Youth Fencing Drills, Strategies & Games Handbook (drills And Plays Series 3 9).pdf

Youth Fencing Drills, Strategies and Games Handbook Series 3 - Book 9 By Bob Swope 1st Edition 2010

Published and Distributed By: Jacobob Press LLC St. Louis, MO. (314) 843-4829 E-Mail: [email protected] Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. ISBN 10 0-9820960-2X ISBN 13 978-0-9820960-2-4 SAN 257-1862 Printed and Bound by: Lightning Source Inc. La Vergne, TN. 37086 Series 3. Book 9. First Edition 2010

*******WARNING******* If your fencer or the participant has any physically limiting conditions, bleeding disorder, high blood pressure, or any other condition that may limit them physically, you should have them check with their doctor before letting them participate in any of these drills, strategies or games. Be sure participants in these drills, strategies and games that might make hard contact with any of the other participants are all approximately of the same weight and size to avoid a possible serious injury. All the drills and games for kids, should be supervised by an competent adult, coach, or a professional using all the required equipment and safety procedures. AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR ANY AY FOR ANY ACCIDENTCCIDENTAL INJURAL INJURY OR EY OR EVEN DEATH TH THAT MAY RESULY RESULTT. Extra care and caution should be taken with any of the various fencing drills, strategies or games because they may involve a foil, epee or saber (sword) with a sharp tip under the nonmetal tip protector that occasionally can accidentally come off. Bob Swope Jacobob Press LLC Publisher

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 6 2. General Discussion ………………………………………………………… 6 Intent …………………………………………………………………………. 6 Training Sessions………………………………………………………. 6 Time ……………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Session Suggestions …………………………………………………………….. 7 The Opponent ……………………………………………………………… 7 Pre Practice & Game Warm Up …………………………………………. 8 Drills ……………………………………………………………………………… 8 Moves and Tactics ……………………………………………………………….. 8 Training Matches …………………………………………………………………. 8 Games …………………………………………………………………………. 9 3. Strategy Discussion ……………………………………………………… 9 Offense For Foil …………………………………………………………………… 9 Offense For Epee ………………………………………………………………. 10 Offense For Saber ……………………………………………………………….. 11 Defense For Foil ………………………………………………………………….. 11 Defense For Epee ………………………………………………………………… 12 Defense For Saber ………………………………………………………………… 12 4. Warm Up Exercises …………………………………………………………………….. 13 Simple Routine …………………………………………………………………….. 13 Olympic Routine …………………………………………………………………. 14 5. Offensive Skill Training Activities (Drills) ………………………… 16 Additional Help for Activities ……………………………………………. 17 Basic Individual (No.1 to No.5) ………………………………………….. 17 Foil Moves (No.6 to No.9) …………………………………….. 21 Foil Attack Practice (No. 10 to No.16) …………………………… 26 Delivering the Hit Foil Training (No.17 to No.38) ……………… 31 Misc.& Advanced Foil Moves (No.39 to No.50) …………………. 51 Misc. Epee Moves (No.51 to No.62) ……………………………… 62 Misc. Saber Moves (No.63 to No.78) …………………….. 73 Misc. General Techniques (No.79 to No.80) …………………. 89 6 . Defensive Skill Training Activities (Drills) …………………… 92 Foil Moves (No.81 to No.89) …………………………………………… 92 Epee Moves (No.90 to No.101) ……………………………………… 99 Saber Moves (No.102 to No.105) …………………….. 112 7. Team Learning/Training Games (No.106 to No.110) ………………….. 127 8. Practice Scheduling ……………………………………………………………… 125

Introduction Intent Occasionally a youth fencing coach will ask me about easily identified offensive and defensive drills, strategies, tactics and games they can use for training purposes. This book is intended to be a supplemental book to my “Learn’n More About Fencing” book. It is orientated a little more to young youth beginning fencing coaches rather than parents at home teaching fundamentals. However, parents can help their kids by getting them to work on the drills and strategies in this book. We will break this down into where they are in their training, and what they are doing at that stage of their training. Also what drills, strategies and tactics to use that will accomplish your goals in teaching them. My suggestion is use the time you have each week to maximize what you want to teach. For the younger 6 -11 years of age kids it’s better to break practice drills down into more than one small group to keep everyone busy so that they don’t get bored. This is not always easy to do because many coaches only want things done their way, and they don’t always trust a helper or assistant to do it their way. ote: Note: ote: This book features “Thumb Thru” top of the page headers, to aid in finding the different basic fundamentals.

Training Sessions Some of the beginning fencing classes I’ve seen will only last about an hour. This is where the instructor has a group. It’s not-one-on one. This means you need to get them warmed up and stretched out pretty quick or your class time is over. The other thing that is important is how many times a week is your class. If it’s only one day a week, you need to be very efficient or you will not be able to cover all the things they need to learn. The other thing is if the class is for 8 weeks, and only one day a week, you better sit down and make a schedule. Then follow it. I can see spending 15 minutes warming up and stretching. That leaves 45 minutes to instruct. If you have more time, like 1-1/2 hours, you can teach more fundamentals. Time Generally keep your training time to around 10 minutes per drill being explained, especially if you have a group, unless otherwise noted. Now here is where your training techniques may need to change. If you have a helper you can split into two groups. As an example, you might be teaching “advance,” and your helper teaching “retreat.” Then after 10 minutes you switch or rotate groups. This is because traditionally youth fencing groups are small as compared to sports teams. In other words always keep your kids busy doing something at all times except for water breaks. Don’t have any kids just standing around waiting. You don’t get as much teaching in that way. Young kids traditionally get easily bored if you don’t keep them busy for the whole training period. Session Suggestions I suggest getting as many assistant coaches as you can, then explain to them what you

want each one to teach at their group station. Tell your staff to learn all the kids names the first day if possible. Time wise plan your whole practice session. The kids will learn more in the short periods of time you have for teaching each day or week. As for the teaching methods we suggest using the “IDEA” slogan approach. IIIIIntroduce, DDemonstrate, EExplain what you are teaching, and AAttend to all the players in the group.

The Opponent It’s probably smart to understand what tendencies an opponent has. Your fencers need to learn how to quickly figure out what their opponent is doing against them offensively and defensively. Tell your fencers that this is especially true after they have fenced an opponent once or twice. Here is a little strategy you can employ as their coach. Keep a small pad of paper in your pocket and take notes. Then what you want to do for a match is pick the offensive or defensive strategies that will attack, counterattack, and defeat what their opponent’s is doing to them. Start teaching young fencers to have a game plan before you go into a match, then test them to make sure remember what it is. Also have a back up plans in case your first plan didn’t work and you need to change plans.

Pre Practice/Game Warm Up Before your team starts to practice or get in a match, they need to go through a little warm up to get their muscles stretched out. We will give you a nice little quick warm up routine to use. Once your kids learn it, they can do it on their own. If you can teach them to do this well, and look good at it, your opponent may notice you doing it without a coach around, they will usually be in awe that your fencers are that disciplined. So they might think you are really good, and then you have them psyched out.

Drills I am going to refer to the drills as “Skill Training Activities” because that’s what they really are. Also I am going to throw in a newer term now being used a lot. It is called “Core Training”. What it does is train their body to make certain moves that will make them a better fencer. Skill activities will be organized by “numbers” so that your assistant coaches can use them and become more familiar with them that way. This way you are all on the same page.

Moves and Tactics For easy reference the moves and tactics will be organized by “numbers” also. They will be arranged as Offensive and Defensive moves and tactics. Each move or tactic will have a short explanation for how it is supposed to work, strong points, what it is designed to accomplish.

Training Matches It’s a good idea to introduce a training match once in a while. Beginners sometimes have a tendency to get bored with constant drilling. They want to see what it’s like to have a 3 or 5 touch match with an opponent. You need to judge these matches just like in a real fencing meet. Just don’t get carried away by only counting a perfect touch with a beginner. Have two spotters, each one only watching one of the fencers for a touch. As they get better you can be more particular about calling touches.

Games Many coaches over the years have asked me to give them some games they can have the kids play at sports practices. Not just any games though, but games that will help develop their “core training” and “muscle memory” in a particular skill. So we are adding some games that will do just that. For easy reference these games will be organized by “numbers” also. Some times it’s hard for coaches to buy into these games, but the more they play them, the more you will see your fencers agility and speed improving. Each game will have a short explanation for how it is supposed to work, strong points, and what the game is designed to accomplish.

Strategies The first strategy I recommend is “have a game plan” to match your fencer with their opponent. Try to watch their opponent warming up, and make some notes. Remember though these are only kids, so coach accordingly with your strategies if you are working with kids 7-11 years of age. You know the old “KISS” (Keep-It-Simple-Stupid) phrase. Here are just a few very basic strategies you can use for beginners:

Offense For Foil 1. It is important for your fencer to quickly determine if the opponent is right handed or left. Most fencers are traditionally right handed. So fencers get used to fencing against a right handed opponent. When fencing a left handed fencer, teach your fencers to take a different attack approach. This is because a left handed fencer attacks, parries and ripostes from a different angle. 2. Teach your fencers to learn how to make a quick little push away wrist parry then riposte lunge (press with an extended arm) off that parry all in one movement. They don’t need to parry then pull their arm back before making their lunge. The pullback (a reprise) takes extra time which allows the opponent a little more time to recover. 3. For beginning fencers, tell them to attack when they are behind in a match. Some beginners have a tendency to retreat and try to defend themselves when they get behind. And that usually results in their opponent getting more touches. 4. Teach your fencers to make very quick advance footwork moves. Many times this tends to drive the opponent backwards which makes it harder for them to attack. 5. Teach them how to make the “Ballestra” or cross bow attack lunge. Young beginning fencers probably have not seen this type of lunge, and may get confused which will open them up for a touch. 6. Teach them how to make the “Fleche” or running attack lunge. Young beginning fencers probably have not seen this type of lunge either, and usually get really confused on this one which will open them up for a touch. 7. Teach them how to make the “Appel” move with their foot. Young beginning fencers probably have not seen this move too much, and may halt their attack and open up a chance for your fencer to attack. 8. Teach them how to make the “Beat” or “Bind” which may confuse an opponent and slow down their attack thinking process long enough for your fencer to mount their attack. 9. Teach them how to make the “Passata-Sotto”” or knee drop move. Young beginning fencers probably have not seen this type of move either, and may get confused, stop their attack, which will open them up for a touch. This can work if your fencer is much smaller than their opponent. 10. Teach them how to make the “Infighting” tight space moves. Young beginning fencers probably have not been taught how to handle these kind of moves and may get confused

which will open them up for a touch. For Epee In addition to using some of the foil offensive strategies, here are some special offensive strategies just for Epee because your fencer can get a touch anywhere on the opponent’s body. And remember to teach your fencers that Epee does NOT use the “right of way” rule. 1. Teach your fencers to first look for a touch to the opponent’s wrist or arm right behind their bell guard. It’s the usually the closest place on the opponent’s body to get a touch. 2. Teach your fencers that they can learn a little different footwork moves for Epee. 3. Teach your fencers to watch the opponents head for a touch. Some fencers forget and leave their head exposed for a touch. For Saber In addition to using some of the foil offensive strategies, here are some special offensive strategies just for Saber because your fencer can get a touch or cut anywhere on the opponent’s body above their waist. And remember to teach your fencers that Saber does use the “right of way” rule. It’s very similar to Foil, except for the cutting type moves 1. Teach your fencers to first look for a cut or touch to the opponent’s wrist or arm right behind their hand guard. It’s the usually the closest place on the opponent’s body to get a quick touch. 2. Teach your fencers to watch the opponents front or side head for a cut or touch (NOT on the back of the head though). Some young fencers forget and leave their head exposed for a cut or touch. 3. Crossover foot moves, running attacks and the ‘fletche” move is not permitted. So what many saber fencers have done is create a “flunge” or jumping move instead to take their place.

