s some info on our Summer Camps!

Teen Beginner Camp – July 13-17 – 10a-4pm
Teen Competitive Camp – July 20- 10a-4pm

SportSword Camp – July 27-31 – 1p-4pm
Youth Fencing Camp – Aug 3-7 – 10a-1pm

Full Day camps $300
Half Day camps $175

Both the Teen camps are taught by Aaron Kandlik. Aaron is a Level 4 Coach in all 3 weapons from the USFA Coaches College. This is the highest rating one can earn without teaching classes at Coaches College. Aaron is also a certified Prevost d’Armes and a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Aaron has coached for Vassar College, Northwest Fencing Center and currently is coaching for Oregon Fencing Alliance which is home to Mariel Zagunis and Becca Ward. Aaron has worked with athletes at all levels and we’re happy to have him share his experiences once more with us for our camps.

To register for the camps please send in a 50% down payment to The Phoenix Center and let us know what camp you are signing up for.

Drill of the week 5/18/09

Hello Everyone!

Here is this week’s Drill of the week:

Fencer 1 will start in advance lunge distance. They will either make advance lunge and try to hit or two advances lunge and try to hit.

Fencer 2 will pull distance if Fencer 1 makes advance lunge. Fencer 2 will make parry riposte if Fencer 1 makes two advances lunge. Fencer 2 may need a small step back two adjust distance depending on the size of Fencer 1’s advances.

Here is the Saber version of this drill:

Foil and Epee are below this post.

Drill of the Week 4-27-09

Here is the Drill of the Week for 4-27-09.

This week’s drill is tactical in nature. You will fence for a specified time period, however no touches are to be scored. If you do accidentally make a hit you will ignore it and continue fencing.

Foil and Epee will fence for 3 minutes. Saber will fence for 1 minute. When you are done with the drill you should talk about the tactics and technique choices used to come up with better applications or better moments to use them. This is also a great way to assess mistakes in timing and distance.

Remember you are practicing normal scenarios and being forced to continue an action beyond what you would normally do. This will require endurance and focus. Make sure you work hard in this drill and you will be greatly rewarded for it.

Eric

Drill of the Week!

Hey everyone! We have a new drill of the week that is once again fitting for all 3 weapons.

Here’s the drill:

Fencer A: Makes lunge or advance lunge and tries to hit.

Fencer B: Option 1: On lunge counter attacks and evades being hit by, running away, colapsing distance, ducking, etc.
Option 2: On the advance lunge Fencer B will attack in prep. They can suport the attack in prep with a parry if necessary.

There will be a video to follow this.

Keep in mind this is a basic outline! You can modify the drill of the week to make it easier or more challenging depending on what you need. When you are working on 50/50 drills such as this one, make sure to work with a fencer who can perform their action at a similar skill level.