Defense For Foil 1. It is important for your fencer to quickly determine if the opponent is right handed or left. Most fencers are traditionally right handed. This can give your fencer fits if they are not used to a left handed fencer. 2. When a right handed fencer attacks your fencer with a lunge, teach them to first parry 4 because that takes the blade away from a quick touch to their chest target, then quickly riposte to the opponent’s chest which has now opened up a more clear target for your fencer towards the opponent’s chest. 3. When a left handed fencer attacks them with a lunge, teach them to first parry 6 because that takes the blade away from their target, then quickly riposte to the opponent’s chest which has now opened up a more clear target for your fencer.

4. Teach your fencers to really work hard and focus on their hand speed. This is really important in saber. For Epee In addition to using some of the foil defensive strategies, here are some special defensive strategies just for Epee because your fencer can get a touch anywhere on the opponent’s body. Epee does NOT use the “right of way” rule. It’s very similar to Foil, except for the speed of the moves. 1. It is important for your fencer to quickly determine if the opponent is right handed or left. Most fencers are traditionally right handed. This can give your fencer fits if they are not used to a left handed fencer, especially in Epee. I keep mentioning this because it’s very important. 2. Teach your fencers to feint or do whatever it takes to get the opponent to extend and attack. Then when they do, your fencer tries for a forearm or arm touch. There is NO need to parry the attack every time. If the opponents arm is unprotected they go right away for the touch. 3. Teach them to keep their arm well back out of the opponent’s reach. 4. Teach your fencers to keep their on guard back arm well back behind them so that it is NOT vulnerable to a quick touch. If they are NOT careful, that arm may be closer to the opponent than they realize. 5. Teach your fencers to use the extra large bell guard to blunt the opponents lunge thrust right at it’s tip when necessary. For Saber In addition to using some of the foil defensive strategies, here are some special defensive strategies just for Saber because your fencer can get a cut or touch anywhere on the opponent’s body above the waist after a riposte or counterattack, including the head. Saber

does use the “right of way” rule. It’s very similar to Foil, except for the speed of the moves. 1. Teach your fencers that they can use cuts as well as touches. on a riposte. Cuts are different from touches. They are more of a slashing move than a thrust or push move. Make sure they know how to make all the cut moves. 2. Teach your fencers that their blade moves must be tight and controlled. Wide blade swigs will expose their arm to attacks. 3. Infighting is permitted, so on tight infighting make sure they understand that the back of the head is not a valid target after a parry or riposte. 4. Teach them the “stop hit” which is a move that can score in saber.

Warm Up Exercises I’m going to give you two quick warm up routines you can use to get your kids warmed up and their muscles stretched. One is pretty simple, the other is an old Olympic routine I think. The Olympic routine is a little more complicated, it will probably work better for adults. Teach your fencers how to do these all by themselves. Here is an idea I have used before. When you are warming up a group of fencers, you can try this. Have your best fencer stand in front of the group, and lead the routine. Teach your fencers to count by 1000’s to get the 3 second rest between reps timing down. Your leader starts by yelling, “One,” on the first exercise, then the group yells, “Two,” then the leader yells, “Three,” and the group yells, “Four” and so on. You only need to do six reps of each exercise. It’s really a “psyche out” for any opponents watching. And you may need this little edge if the opponent’s are a little bigger and maybe better.

The Simple Routine 1. Start by doing 10 jumping jacks to get their muscles warmed up. 2. Next slowly do 6 “seated hamstring/quadriceps stretches. 3. Next slowly do 3 pelvic stretches on each side, holding for 3 seconds between them. 4. Next slowly do 6 push forward pull back ankle stretches. 5. Next slowly do 3 front quadriceps stretches on both thighs, leaning forward and holding for 3 seconds between them. 6. Next slowly do 6 rear shoulder stretches, holding for 3 seconds. 7. Next slowly do 3 front shoulder stretches on each shoulder, holding for 3 seconds between them. 8. Last find a wall and slowly do 3 calf stretches on each leg, holding it 3 seconds between them.

The Olympic Routine Start by doing 10 jumping jacks to get their muscles warmed up, then go through all 17 exercises, one after the other. I would suggest adult fencers do three each at a session, and young kids two each. They need to be done correctly though, NOT sloppy.

Offensive Skill Training Activities (Drills) Note: All activities will also be numbered for “EASY “ reference. These beginning activities will NOT require full equipment. The offensive drills will cover all the types of skills that young kids learning to fence need to know to get started off on the right foot. Some are “Core Training” and most all involve “Muscle Memory” training. What they do is train the body, arms, legs and feet of your kids to make certain moves that will make them a better fencer. The skill activities are numbered so that you can have your assistant coach(s) use them and become more familiar with them for reference purposes between you, them and your fencers. These skill activities will cover the very basic fundaments like stance, footwork, handling your blade, hitting targets, hitting/delivery techniques, engagement techniques and ripostes. We will also try to cover some of the little special techniques that will help them The plan with teaching these activities is stay with small groups, where you or one of your coaches is teaching one of these skills. Keep the time period short, maybe 10-15 minutes on the station to station activities. Then blow a whistle and that group moves to the next station or to the other station to learn another skill. The size of your groups will depend on how many kids you have in your training session, and how many instructors (coaches) you have. As an example if you have 15 kids on your team, then you could have 3 groups of 5. Then you would need 3 stations and at least 3 instructors or coaches. The bigger your group is though the more problems you will have. Smaller groups mean more touches, and more teaching control on your part. If you can find them, have an instructor and an assistant at each station, then show them what to do. Most coaches don’t like to do this even if they may need to because of a large group size, but using parents as assistants and showing them what exactly you want them to do can work. I do this all the time and it works great for me. Parents are usually just sitting around watching with nothing to do anyway, so why not get them involved. You would be surprised at how many parents are willing to help, not a lot but quite a few. And that’s all you need. Here is another technique that works great with young kids. They have a short attention span. So when you need to just talk to all of them, then make them sit down cross legged, Indian style, or take a knee, and in a semi circle around in front of you. They

have less of a tendency to mess around, kick each other, and talk too much when you do it this way. Don’t let them stand up, that’s when the listening usually tends to stop and distractions set in.

Additional Help for Activities If you are a beginning coach, and you are having trouble understanding how to implement these activities in more detail, get a copy of “Learn’n More About Fencing.” This is our teaching book for fencing, and it goes into detail on exactly how to teach kids the particular skill we are discussing.

Basic Offensive Skills

Fencing Stance Foot and Arms (On Guard) Position (No.1) Object of the activity: Teach the basic “on guard” stance and position of the feet and arms. What you will need: You will need a little room, depending on the size of your group, on the gym floor or out in the back yard if you are working at home. Working the activity: Have your fencers all stand in a line in front of you and face you. Demonstrate the stance and position of the arms and feet to your fencers. Then have them all get in the stance. Go around and check the position of their feet and arm for each one. Make any necessary corrections. Explain the differences between foil, epee and saber. Notice that the arm position for epee is a little more extended out in front. Saber and Foil are the same. They should be in a slight squat position, with body relaxed. Emphasize: Strongly the “T” position of the feet. The back foot needs to turned for pushing off, and the front foot pointing EXACTLY

FOIL

1EPEE

straight ahead. Really stress this. It’s an unnatural position but very important. Emphasize the differences in foil or Saber and epee. Run this drill: Tell them to relax, then say, “On Guard,” first for foil, then epee. Then they quickly get in the position. 10 minutes of this should be fine. 5 minutes for each stance.

Advancing Mobility (No.2) Object of the drill: Teach the basic technique of advancing or moving forward on the fencing strip. What you will need: You will need a little room, depending on the size of your group, on the gym floor or out in the back yard if you are working at home. Working the drill: Have your fencers all stand in a line in front of you and face you. Demonstrate the stance and position of the arms and feet to them again. Then first say, “On Guard for Foil,” and have them all get in the stance. Go around and check the position of their feet and arm for each one. Then say, “On Guard Epee, and they all get in that stance. Now demonstrate how to move forward. Explain how to move the front foot by lifting the toes up and sliding the heel forward while at the same time pushing off and short quick stepping with the back foot. Emphasize: Their lifting the front toes and making the quick little step with the back foot while keeping the front foot pointing EXACTLY straight ahead. Run this drill : Tell them to relax, then say, “On Guard,” first for foil, then epee. Then they quickly get in the position. Then keep saying, “Advance” several times as they keep moving forward. 10 minutes of this should be fine. 5 minutes for each stance.

Retreat Mobility (No.3) Object of the activity: Teach the basic technique of retreating backwards on the fencing strip.

What you will need: You will need a little room, depending on the size of your group, on the gym floor or out in the back yard if you are working at home. Working the activity: Have your fencers all stand in a line in front of you and face you. Demonstrate the stance and position of the arms and feet to them again. Then first say, “On Guard for Foil,” and have them all get in the stance. Go around and check the position of their feet and arm for each one. Then say, “On Guard Epee, and they all get in that stance. Now demonstrate how to move backwards which is just the opposite of advancing. Explain how to move the back foot first by taking a short shuffle type step back while at the same time lifting the toes on the front foot and shuffle dragging it backwards on the heel right along with the back foot movement. Emphasize: The lifting and dragging the front foot along with the back foot shuffle step. Run this activity: Just like No.2 “Advancing,” except they are going backwards.

2

3 Together Advancing/Retreating (No.4) Object of the activity: Learn the basic techniques of advancing and retreating all together, and mixing them up. What you will need: You will need quite a bit of room, depending on the size of your group, on the gym floor or out in the back yard if you are working at home. Working the activity: Have your fencers all stand in a line in front of you and face you. Demonstrate again what they are to do. Then stand out in front of the group and say, “Advance or Retreat.” You can point or say which direction you want them to go. If you have an assistant coach, have them pull kids aside and make any corrections with fencers having trouble (SEE PICTURES On Pg.19). Emphasize: Make sure they are correctly going backwards or forwards at your direction, and in unison as a group. You can even have them all start on a line, close their eyes, and just listen for the command. Then see if they can end up back at the starting line, after going back and forth, when you are finished giving commands. Run this activity: By letting the group advance and retreat back and forth for 10-15 minutes at a session.

Bouncing (No.5) Object of the activity: Show kids how to advance and retreat by bouncing. What you will need: You will need quite a bit of room, depending on the size of your group, on the gym floor or out in the back yard if you are working at home.

5 Working the activity: Have your fencers all stand in a line in front of you and face you. Demonstrate to them how to bounce up and down and forwards and backwards. Then stand out in front of the group and say, “Advance or Retreat.” You can point or say which direction you want them to go in. If you have an assistant coach, have them pull kids aside and make any corrections with fencers having trouble. Emphasize: The pushing up, forward, backward and using the toes Run this activity: For 10 or 15 minutes, letting each fencer getting a chance to bounce up, forward and backward at a session.

Offensive Foil Moves The Foil is the basic training weapon for fencing, Epee and Saber will use a lot of these same moves and techniques. These are the basics for attack moves and mobility. Teach them that they can hit only on the torso part of the body. In Foil there is a “right of way” required. One thing I want to stress is be sure you work on footwork speed and hand quickness because in Foil they will need those skills. And work on their wrist technique because that lets them make quicker moves with the tip of the blade. Even if your fencers are not going to use some of these moves, they should still be able to recognize them so that they can counter them if necessary. Your Offense Your body targets are divided up into 3 areas: 1. Your opponent’s upper torso. 2. Your opponent’s lower torso. 3. Your opponent’s back.

Holding the Foil (No. 6) Object of the activity: Show kids how to hold and grip the french grip Foil (sword), it’s preferred for beginners. They can learn the pistol grip later. What you will need: You will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, a glove, both either right or left handed. Working the activity: Have your whole group get in a line. You stand out in front of them and have them face you. You have a foil and each one of them has a foil. Demonstrate to them how to hold the foil with their fingers, and placing the curve on the handle facing their palm. Then have them get in the “On Guard” position for foil. Next go around and make sure each one is holding the foil correctly.

6 Emphasize: The curve on the handle and fingers position is correct in their on guard position. Go around and check. Also explain, and make sure, the foil tip must have a rubber or plastic protector. Run this activity:Run this activity: 15 minutes, letting each fencer in the group get a chance to hold a french grip foil correctly.

The Foil Torso (Body) Target Area (No. 7) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers where the legal Foil torso target areas are located. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line in front of you, and face you. Then have a fencer or coach come up with you to help demonstrate where the touch areas are located. Have the helper turn to the front first, then with your Foil touch all the frontal torso target areas. Next have the helper turn around and give the group a back view. Then touch all the back torso target areas with your Foil. Now have all the fencers pair up and face each other. Next have one of them start and touch all around the legal frontal torso 7 hit areas. Then switch and have their partner do the same. Next have on partner turn around, then go through the same routine, except to the back torso area. Emphasize: Where the easier legal hit edge areas are, such as the chest and shoulder area. Explain to them that they actually need to go for whichever target area lines are open at any given time in a bout or match because of a mistake the opponent may have made that left them open for a hit. Run this activity: You may need to allow 20 minutes to get through this activity so that all fencers fully understand the legal hit areas.

Engagement Quadrants and Lines for Foil (No. 8) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers the target areas for Foil fencing. Learning these areas will help you train and instruct your fencers as to where you want them to direct their attack. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will not need full gear equipment for this activity, they can set the mask down. It will make practice easier that way. A suggestion here is Get a big piece of cardboard, then using a black highlighter, divide it up into the 4 basic lines (quadrants) of engagement, and mark them 4, 6, 7 and 8 with a . Put it in front of one of the padded walls in the gym, and align it to the fencers height in you group. The numbered areas are as viewed from the opponent’s viewpoint. As an example a thrust to line 4 would go towards the upper left from the fencers viewpoint. Working the activity:

Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Foil to the areas you want them to thrust or parry towards. Also a parry 4, as an example, would go towards the opponents outside if they are right handed, and a parry 6 would go towards the opponents inside. Another way this is sometimes

8 called for is coach might say, “Parry outside high (Line 4), or inside low (line 8) with respect to a right handed opponent. Next have them line up in front of the target in the “On Guard” position, at a thrust length away. Then say, “Thrust 6,” and they would extend then thrust to their upper right. Go around all four quadrants, sometimes mixing them up, to see if they are getting it correct. Or if you want, you could have them lunge towards the target areas. Another suggestion is you could have them doing extend thrusts only one day, and lunge only the next day. This breaks up the monotony of drilling. Emphasize: Going to that area of the opponents body target areas. As an example, NOT over their shoulders or down towards their thighs. Run this activity: For about 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to all the areas.

Foil Positions & Change of Position (No. 9) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers where the different Foil positions are located and how to make a change of position. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line in front of you, and face you. Then have a fencer or coach come up with you to help demonstrate where the Foil positions are, and how to change positions. Now have all the fencers pair up and face each other, then come to the “on Guard” position. Next have both of them move to the correct positions as the coach calls them out. Coaches go around and check. When you have went through all 12 position sets, both fencers recover to the “On Guard” position. Emphasize: How to move from position to position correctly in the sets. NOTE: All theses sets are numbered for easy reference. Run this activity: You may need to allow 30 minutes each week to get through this activity if you move quickly so that all fencers fully understand all the positions, and how to quickly change positions. You may want to spend more time especially with beginners, because as I watch many of them, they don’t know how to do this right.

Viewed as Coach facing your fencer.

Practicing for Foil Attacks

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10 Wall Target Practice (No.10) Object of the activity: Teach them how to hit a target with the right amount of force. What you will need: You will need youth size fencing Foils (sword), and gloves, both either right or left handed. Working the activity: Place about an 8” x 12” target pad on the wall, if you have one, at about chest height. Have each fencer pick a spot along the padded wall. Have them space themselves out from the wall by just touching the wall with the tip of the foil, then take one small step back. Demonstrate a powerful lunge to show how the foil has to bend to show there is enough force to register a hit. Coach yells, “On Guard.” All fencers come to the “On Guard” position (SEE PICTURE 1). Coach yells, “Lunge.” Each fencer then kicks the front foot out, bends the body down, and lunges at the wall (SEE PICTURE 2). After they all make their lunge, coach yells, “Recover,” and each fencer returns to the “On Guard” position for another lunge. Emphasize: Using correct form, then getting a good powerful lunge so that the foil bends about 4 or 5 inches. Run this activity: About 10 to 15 minutes so that each fencer gets about 6 to 10 touch hits.

Vertical Plane Target Hitting (No.11) Object of the activity: Teach them the basic technique of making consistent Foil hits on their target while staying in a vertical plane. What you will need: Each fencer will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, and glove, both either right or left handed. If you are in a gym, you can use the padded walls. If you are at home, you could use to side of the garage with a padded target of some kind. Working the activity: Place about an 8” x 12” target pad on the wall, if you have one, at about chest height. Have each fencer pick a spot along the padded wall. Have them space themselves out from the wall by extending out then just touching the wall with the tip of the foil, then take one small step back. Demonstrate a powerful lunge to show how the foil has to bend to show there is enough force to regester a hit. Coach yells, “On Guard.” All fencers come to the “On Guard” position. Coach yells, “Lunge.” Each fencer then makes their lunge and hits the target, then holds while coach checks to see they are in plane. After they all make their lunge and coach checks, then coach yells, “Recover,” and each fencer returns to the “On Guard” position. Emphasize: Using correct form, then getting a good powerful lunge so that the foil bends about 4 or 5 inches. Then make sure they are squared up to the target and in the correct plane each time. Run this activity: About 10 to 15 minutes so that each fencer gets about 5 or 6 touch hits, squared up and in the plane.

11 Quadrant Target Hitting (No.12) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers to learn to have accuracy in their extended Foil lunge. What you will need: Each fencer will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, and glove, both either right or left handed. If you are in a gym, you can use the padded walls. If you are at home, you could use the side of the garage with an 8” x 12” padded target. Either way with stick on numbers in the corners. Working the activity: This is just like drill 7 and 8, except now they need to learn to specifically hit the numbers in the corner.

12 You can make the numbers 4, 6, 8, and 7. These numbers are placed in the corners to correspond to the line parries positions. Coach tells them which numbers to hit. Emphasize: Using correct form, good powerful lunges and hitting the called for number each time. Run this activity: About 10 to 15 minutes so that each fencer gets at least one touch to each of the four numbers.

Quick Hit Target Hitting (No.13) Object of the activity: Teach them to thrust, make a hit, relax their arm quickly, then make a second hit (2 hits). What you will need: Each fencer will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, and gloves, both right and left handed and a padded target of some kind. If you are in a gym, you can use the padded walls. If you are at home, you could use the side of the garage. Working the activity: Place about an 8” x 12” target pad on the wall, if you have one, at about chest height. Have each fencer pick a spot along the padded wall. Have them space themselves out at an extended touch distance. Demonstrate how to hit the center of the pad 2 times in quick succession. Explain to them that each hit needs to take place in about 1/2 a second. Tell them this is about the same time it would take to knock twice on a door. How they do this is touch while extended then relax their arm, letting the tip come off the target several inches. Then they make the first touch, and relax, then next very smoothly extending their arm again for the quick second touch. Coach can yell, “On Guard, extend.” Then after the 2 hits coach can yell, “Recover,” and they move back to the “On Guard” position. Emphasize: They keep their shoulders relaxed, keeping their body steady and balanced, keeping their extension smooth and using good fingertip control of their blade tip. Raise the guard bell slightly higher than the target when practicing for Epee. Run this activity: About 10 to 15 minutes so that each fencer gets at least 4 or 5 hit groups.

13 Spiral Target Hitting (No.14) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers to make spiraling blade Foil tip hits into their target. What you will need: Each fencer will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, and glove, both either right or left handed and a padded target of some kind. If you are in a gym, you can use the padded walls. If you are at home, you could use the side of the garage. If you use the alternate activity, you will need a partner. Working the activity: Work this activity just like No.9, except they will be making a spiralling hit to the target. Teach them to make small circles with the tip of their blade. Then they get in the “On Guard’ position, extend their arm towards the center of the target, then lunge, As they do, they slowly make 5 clockwise circles. Then have them “Recover.” The next time they make 5 counterclockwise circles as they lunge toward the target. Alternative Activity: Have them get a partner and stand facing each other in the “On Guard” position, blades flat at about waist height and spaced apart with

14 the blades paralleling each other. Coach says, “Go,” and one fencer starts by spiralling their blade 5 times clockwise around their partners blade, while the partner keeps their blade still. After 5 spirals they stop and hold their blade still while their partner spirals their blade 5 times around in a clockwise direction. Run this activity: About 10 to 15 minutes so that each fencer gets at least 5 circles clockwise and 5 circles counterclockwise.

15 Moving Ball Target (No.15) Object of the activity: Teach them to learn how to hit a small moving ball, which helps teach them to hit a moving fencer. What you will need: Each fencer will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, and gloves, both right and left handed and a ball on a cord or twine of some kind. You will also need a pole of some kind to suspend the ball from. Or you could suspend the ball from a garage rafter beam at home. Working the activity: This activity will be a little harder to set up, but it is a change of pace drill that will give your fencers something else try. You will probably need to put your fencers in a line and have them try this one at a time. Show them how to time their hit so that it is when the target ball is right in front of them. Work in a smaller group, and give each fencer at least 2 tries for a hit. Then they go to the end of the line and the next fencer steps up. Run this activity: For 15 to 20 minutes because it will take longer for each fencer to try it twice.

Moving in all Directions (No.16) Object of the activity: Teach them to learn how to move in all directions using their feet and arms (reaction & mobility). What you will need: You will need a little room, depending on the size of your group, on the gym floor or out in the back yard if you are working at home. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line and face you. Start by having them jump straight up and down. Next have them jump up and make a quarter turn to their right (90 degrees), then a half a turn more (180 degrees), then three fourths of a turn more (270 degrees), then a full turn (360 degrees), then a 1-1/4 turn (450 degrees) if they can. You can have them recover to the front each time (which is easier to see if they made it) or you can have them keep turning continuously (harder to keep track of ). Emphasize: Pushing up really hard on the jump ups and turning. Tell them, and demonstrate, to use their arms to make it easier to do the turns. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes on a one after the other basis.

16 Delivering the Hit Now that they have a good general foundation for mobility and learning how to hit a target, you need to move into how to deliver the hit or touch. Your fencers will need full equipment for this, mask, jacket, chest protector (females), pants, fencing shoes, gloves and a foil with a french handle. These activities will require a partner.

Right-Of-Way Priority (No.17) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers the “right-of-way” priority concept (first to attack). Used for Foil and Saber, NOT Epee. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or out in the back yard, full equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Get a partner and demonstrate to your fencers using several examples of how this works. Explain to them that they can keep attacking until their opponent parries the attack or they make the touch. After the parry, then they can “recover” and attack again, or they can parry the opponents counterattack and riposte (attack). This keeps going on until there is a touch. Then both fencers move back, “recover to the “On Guard” position and wait for the coach to say, “Fence.”

17 Part 1 (first attack) : Fencers line up in pairs about an arm width between them in the “On Guard” position. Coach picks one player to start. At the command “Fence,” the starting fencer immediately does an “advance-lunge” to the partners chest area for a touch. The partner stays still. After the touch, the fencer falls back and recovers. Then on “Fence,” it’s the partners turn to make the same move, and recover. Part 2 (the parry and riposte) : Fencers line up in pairs the same way at “On Guard.” Coach picks one player to start. At the command “Fence,” the starting fencer immediately does an “advance-lunge” towards the partners chest area. This time the partner does a wrist parry to 4 or 6, depending on whether the partner is right or left handed. Then have the attacker stay in the extended position, while the partner does a quick riposte to their chest. After the partner makes the touch, both fencers fall back and recover to the starting positions. Then on the next “Fence,” it’s the partners turn to make the attack, and the other fencer does a “parryriposte”. Emphasize: The attackers to make quick “advance-lunges.” This gives them the right-of way. The attacked fencers make a short quick little wrist parry, then riposte right off the parry for the touch. Tell them NOT to draw their arm backwards first then thrust off the parry. Run this activity: For 20 minutes. 10 minutes for part 1, and 10 minutes for part 2. And Coach, don’t worry about the short time because you will come back to this another day.

The Straight Thrust Attack (No.18) Object of the activity: Learn the basic techniques and skill of making a quick straight thrust attack to an opponent. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate on. Then show them how to make the quick straight thrust attack to an opponent. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. They will need to get in closer to each other for this activity. They make the hit by just relaxing, extending their shoulder, then just using their forearm to press and thrust the foil tip into the target. Now have one fencer try it while the partner stays still in the “On-Guard” position. Then switch, and the partner tries it. Explain that the hit can also be delivered while advancing, retreating, bouncing or during a fleche.

18 Emphasize: That basically the thrust is usually made by just straightening out (extending) their arm from an On-Guard position. In other words, just a quick thrust extension of the arm. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes so that all the fencers get to try it.

The Basic Lunge Attack (No.19) Object of the activity: Learn the basic techniques and skill of making a lunge attack to an opponent. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need

full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Work this activity just like No.18, except fencers are spaced at about arms length apart. Explain to them that the basic lunge is picking up the front foot, kicking it way out in front while extending your arm and reaching way out with the Foil. At the same time they need to bend the front knee to 90 degrees to get the most extension for the move. Get a helper and demonstrate this. Next have all fencers pair up at about arms length apart. One partner stays still in the On Guard position. When coach yells, “Lunge,” the partner executes a lunge. Then the fencers

19 switch and the other partner executes a lunge. Emphasize: Bending the knee and reaching way out to get the most distance out of their “lunge.” Run this activity: For about 10-15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get a chance to make several lunges.

Proximity/Distancing Training (No.20) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to almost automatically keep their distance from their opponent or partner. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers can take off and set down their mask, glove and Foil. They won’t need it for this “lead-up-to” activity. Working the activity: Part 1: Fencers pick a partner, get in the On Guard position, then extend one arm out, palm up, so they are touching their partners palm. Coach designates one fencer to start, the other fencer has to follow which ever direction the other moves in. Both fencers try to keep their palms touching as they advance and retreat back and forth. Part 2 : Alternate on different days by placing a mask between the two palms, and run the activity back and forth. The idea is try not to drop the mask. To make the activity harder, coach can say, “Advance” or “Retreat.“ Then the partners have to listen closely or they drop the mask. Coach can really step up the calling out, to try and confuse the fencers. It’s almost kind of a little game to see which partners can keep from dropping the mask. Emphasize: Really focusing to keep the palm in contact, and using quick footwork. Run this activity: Run Part 1 activity for about 6 minutes, then switch and run Part 2 activity for about 6 minutes.

20 Lunge Recovery Forward and Backward (No. 21) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to “recover” forward or backwards after they make a lunge. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: First get a helper and demonstrate how and why you might want to make a forward “recover” or a backward “recover.” Next have all fencers pair up at about arms length apart. Have one fencer start by making a lunge attack, the partner reacts by recovering backward. Then switch, and the other partner gets

21 to try for a recover Emphasize: Each partner reacting to the opponent, then decide very quickly which way to recover. It’s basically extending or bringing up the back foot. Run this activity: Run the activity for about 10-15 minutes, and make sure all fencers get to make a forward and

backward recovery several times.

22 The Glove Slap Attack Drill (No.22) Object of the activity: Fencers work on “core training” for their lunge attack. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers can take off and set down their mask and Foil. They won’t need it for this activity. Working the activity: Have each fencer pick a partner and line up opposite of each other in the “On Guard” position at about one step apart. Coach designates one partner to start. Each fencer holds their glove in their fencing hand. The rule is on “Go” they make one advance then lunge, swinging at the partner and trying to slap touch their chest area. The object is to keep trying until one partner makes contact. To keep from getting slapped, the partner has to retreat just far enough to not get hit. Immediately after the glove swing miss, the partner does an advance lunge and tries for a slap hit. This keeps going back and forth until a slap touch hits. Then coach has all fencers return to the starting position, says, “Go,” and the drill starts again. Emphasize: Making quick advances and long powerful lunges, then recover and retreat quickly so that they don’t get hit. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes.

Lunge and Recovery Using a Ball (No. 23) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers to deliver a hit to a small moving target, recover, then attack again. This a variation of activity No.14, except they are spaced at an advancelunge distance away from the ball. What you will need: Each fencer will a need youth size fencing foil with a french grip handle, and glove, both either right and left handed, and a ball on a cord or twine of some kind. You will also need a pole of some kind to suspend the ball from. Or you could suspend the ball from a garage rafter beam for working at home.

23 Working the activity: You will probably only have one ball, so have your players line up in front of the ball. One at a time, have them stand at about an advance step and lunge distance away from the coach holding the ball. On “Go” they advance lunge at the ball attempting to hit it. Coach can leave the ball sill at first, then swing it a little after they get better. Fencers get three lunges, or until they make a hit, then go to the end of the line. Emphasize: Quickness and focusing on the ball all the way through their lunge. Run this activity: For 20 minutes, making sure that every fencer gets several chances.

Advance Lunge with a Partner (No. 24) Object of the activity: Fencers learn to consistently hit the chest target area with an advance-lunge move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor

24 or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate on. Then show them how to make the quick advance-lunge to the opponent. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. They will need to be spaced as shown, blades crossed. They make the hit by just taking one advance step then lunging into the target (chest area). Now have one fencer try it while the partner stays still in the “OnGuard” position. Then switch, and the partner tries it. You can even have them do this with 2 or 3 advances and a lunge. Emphasize: Dipping down low and making a good strong lunge with the blade bending. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 lunges.

The Bind Delivery (No.25) Object of the activity: Teach players how to make a Bind on their opponent’s blade, then slip off and thrust right to their chest. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the Bind then slip off quickly and make a thrust to the chest area. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, and in the “On Guard” position. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the fencer starting takes one advance step, And does a Bind on their partners blade, then they slip off and hit to the chest area. Through this (for training purposes only) the partner stays in the “On Guard” position, and lets the “Binding” fencer make the touch. The starting fencer then recovers. Then they start again on, “Fence,” with the other fencer getting a turn to practice their “Bind.” Emphasize: That the “Bind” is a contact and strength move. The bind and the slip off needs to be all one continuous fast move. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

25 Cross Stepping (No.26) Object of the activity: Teach players how to move forward or backward against an opponent faster and quicker using cross stepping. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home, and a partner. Fencers can set their mask, glove and foil aside for this. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “Cross Step.” Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about two advanced steps apart, and in the “On Guard” position. The

coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Advance” the fencer starting takes 3 or 4 cross steps forward, then stops and retreats 3 or 4 steps backwards. The partner has to follow their advance, by retreating and maintaining the same distance apart. Then coach calls, “Halt.” and they stop and start over with the partner making the first move. Emphasize: That the “Cross Steps” needs to be made very fast. Run this activity: For 1015 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

The Fleche (Arrow) Move (No. 27) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a long range attack move, which usually startles a young opponent not expecting it. It catches them off guard, hopefully ending in a touch. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner.

27 Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “Fleche.” Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about 4 or 5 blade lengths apart, facing each other, and in the “On Guard” position. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the fencer starting takes off running right at the partner, and as they go by they make a thrust move right to their chest area, then keep running for a few steps. Through this the partner stays still in the “On Guard” position (only for training purposes though). The coach then calls, “Halt,” and everyone stops and goes back to the starting positions. Then they start again with the partner making the “Fleche.” Emphasize: Fast running with a quick thrust to the chest going by. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

The Pattinando Move (No. 28) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make two short quick advances followed by long stretching power lunge. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “Pattinando” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about 2 or 3 advanced steps apart, and in the “On Guard” position. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence” the fencer starting takes 2 or 3 advance steps forward, followed by a stretching power lunge to the opponents chest area. This needs to be all one quick, continuous move. Through this the partner stays still in the “On Guard” position (for training purposes only). Then coach calls, “Halt.” and they stop and they go back to the starting position and start over with the partner making the “Pattinando” move. Emphasize: That they make this move quickly, and all in one continuous motion. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at the pattinando move.

29 The Coule Move (No. 29) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a feint, then a graze, then a disengage, then a touch to the opponent’s chest. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “Coule” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, and in the “On Guard” position. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence” the fencer starting feints, makes contact with the partners blade then grazes down the blade a little. The partner (right handed) parries their blade to the 4 line (towards the inside). The starting fencer then disengages under their blade and makes a thrust to their chest area. Through this (just for practice) the partner stays fixed in the parry 4 line, after making the parry, to make practice easier. After the touch, coach calls, “Halt.” and they stop and they go back to the starting position and start over with the partner making the “Coule” move. Emphasize: That they make this move quickly, and all in one continuous motion, while the partner stays fixed in the parry 4 position. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

The Beat 4 & Hit Move (No.30) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a beat on the opponent’s blade, then a disengage, then an extend thrust or lunge touch to the opponent’s chest. This is sometimes called a “One-Two” compound attack technique. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “beat -4” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, and in the “On Guard” position. The coach designates one fencer to start. This is a two part drill: Part 1- The Quick Thrust Then on the word, “Fence” the fencer starting makes contact to the right of the partners blade, then beats to the 4 line (towards the partners outside). The partner beats back to their 4 line, the attacking fencer beats again to 4, then they extend, thrust to the partners chest, using an advance step at the same time to deliver the touch. Part 2- The Lunge This is just like Part 1, except after the second beat they power lunge into the chest area, instead of the extend, thrust, advance step. Emphasize: That they make this move quickly, and all in one continuous motion, while the partner stays fixed in the beat 4 position. Run this activity: For 20 minutes, 10 minutes for each part. Make sure that each partner gets several tries at each part.

30 The Beat 6 and Hit Move (No.31) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a beat on the opponent’s blade to the 6 position, then a disengage to parallel to the floor, then an extend thrust or lunge to the opponent’s chest. This is another one of the “One-Two” compound attack techniques. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need

31 full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “beat 6 and hit” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one short advanced step apart, and in the “On Guard” position. The coach designates one fencer to start. There are two parts to this drill: Part 1- The Quick Thrust Then on the word, “Fence” the fencer starting makes contact to the left of the partners blade, then beats to the 6 line (towards the partners outside). The partner beats back to their 6 line, the attacking fencer beats again to 6, then they extend, thrust to the partners chest, using an advance step at the same time to deliver the touch. Part 2- The Lunge This is just like Part 1, except after the second beat they power lunge into the chest area, instead of the extend, thrust, advance step. Emphasize: That they make this move quickly, and all in one continuous motion, while the partner stays fixed after they beat to 4. Run this activity: For 20 minutes, 10 minutes for each part. Make sure that each partner gets several tries at each part.

The Classic Feint Move (No.32) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make the feint move, then learn to look for a touch line to open up What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “feint” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, and in the “On Guard” position, blades touching. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence” the fencer starting extends and starts a thrust towards the partners chest. However, they stop the thrust about half way to the chest (the feint). The partner reacts with a parry, then they immediately look for an area to open up for a touch. If an area does not open up immediately, they recover backwards to their “On Guard” position. Coach calls, “Halt.” Then its the partners turn to try a “feint” move. Emphasize: Looking for an open line around the parry as they make the feint, if not quickly recovering backwards. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

32 The Appel Move (No. 33) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make the appel move, trying to confuse the opponent, getting them to react and commit and open up a touch line. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “appel” move. Explain to them that this is a diversionary fake delivery move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, and in the “On Guard” position, blades tips just a short distance apart. The coach designates one fencer to start.

33 moves. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer steps out just a little, leans a little forward, and raps or slaps the ball of their front foot on the floor. This is to fake an advance towards the partner. Each fencer can try this twice, then coach calls, “Halt.” Fencers then recover back to the starting “On Guard” Position. Then it’s the partners turn to try two “appel” Emphasize: Slapping and leaning just a little, to really make the fake look good. Tell them that this move can be used at any time during a bout to try and confuse the opponent into making a mistake. Run this activity: For 10 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

The Classic Disengage Move (No. 34) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make the classic disengage action type move in preparation to make a touch. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “disengage” move. Explain to them that they can move their blade tip under, over or retract it in this move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, in the “On Guard” position, blades touching. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence” the fencer starting decides which of the three ways they want to use. Immediately after their disengage clears the opponent’s blade, they make a spiralling extend thrust to the opponent’s chest area using the tip of their Foil. Right after the hit or attempt, coach calls, “Halt.” Both fencers return to the starting position. Then its the partners turn to try a “disengage” move. Emphasize: Making the disengage as quickly as possible using the wrist and tip of the Foil. If the opponent successfully parries or blocks the disengage the fencer must recover backwards quickly to the “On Guard” position, and get ready again (reset). Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at a “disengage.”

34 The Foil Modern Disengage Move (No. 35) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make the modern disengage move, for Foil only, in preparation to deliver a touch. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “disengage” move. Explain to them that this move is different from the classic disengage move, showing them the difference. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one advanced step apart, in the “On Guard” position, blades almost touching. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer starts to engage with the partners blade tip, then waits for the partner to make a lateral parry move. Then just as the partners blade starts to make contact on the parry, they withdraw their blade tip straight back while still pointing it at the partners chest. This is really just a fake engagement move, a short withdrawal, then a real thrust straight to the target. Right after the hit or attempt, coach calls, “Halt.” Both fencers recover to the starting position. Then its the partners turn to try a “modern disengage” move. I might point out that German fencers use this move frequently and successfully. Emphasize: Making the disengage as quickly as possible using a short quick withdrawal with the tip of the Foil. If the opponent does

35 somehow successfully manage to parry or blocks the withdrawal, the fencer must recover backwards quickly to the “On Guard” position, and get ready again (reset). Run this activity: For 15 to 20 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at a “modern disengage.”

The Press to Position 4 or 6 Move (No.36) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make the press move to position 4 or 6 then look for the opponent’s reaction (hopefully a press back) so they can disengage and go for the touch. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “press-disengage-extend thrust” move. Explain to them that this move is different from the classic disengage or beat move, showing them the difference. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out about one short advanced step apart, in the “On Guard” position, blades almost touching. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer starts to engage with the partners blade tip area, then presses hard against it. Then they look and wait for the partner to make a lateral parry against the press move. Then just as the partners blade starts to make contact on the parry, they withdraw their blade tip straight back while still pointing it at the partners chest. This is really just a fake beat or bind to the opponent’s blade, but with pressure, a short withdrawal, then a thrust straight to the target. Right after the hit or attempt, coach calls, “Halt.” Both fencers return to the starting position. Then its the partners turn to try a “press to 4 or 6” move. Emphasize: Making a strong press, then disengaging from the press as quickly as possible using a short quick withdrawal with the tip of the Foil. If the opponent does somehow successfully manage to parry or blocks the withdrawal, the fencer must recover backwards quickly to the “On Guard” position, and get ready again (reset). Run this activity: For 20 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at a “press” move. 10 minutes to the 4 position, and 10 minutes to the 6 position.

36 The Feint, Beat 4, and Hit Move (No.37) Object of the activity: This is a little different from a straight “feint.” Teach your fencers how to make the feint move, followed by a beat-4, then learn to look for a touch line to open up. This is different from the classic feint move by itself. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “feint”

37 move followed by the beat, then look for an opening. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades just touching. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer extends and starts a thrust towards the partners chest. However, they stop the thrust about half way to the chest (the feint). They immediately do a beat-4 to the partners blade and look for an area to open up for a touch. If an area does not open up immediately, they recover backwards to their “On Guard” position. Coach calls, “Halt.” Then its the partners turn to try a “feint-beat 4-hit” move. Emphasize: Looking for an open line as they make the beat, if not quickly recovering backwards to “On Guard.”. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at the feint and beat 4.

38 The Cutover 6 (Coupe) Move (No.38) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make the “engagedisengage-cross over 6- lunge move (coupe). This is a French move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “coupe” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades just touching (engaged). The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer disengages, does a cross over the top of the partners blade, and starts a lunge towards the partners chest. After the lunge, coach calls, “Halt.” Both fencers recover to the starting position. Then its the partners turn to try a “coupe” move. Emphasize: Looking for an open line as they make the disengage and cross over, if not quickly recovering backwards to “On Guard.” Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at a coupe.

Miscellaneous and Advanced Foil Moves When your fencers have a good understanding of the basic foil moves up to here, the you may want to teach them some of the more advanced moves for foil. Some of these moves could be used for Epee and Saber fencing. These are attack moves. Even if your fencers are not going to use these moves, they should still be able to recognize them so that they can counter them if necessary.

The Cross Stepping Move (No.39) Object of the activity: This is a technique to teach them how to move a little farther and faster when necessary. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will Not need a mask, glove or Foil for this activity. It makes it easier for practice. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “cross stepping” move. Next have them get in the “On Guard” position and follow your direction for them to move forward or backward using the cross step technique. Go slow at first, then as they begin to understand how to do it, you can speed it up little by little.

39 Emphasize: Learning to make the steps correctly, by focusing, and without looking down at their feet. Keeping their upper body still and always keep it facing straight ahead, only the feet are moving. Run this activity: For 15-20 minutes, making sure that each fencer can make these steps forward and backward.

40 it’s similar to that without the full run up. Emphasize: Learning to make the jump advance and landing on the ball of the front foot for a bounce. This is a very tricky move to go from the jump into the thrust lunge. If you can teach them how, it’s a great surprise move. I have seen this move made by a 6 Ft. - 6 In. fencer, and it was impressive. Run this activity: For 15-20 minutes, making sure that each fencer can make the jump bounce and lunge correctly.

The Cross Bow (Ballestra) Move (No. 40) Object of the activity: This is a technique to teach them how to move a little farther and faster when necessary while attacking, by making a jumping, lunging move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will not need a mask, glove or Foil for this activity. It makes it easier for practice. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “cross bow” move. Next have them get in the “On Guard” position. Then on the word, “Go,” they make a jumping advance move with both feet coming off the floor, landing flat with the back foot and on the ball of the front foot. Immediately, before their weight can settle, they use the momentum of the jump to bounce themselves into a very powerful thrust and lunge. If they have ever made a “triple jump” in track & field,

Passate-Sotto or Knee Drop Delivery (No.41) Object of the activity: Teach fencers how to make an underneath type delivery. This works in Foil because in Foil you can’t use a head touch. This is an Italian name fencing move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the PassateSotto and Knee Drop moves. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. They will need to be spaced out about three advanced steps apart. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the fencer starting takes one advance step, the partner extends their foil, just as they do, the starting fencer drops way down low, keeping their head up, and thrust their foil tip into the partners chest. Just for practice, the partner freezes after extending and lets the dropped fencer make the touch. The starting fencer then raises up and recovers. Then they start again on, “Fence,” with the other fencer getting a turn to practice their drop. There are two versions of this move, have them check the illustrations. One with the knee off the floor, and one with it touching. It’s whichever works easiest. Emphasize: Dipping way down low, making a good strong thrust to the chest while making sure that all through the move they keep looking up and keep their HEAD UP. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries.

41 The Downward Bind (Croise) Move (No.42) Object of the activity: This is a little different from the traditional bind because they learn to drive the opponent’s blade down on the

42 same side from a high line 4 to low line 7, instead of diagonally. It can also be on the other side from a high line 6 to a low line 8. Or even in rare cases a low line to a high line on the same side What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. This is a French foil move. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “croise” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades just touching. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer engages the left side (a right hand fencer) of the partners blade and executes a downward bind from line 4 to line 7 by rolling their wrist over as they drive their blade down to the low position. Then have them try the other side, high line 6 to low line 8. After the croise, coach calls, “Halt.” Both fencers recover to the starting position. Then its the partners turn to try a “croise” move. Emphasize: Rolling the wrist over as they drive and bind down hard. Run this activity: For 20 minutes, 10 minutes to each side, making sure that each partner gets several tries at the croise bind.

High Focus Proximity Drill (No.43) Object of the activity: This is a little different from the other maintaining distance drills. This causes fencers to really focus on maintaining just enough distance between them and an opponent, to keep from being hit by a touch. Works for all types of fencing. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. One fencer has a mask and all equipment, except no glove and Foil. The other partner has all the equipment, and Foil, but no mask. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute the “distance focus” drill. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades just about an advance step away from touching. The coach then says, “Fence,” and both fencers start advancing and retreating. They move up and down the strip, with the fencer without the Foil always tracking their partner, and keeping just enough distance away from being touched with a hit. Emphasize: Quick feet and constantly focusing on the tip of the partners blade. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at this drill.

43 The Direct Stop Thrust Move (No.44) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to counterattack into an opponent’s attack. Show them the “direct stop” and “indirect stop.” What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute both the direct and indirect stop. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades just about an advance step away from touching. Coach will designate one of the fencers to start

44 first (on the right in illustration). The coach then says, “Fence,” and starting fencer attacks. As soon as they see the starting fencer start their attack, the other fencer executes a direct “stop thrust” by extending and placing their blade tip right in line with the attacking fencers chest, and lets them impale themselves. There is a risk here though. If your stop thrust and the attackers tip both hit the target at the same time, causing you both to be scored upon, the touch will probably go to the first attacking fencer because a stop thrust was used instead of a parry Emphasize: Unless your fencer has really long arms so that the attacking fencer runs into their tip first, before the attack arrives, they should use a parry instead. Teach them how to make a quick last minute decision. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at this “stop thrust” drill.

45 The Attack Into Tempo Move (No.45) Object of the activity: This is a little different from the stop thrust drill. Teach them how to block the opponents attack with a “lunge” into them just as they start their attack on your fencer. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute the “attack into tempo” drill. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips just about an advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a two advance step lunge attack. The defending fencer immediately makes a lung attack into the lunging attacker. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls , “Halt,” both fencers recover back to the starting position. Emphasize: A quick extend lunge into the attacking fencers forward movement before their tip can make contact. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at this “attack into tempo” drill.

The Half Lunge Move (No.46) Object of the activity: This is a little different from the full lunge move. Teach your fencers how to just take a half advance step lunge. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute the “the half lunge” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades just about touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a half step advance then lunges. The other fencer stays in the On Guard position (For training purposes). After they make the hit or miss, coach calls , “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting positions to “On Guard.” Emphasize: A quick half step then lunge, going for a hit to the chest. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure that each partner gets several tries at this “half lunge” move.

46 The Low Line 8 Attack Move (No.47) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to attack the low 8 line area. Inexperienced young fencers are not used to defending this

47 area. They may get an unexpected touch against a beginning fencer. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute the “attack to a low 8 line area” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades engaged Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a direct attack lunge to the 8 line. The defending fencer stays in a high line (just for training purposes). After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Emphasize: A quick extend lunge into the partners 8 line, while staying very low. This is similar to the knee drop, except the attacking fencer just doesn’t touch their knee to the floor. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure each partner gets several tries into the 8 line.

The Direct Insistence Move (No.48) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make this powerful attack move where they use muscle strength and velocity to overpower the opponent’s blade forcing the touch right over the top of their blade. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute the “direct insistence” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades engaged in the middle area. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a direct insistence move to the 6 line by pressing the partners blade out of the way for the hit. The defending fencer stays in a high line (just for training purposes). Have the defending fencer apply a press against their blade so that they get the feel of how to overpower the partners blade. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Emphasize: That your fencers apply a surprise lateral force pressure to force the partners blade out of the way, and opening up the hit to the chest Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure each partner gets several tries at the “direct insistence” move.

48 The Direct Insistence Disengage Move (No.49) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make this quick attack move where they start a direct insistence move to the 6 line, then the opponent makes a strong parry 6. Teach your fencer to then quickly disengage and go for a hit to the chest area. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute the “direct insistence disengage” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades engaged in the middle area. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a direct attack thrust to

49 the 6 line by trying press the partners blade out of the way for the hit. The defending fencer stays in a high line (just for training purposes). Have the defending fencer apply a press against their blade so that they get the feel of press back. Next the starting fencer releases and disengages, using a quick wrist action, right under and directly into the chest area. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to starting position. Emphasize: That your fencers learn to feel the press back, and then just at the right time when to release right under the opponent’s pressing, parrying blade. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure each partner gets several tries at the “direct insistence disengage” move.

The In Close Infighting Moves (No.50) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to attack when a bout goes into an “infighting” mode. I must point out though that many fencing instructors don’t like to encourage infighting. However, I have seen young fencers using this tactic to bully opponent’s. Some directors will even call a “Halt” to infighting because they don’t believe young fencers should be learning this tactic. But it does happen occasionally, so your fencers need to know how to handle and counter this tactic when it does happen. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to execute some of the attacks and counterattacks that can occur during infighting. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips just about touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer executes two advances and a lunge. The other fencer does not retreat, then tries to parry, but there is not enough room for much except the engagement of blades. Here are possibilities: -1. The most common action is both fencers end up so close that they keep bump parrying, missing, then jabbing until one makes a legal hit. -2. One fencer misses then keeps on going by, and as they go by they reach backwards and make a touch to the back of the other fencer. -3. One fencer twists sideways while the other misses a lunge, then as the miss goes by they reach behind their back and make a touch to the back of the lunge missing fencer. -4. One fencer misses a touch to the back, while the other bends down, and goes underneath to the missing fencers chest. -5. One fencer misses across the stomach, while the other turns sideways and get a touch on the other fencers back. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Emphasize: Twisting, and pivoting of the body to cause misses, and to make over and behind the back touches. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, making sure each partner gets several tries for in close infighting moves.

-1

-2 -3

-4

50-5 Miscellaneous Offensive Epee Moves When your fencers have a good understanding of all the basic Foil moves up to here, then you may want to teach them some of the more advanced moves they will need for Epee. These are attack moves. And remember to teach them that they can hit anywhere on the body, there is no “right of way” required, and they need to make that hit 1/25 of a second faster than their opponent. One thing I want to stress is be sure you work on speed and quickness because in Epee they will need those skills. And work on their wrist technique because that lets them make quicker moves with the tip of the blade. One more thing, body contact is allowed in Epee, so you need to prepare them to deflect the body of a strong opponent, so have them work on their strength. Even if your fencers are not going to use some of these moves, they should still be able to recognize them so that they can counter them if necessary. Your Offense Your body targets are divided up into 3 areas: 1. Your opponent’s leading foot, leg, wrist, arm, and hand. 2. Your opponent’s head and torso (body). 3. Your opponent’s back leg, back arm, and their back.

Holding the Epee (No. 51) Object of the activity: Show kids how to hold and grip the Epee (sword). What you will need: You will need youth size fencing Epee (sword), and glove, both either right or left handed. Working the activity: Have your whole group get in a line. You stand out in front of them and have them face you. You have an Epee and each one of them has a Epee. Demonstrate to them how to hold the Epee with their fingers the same way as the Foil. Then have them get in the “On Guard” position for Epee. Next go around and make sure each one is holding the Epee correctly. Emphasize: The curve on the handle and fingers position is correct in their on guard position. Go around and check. Also explain, and make sure, the Epee blade tip must have a rubber or plastic protector. Run this activity: Run this activity: 15 minutes, letting each fencer in the group get a chance to hold a french grip Epee correctly.

The Epee Body Target Area (No. 52) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers where the legal Epee body target areas are located What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you

are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line in front of you, and face you. Then have a fencer or coach come up with you to help demonstrate. Have the helper turn to the front first, then with your Epee touch all the frontal body target areas. Next have the helper turn around and give the group a back view. Then touch all the back body target areas with your Foil. Now have all the fencers pair up and face each other. Next have one of them start and touch all around the legal frontal hit areas. Then switch and have their partner do the same. Next have on partner turn around, then go through the same routine, except to the back area. Emphasize: Where the closest legal hit edge areas are, such as the arm, the forearm and the foot. Explain to them that they need

to go for the closest target because of the 52time and quickness factor. Run this activity: You may need to allow 20 minutes to get through this activity so that all fencers fully understand.

51 Engagement Quadrants & Lines for Epee (No. 53) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers the engagement quadrants and lines for Epee fencing. Learning these areas will help you train and instruct your fencers as to where you want them to direct their attack. Explain that there are two alignments using their bell guard as the center of the quadrants. One is with their bell guard in the center of the opponent’s stomach. The other is a modern alignment with their bell guard centered just to the right of the stomach. This eliminates worrying about lines 6, 3, 8 and 2. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will not need full gear equipment for this activity, they can set the mask down. It will make practice easier that way. A suggestion here is Get a big piece of cardboard, then using a black highlighter, divide it up into the 4 basic torso quadrants of engagement, and then mark the lines 1,4, 5 and 7 on one side, and the lines 6, 3, 8 and 2 on the other side . Put it in front of one of the padded walls in the gym, and align it to the fencers height in your group. The numbered areas are as viewed from the fencers’s viewpoint looking at the opponent. As an example a thrust to line 4 (arm/forearm) would go towards the upper left from the fencers viewpoint.

53 Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Epee to the areas you want them to thrust or parry towards. You may use the traditional bell guard alignment if you like, but I think the modern bell guard alignment with it centered just to the right of the opponent’s stomach is better. So that is what I am going to use: With this alignment, a thrust or parry 4, as an example, would go towards the upper middle of the opponent’ chest or arm/forearm, which would be to the inside of a right handed opponent. Another way this is sometimes called for is coach might say, “Parry inside high (Line 4), or inside low (line 7), again with respect to a right handed opponent. Next have them line up in front of the target in the “On Guard” position, at a thrust length away. Then say, “Thrust 1,” and they would extend then thrust to the upper center chest area. Go down all four lines (1-7), sometimes mixing them up, to see if they are getting it correct. Or if you want, you could have them lunge towards the target areas. Another suggestion is you could have them doing extend thrusts only on one day, and lunges only the next day or practice. This breaks up the monotony of drilling. Emphasize: Going to the opponent’s inside body target areas when they are open. However, point out to them that they are vulnerable when they go to any place on the torso because as they reach in, their arm and forearm become an easy target for an opponent with any experience to make a counterattack. NOTE: Being tall for your age group or classification is an advantage in Epee fencing. One reason is because taller fencers usually have long arms and legs, which gives them an advantage on reaching the target. Run this activity: For about 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to all the areas.

Epee Positions & Change of Position (No. 54) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers where the different Epee positions are located and how to make a change of position. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line in front of you, and face you. Then have a fencer or coach come up with you to help demonstrate where the Epee positions are, and how to change positions. Now have all the fencers pair up and face each other, then come to the “on Guard” position. Next have both of them move to the correct positions as the coach calls them out. Coaches go around and check. When you have went through all 12 position sets, both fencers recover to the “On Guard” position. Emphasize: How to move from position to position correctly in all the sets (See No.9 on Pg. 25). NOTE: All theses sets are numbered for easy reference. Run this activity: You may need to allow 30 minutes each week to get through this activity, if you move quickly,` so that all fencers fully understand all the positions, and how to quickly change positions. You may want to spend more time especially with beginners, because as I watch many of them, they don’t know how to do this right.

The Straight Thrust To Forearm (No. 55) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to make the straight thrust to the forearm. Explain to them that most of the time the thrust needs to go to the closest body part, which is usually the forearm or in some cases the upper arm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner.

55 Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Epee to the areas you want them to thrust or parry towards. You may use the traditional bell guard alignment if you like, but I think the modern bell guard alignment with it centered just to the right of the opponent’s stomach is better. So that is what I am going to refer to. For the arm and forearm this is in a 4 or 5 line, or maybe a 1 line. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a direct thrust to the 4 line. The partner stays in the “on Guard” position (just for the drill purposes), and lets them make the touch. This lets the attacker get the feel of getting a touch to the forearm right behind the partners bell guard. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to thrust to the forearm. Emphasize: Making a powerful thrust by extending first, with the tip pointed directly towards the partners forearm or arm, whichever is easiest to reach. Then using their feet to move and make the delivery. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to the forearm.

The Straight Thrust To Knee (No. 56) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to make the straight thrust to the opponent’s knee. Explain to them that the knee may be open for a touch when the opponent lunges at them, especially if the opponent is shorter in height. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Epee to the knee, which would be in about a 7 line. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one

56 advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a advance lunge towards the partners arm or chest. The partner gets out of the way of the lunge, extends, and thrusts to the out in front knee of the attacker, to make the touch. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to thrust to the knee. Emphasize: Making a powerful thrust, or even a quick lunge, by dodging, then extending next, with the tip pointed directly towards the partners knee. Then using their feet to move and make the delivery. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to the leading knee.

57 The Straight Thrust To Head (No. 57) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to make the straight thrust to the opponent’s Head. Explain to them that the head may be open for a touch when the opponent lunges at them and misses, especially if the opponent is shorter in height, and your fencer is taller with longer arms. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Epee to the head, which would be in about a 1 line. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a advance lunge towards the partners arm or chest. The partner gets out of the way of the lunge, extends, and thrusts to the out in front head of the attacker, to make the touch. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to thrust to the head. Emphasize: Making a powerful thrust, or even a quick lunge, by dodging, then extending next, with the tip pointed directly towards the partners head. Then using their feet to move and make the delivery. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to the leading head.

The Straight Thrust To Foot (No. 58) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to make the straight thrust to the opponent’s leading foot. Explain to them that the foot may be open for a surprise touch anytime, or when the opponent lunges at them, especially if the opponent is shorter in height. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Epee to the foot, which would be in about a 7 or 2 line. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer stays in the “On Guard” position. Then the partner takes a quick advance step, and makes a quick touch to the starting fencers leading foot. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partner that started in the “On Guard” position to have a turn and make a foot touch.

58 Emphasize: Making a very quick, at random, step and extending, then a thrust to the foot, using their feet if necessary to move and make the delivery. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to the leading foot.

59 The Parry 7 and Riposte Move (No. 59) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to make the parry to a 7 line, then riposte to the forearm or chest. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate the parry and riposte with an Epee, which would be in about a 7 line. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a advance lunge towards the partners arm or chest. The partner gets out of the way of the lunge, parries down to a 7 line, then ripostes to the forearm or chest for a touch, whichever is open. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to parry 7 and hit. Emphasize: Making a powerful pressing parry while starting your riposte. fencers get at least 2 or 3 parries and thrusts.

Low Line Parry, Disengage & Riposte (No. 60) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to make the low line parry, then a forward move, a disengage and then a riposte for the hit. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with an Epee, the low line parry, the disengage and a riposte. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts a thrust towards the partners knee. The partner stays back out of the way of the thrust, makes a downward parry 7, then they make a small move forward with their tip, the starting fencer attempts to parry back, when they do the partner disengages, lifts their tip to let the blade go underneath, drops down on the other side and ripostes with a thrust and advance for a hit. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to parry, disengage and riposte. Emphasize: Making the little tip move forward after the parry, to invite the parry by the opponent. That’s what lets you disengage and opens up a line for the riposte hit.

60

fencers get at least 2 or 3 parry, disengage and ripostes.

61 The Parry 1 Disengage and Riposte Move (No. 61) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to counterattack a thrust to the head with a parry 1, a disengage, then a riposte to the opponent’s forearm or arm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate the parry 1, disengage and riposte with an Epee. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from tips touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer starts an extend advance thrust towards the partners head. The partner makes a parry 1, a retreat and disengage. This should leave the opponent’s arm or forearm open for a hit. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting positions. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to parry 1, disengage and riposte Emphasize: Making a powerful parry 1, followed by a very quick, short retreat disengage, letting the opponent’s arm drop. That should leave the opponent’s arm or forearm open for a riposte touch. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 parry 1’s, followed by the disengage riposte.

Specific Area Focus Drill (No. 62) Object of the activity: Teach your Epee fencers how to attack and hit only specific areas. This is focus on the area “core” training. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. You will need special electrofied arm or body covers so that hits will only register electronically in those specific areas you want to focus on. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate the arm, knee, head and foot only area focused hits. You may not have enough special pads. So what you will probably need to do is pad up yourself, or get one of your fencers to be the padded fencer. Then your fencers line up in front of them and take turns attacking just the area you want to focus on. Maybe 3 attacks and go to the end of the line, or something like that. Have them start in the “On Guard” position, blade tip about one advance step away from the tip of the targets partners epee. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the fencer at the front of the line starts an extend advance thrust or lunge attack to the specific area you want to work on. After they make the hit or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and the fencer recovers back to the starting position, then goes to the end of the line. Emphasize: Making attacks to the arm first, then knee, then body because they are the more vulnerable areas. This works for saber also. Run this activity: For about 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 attacks to the specific areas.

62 Miscellaneous Offensive Saber Moves When your fencers have a good understanding of all the basic Foil and Epee moves up to here, then you may want to teach them some of the more advanced moves they will need for Saber. These are attack, counterattack, ripostes, remise’s and redoublement moves. And remember to teach them that they can hit anywhere on the body above the waist. The “right of way” is required in

Saber fencing as it is in Foil fencing. There seems to be more quicker blade clashes in Saber than in Foil. One thing I want to stress is be sure you work on speed and quickness because in Saber as in Epee, they will need those skills. And work on their wrist rolling technique because that lets them make quicker cutting moves with the edge of the blade, which requires wrist rolling action. The Saber is primarily a cutting weapon for fencing. However, the point thrust is used quite frequently. Even if your fencers are not going to use some of these moves, they should be able to recognize them so that they can counter them. Your Offense Your body targets (above the waist) are divided up into 3 areas: 1. Your opponent’s leading arm, and forearm. 2. Your opponent’s head and torso (body above the waist). 3. Your opponent’s back arm, and their back.

63 Holding the Saber (No. 63) Object of the activity: Show kids how to hold and grip the Saber. What you will need: You will need a youth size fencing Saber (sword), and glove, both either right or left handed. Working the activity: Have your whole group get in a line. You stand out in front of them and have them face you. You have an Saber and each one of them has a Saber. Demonstrate to them how to hold the Saber with their thumb resting at the top of the handle opposite the cutting edge side of the blade. Then have them get in the “On Guard” position for Saber. Next go around and make sure each one is holding the Saber correctly. Emphasize: The thumb resting at the top of the handle opposite of the cutting blade side. Also explain, and make sure, the Saber blade tip must have a rubber or plastic protector. Run this activity: For 10-15 minutes, letting each fencer in the group get a chance to hold a french grip Saber correctly.

The Saber Body Target Area (No. 64) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers where the legal Saber body target areas are located What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line in front of you. Then get a helper to demonstrate the arm, head and body areas above the waist. Have the helper turn to the front first, then with your Saber touch all the frontal body target areas. Next have the helper turn around and give the group a back view. Then touch all the back body target areas with your Saber. Now have all the fencers pair up and face each other. Coach can

tell the fencers where to make the 64point touches. Next have one fencer start and touch all around the legal frontal hit areas as the coach yells them out. Then switch and have their partner do the same. Next have on partner turn around, then go through the same routine, except to the back area. Emphasize: Where the closest legal hit edge areas are, such as the arm, the forearm and the head. Explain to them that they need to go for the closest target because of the time and quickness factor. However, make them aware they are NOT to make touches to the back of the opponent’s head under any circumstances. Point out it’s the waist up, NOT the lower torso /groin area. Run this activity: You may need to allow 20 minutes to get through this activity so that all fencers fully understand.

Engagement Quadrants & Lines for Saber (No. 65) Object of the activity: Show kids the different lines for attacking and parry ripostes (SEE No.53 on Pg.64). What you will need: You will need a youth size fencing Saber (sword), and glove, both either right or left handed. They can leave the rest of the equipment on if they have it. They won’t need the mask. It will make practice easier that way. A suggestion here is Get a big piece of cardboard, then using a black highlighter, divide it up into the 4 basic torso quadrants of engagement, and then mark the lines 1,4, 5 and 7 on one side, and the lines 6, 3, 8 and 2 on the other side . Put it in front of one of the padded walls in the gym, and align it to the fencers height in your group. The numbered areas are as viewed from the fencers’s viewpoint looking at the opponent. As an example a thrust to line 4 (arm/forearm) would go towards the upper left from the fencers viewpoint. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber to the areas you want them to thrust or parry towards. You may use the traditional guard alignment if you like, but I think the modern guard alignment with it centered just to the right of the opponent’s stomach is better. So that is what I am going to use: With this alignment, a thrust or parry 4, as an example, would go towards the upper middle of a right handed opponent’s chest or arm/forearm, which would be to the inside of a right or left handed opponent. This is because sometimes a coach might say, “Parry inside high (Line 4), or inside low (line 7), using an inside or outside call for the move. For left handers everything is flip-flopped or opposite. Next have them line up in front of the target in the “On Guard” position, at a thrust length away. Then say, “Thrust 1,” and the first fencer in line would extend then thrust to the upper center chest area. Go down all four lines (1-7), sometimes mixing them up, to see if they are getting it correct. Or if you want, you could have them lunge towards the target areas. Another suggestion is you could have them doing extend thrusts only on one day,

and lunges only the next day or practice. This breaks up the monotony of drilling. Emphasize: Going to the opponent’s inside body target areas when they are open. However, point out to them that they are vulnerable when they go to any place on the torso because as they reach in, their arm and forearm become an easy target for an opponent with any experience to make a counterattack on. NOTE: Being tall for your age group or classification is an advantage in Saber fencing. One reason is because taller fencers usually have long arms and legs, which gives them an advantage on reaching the target. Run this activity: For about 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to all the areas.

Saber Positions & Change of Position (No. 66) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers where the different special positions are located for Saber, and how to make a change of position to get to those positions. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. Fencers will need full gear equipment and a partner. Working the activity: Have your fencers all get in a line in front of you, and face you. Then have a fencer or coach come up with you to help demonstrate where the Saber positions are, and how to change positions. Now have all the fencers pair up and face each other, then come to the “on Guard” position. Next have both

Viewed as Coach Facing Your Fencer of them move to the correct positions as the coach calls them out. Coaches go around and check. When you have went through all 3 Saber position sets, all fencers recover to the “On Guard” position.

Emphasize: How to move from position to position correctly in all three Saber sets. For some other Foil change of positions See No.9 on Pg. 25. NOTE: All theses sets are numbered for easy reference. Run this activity: You may need to allow 30 minutes each week to get through this activity, if you move quickly, so that all fencers fully understand all the positions, and how to quickly change positions. You may want to spend more time especially with beginners, because as I watch many of them, they don’t know how to do this right.

The Straight Thrust To Forearm (No. 67) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make the straight thrust, half lunge or lunge to the forearm. Explain to them that most of the time the thrust needs to go to the closest body part, which is usually the forearm or in some cases the upper arm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Work this activity just like No.55 in the Epee section. Only difference is the “right of way” before the thrust. Emphasize: Making a powerful thrust by extending first, with the tip pointed directly towards the partners forearm or arm, whichever is easiest to reach. Explain to your fencers that when they extend first, they have the “right of way.” Then using their feet to move and make the delivery. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunges to the forearm.

The Beat or Parry & Riposte To Forearm (No. 68) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make a beat or parry riposte to the forearm. Explain to them that most of the time the touch needs to go to the closest body part, which is usually the forearm or in some cases the upper arm. They are looking for a response to the beat so that they can counterattack. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber the beat 4 then the hit to the forearm. The Beat can be followed several ways: PART 1 : If the opponent does nothing after the beat 4, then the fencer can do a circular parry underneath, extend and make a flick cut to the underside of their forearm. PART 2 : If the opponent does nothing after the beat 4, then the fencer can do a disengage back and down, extend and make a flick cut to the underside of their forearm. PART 3 : If the opponent’s response to the beat is a beat back, then the fencer can do an immediate drop under disengage, extend, and make a backhand flick cut to the under side of their forearm while retreating back out of the way with their feet. PART 4 :

If the opponent’s response to the beat is a beat or glide back, then a thrust attack, the fencer can make a circular parry 7 over the top and while retreating backward, extend, disengage, and riposte with a flick forehand cut to the side of their forearm. Have the demonstrator do all 4 Beat or parry, riposte attacks. Next have them each get a partner and pair

68 up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and starting fencer makes a Part 1 move. The partner responds right away by making a beat or glide. Explain that no fencer stands there just waiting because it wastes too much time. When the compound attack ends with a touch or miss, the coach calls “Halt,” and both fencers recover to the “On Guard” position. Then coach says, “Fence,” and the partner tries the Part 1 move. Go through all 4 parts this way. Emphasize: Making their first move after the beat or parry very quickly in order to increase the chance for a touch. Run this activity: It may take an hour to run this activity.

The Straight Thrust To Head (No. 69) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make the straight thrust to the opponent’s Head. Explain to them that the head may be open for a touch when the opponent lunges at them and misses, especially if the opponent is shorter in height, and your fencer is taller with longer arms. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Work this activity just like No.57 in the Epee section. Emphasize: Making a powerful thrust by extending first, with the tip pointed directly towards the partners chest. Explain to your fencers that when they extend first, they have the “right of way.” The partner has to parry their thrust. They beat or glide off the parry, and right for a head cut, using their feet to move and make the delivery. They need to make this all in one fast move or the opponent will try for a hit on their extended arm. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 thrusts or lunge cuts to the head.

The Flank Cut (No. 70) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make the flank cut to their left on the opponent’s right side. Explain to them that they need to make this move very fast or the opponent will go for a hit on their extended arm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the flank cut. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer extends, and lunges for a flank cut to the partners right side. Just for this activity practice, the partner stays in the “On Guard” position. After

they make the cut or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try the flank cut. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position. Emphasize: This is a very dangerous move. It must be done continuous and fast or it’s not going to work. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 lunge flank cuts.

70 The Cheek Cut (No. 71) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make the cheek cut to their left or right on the opponent’s cheek. Explain to them that they need to make this move very fast or the opponent will go for a hit on their extended arm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner.

71 Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the cheek cut, to the left or right. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer extends, and lunges for a cheek cut to the partners right side cheek. Just for this activity practice, the partner stays in the “On Guard” position. After they make the cut or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try the right cheek cut. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position. Then they both try for a cheek cut to the left cheek. Emphasize: This is also a very dangerous move. It must be done continuous and fast or it’s not going to work. Run this activity: For about 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 cheek cuts to each side.

The Belly or Chest Cut (No. 72) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make the belly or chest cut. Explain to them that they need to make this move also very fast or the opponent will go for a hit on their extended arm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the belly or chest cut. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer extends, and lunges for a flank cut to the partners right side. Just for this activity practice, the partner stays in the “On Guard” position. After they make the cut or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try the flank cut. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position. Emphasize: This is a very dangerous move. It must be done continuous and fast or it’s not going to work. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 lunge flank cuts.

72 The Compound Attack (No. 73) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make compound attacks. Explain to them that this is when you use more than one action in an attack. This would be like using a “feint” first, then following that with a “thrust” or a “cut” move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the feint move and the belly or chest cut. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about one advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer first makes a feint to the partners head, the partner attempts to parry to their left, then the starting fencer follows by disengaging under their blade and lunges for a flank cut

73 on the partners left side. Just for this activity practice, the partner stays in the “On Guard” position. After they make the cut or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try the feint and flank cut. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position. Emphasize: Making a good feint to the opponent’s head on the left side, forcing them to attempt to parry to their left, then when they do, they quickly disengage underneath and make the flank cut on the opponent’s left side. The disengage and flank cut lunge needs to be one continuous motion. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 compound attacks.

The Taking The Blade Bind Move (No. 74) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to take the opponent’s blade with a “bind” move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to take the opponent’s blade with a bind move. Have them pick a partner and get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips almost touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer engages the partners blade in the “On Guard” position on the right side, but down closer to the end where they have a strength advantage. Next while maintaining contact they do a change of engagement by rolling over to the left side of the blade. Still maintaining contact with the blade, they bind on it while lifting up a little. Still maintaining contact they slide off and thrust to the opponent’s belly or chest. After they make the touch or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make the “take the blade” move. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position. Emphasize: Making a good change of engagement rollover then maintaining the binding pressure while making their slide off thrust. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances at the “taking the blade” move.

74 The Stop Hit Move (No. 75) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make the “stop hit” move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how make the stop hit move. Have your fencers pick a partner and get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about an advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the partner starts to make a thrust towards the starting fencers head, which exposes their wrist and

75 forearm. The starting fencer makes a light beat parry 6, because they have the right of way, then slides off and makes a cut hit to their wrist or forearm using the back part of the upper third of their blade. After they make the touch or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make the “stop hit” move. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position. Emphasize: Making a good light beat parry then quickly sliding off to make the wrist or forearm cut. Make sure they understand how to make the cut with back part of the upper third of their blade. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances at the “stop hit” move.

The Middle Distance Lunge Attack Move (No. 76) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make a middle distance lunge attack. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the middle distance lunge attack move. Have them pick a partner and get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about an advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer takes an advance step then prepares to make a lunge to the head. The partner advances, getting ready to attack. The starting fencer makes their lunge into the partners advance move. As they start their lunge, they don’t extend yet. When the front foot is just about half way to landing, they extend the arm, and go for a head cut while using their feet to keep them going forward enough to make the hit. This is a timing move. It has to be made at just the right time to avoid getting hit on their arm. After they make the touch or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make a middle distance lunge to the head move. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: Getting just the right distance away to start their lunge. Then making the lunge into a partners advance, not a retreat. Next making sure they extend only when the front foot is half way to landing. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances at the “middle distance” lunge to the head.

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Long Distance Jump Forward Lunge (No. 77) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make a long distance jump forward (Ballestra) lunge attack. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity, and a partner. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the longer distance jump forward (Ballestra) lunge attack move. Work this activity the same as No. 76, except use about two or three advance steps then a jumping lunge (Ballestra) move to the head, instead of the shorter lunge. When both partners are done, coach calls “Halt” then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: Getting just the right distance away to start their lunge. Then making the lunge at just the right time when the target chest area is open. Also starting the move just when the opponent is advancing then hesitates a little. Next making sure they extend only when the front foot is half way to landing from the jump. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances at the “middle distance” (Ballestra) lunge to the chest.

The Fleche Attack to the Head Move (No. 78) Object of the activity: Teach your Saber fencers how to make a longer distance fleche attack cut to the head. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full gear equipment for this activity and a partner.

Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Saber how to make the longer distance fleche attack move. Then have them pick a partner and get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blades tips about 5 or 6 advance steps away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence,” and the starting fencer waits in the “On Guard” for the partner to slowly advance, getting ready to attack. Then all of a sudden, the starting fencer starts a running fleche. They have to time it just right to catch the partner off guard. They almost leap and lunge for the head cut when they get close enough. Their start has to be timed just as the partner is advancing. They make their cut then move on by for a few feet. All during this attack they need to dodge getting hit on their arm. So the sudden start and hit have to be carried out very quickly. After they make the touch or miss, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make the longer distance fleche and cut to the head. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: Getting just the right distance away to start their fleche lunge. Then making the lunge into a partners advance, not a retreat. Next making sure they extend when the front foot leaves the floor for the jumping lunge. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances at the “longer distance” fleche lunge to the head.

78 Miscellaneous Technique Drills These are a few drills that will help fencers with their “Core” training, and “muscle memory” for techniques. You don’t need to do them all the time, but scatter them into your training schedule here and there for 5 to 10 minutes.

The Dominant Eye (No. 79) Object of the activity: Show your fencers how to determine which is their dominant eye. Explain to them that this is important to know if they are having any eye hand coordination problems. You will be surprised at how many people don’t even know they have a dominant eye. What you will need: You just need to show them how to use their hands to make a little viewing window box. Working the activity: Have them all get in a row and face you. Then hold up your hands and put your thumbs and index fingers together, making a sort of heart shaped viewing port or window. Then pick some object a few feet away. Bracket the object with

79 your finger viewing port so that the object is right in the middle of your viewing port. Now Have all your fencers make the viewing port with their hands and pick an object. They center the object in the viewing port, both eyes are open, next close the left eye, if the object did not shift in the viewing port, their right eye is dominant. If it shifted they are left eyed. Emphasize: They know which eye is dominant. If they are “left eye dominant,” they may have trouble and need to make adjustments. Run this activity: For 5 minutes. Make sure all fencers determine which of their eyes is dominate.

Finger Play With Manipulators (No. 80) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to manipulate their Foil, Epee or Saber, especially the tip. This is very important in the parry’s, and blade engagement and disengagements. The thumb and index fingers are called manipulators. They move the point or tip in any direction with a minimum amount of help from the wrist, and preferably without any help from the arm and shoulder. The 3 remaining fingers are called “aids.” They are used to control the movement of the blade What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a weapon and glove for this drill. It will also help if you can get them around a door handle, to use as a training aid. Also it’s better if they use a French handle and not the pistol grip handle. The reason is they will have to use their fingers more, and that teaches them the finger dexterity better. And because you may not have enough door handles around, you may need to use the diagram and make a drawing of the shapes on a big piece of cardboard so that they can use it to trace around with the point or tip. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a weapon to show them how to trace around the shapes using only their manipulator fingers and the tip. Then have them line up in front of you while a coach or someone holds the cardboard. Then each fencer comes up and traces their weapon tip around the shapes, going from right to left first, then back the other way from left to right. Then they go to the end of the line. Emphasize: They try to really focus and only use their thumb and index finger to move the tip around the shapes. Not using their wrist, and not using their shoulder if possible. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to manipulate their tip around the shapes from end to end.

80 Summation of Offensive Drills Plan out your training sessions, then stick to your schedule, especially when you are working with young beginning kids. Their attention span is short, so you need to keep them busy. It’s probably a good idea to move quickly through the drills, then give them a water break about every 20 minutes. If you just keep doing exactly the same thing every week for the whole time period, young kids are not going to learn as much. As an example, you might overdo it and make them excellent at footwork, but they won’t be too good at parrying, and then making the riposte and counterattack moves. You need to take time to work on quickness drills, otherwise your fencers will tend to be slow and tentative about quick attacks. They also need to learn how to focus on the right of way, then the parry and riposte. I have seen young kids, to unsure of themselves to attack, just standing still waiting for the other to attack. You need to work with those kids on how and when to attack. Good advance and retreat footwork is good, but if each fencer is just keeping the distance between them and their opponent the same all the time, it will be more like dancing than fencing.

Defensive Foil Moves The Foil is the basic training weapon for fencing, Epee and Saber will use a lot of these same moves and techniques. The two basic defensive moves for fencing are the “parry” and “retreat footwork” (mobility). Because of the “right of way” rule in Foil and Saber, if the opponent extends and attacks first, then you need to protect yourself with a parry before you can riposte (attack back). As far as footwork goes, a quick retreat will get you away from an attack quickly. The other thing you can do is duck and dodge (D & D). That won’t always get you out of trouble, but it can help.

81 High Line Lateral Push Parry 4 (No. 81) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a lateral parry 4 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is probably the most used parry in Foil. As a right handed opponent attacks you, it usually comes from the left, so it’s natural to parry away from the chest and body to the left. Also as you are pushing their blade to the left, it leaves an opening to their chest for a riposte. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Foil to show them which direction the No.4 line is in, as they face an opponent. Then have them line up in front of you while a coach or someone holds up the cardboard, or hang it on one of the padded walls in the gym. Then have each fencer come up and make the parry 4 move with their foil. Then they go to the end of the line, and the next fencer comes up. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their forearm and elbow to slide the blade laterally straight across to their left. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the parry 4.

High Line Lateral Push Parry 6 (No. 82) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a lateral parry 6 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is probably the second most used parry in Foil. As a right handed opponent attacks you, it usually come from the left, so sometimes you manipulate your blade to the left side of the opponent’s blade, then parry laterally straight to the right. This leaves an opening just under their right arm in the rib area for a riposte. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Foil to show them which direction the No.6 line is in, as they face an opponent. Then have them line up in front of you while a coach or someone holds up the cardboard, or hang it on one of the padded walls in the gym. Then have each fencer come up and make the parry 6 move with their foil. Then they go to the end of the line, and the next fencer comes up. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their forearm and elbow to slide the blade laterally straight across to their right.

82 Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the parry 6.

High Line Lateral Beat Parry 4 (No. 83) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a lateral beat parry 4 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is probably one of the most used parries in Foil, maybe even more so than the push parry. As a right handed opponent attacks you, it usually comes from the left, so it’s natural to parry away from the chest and body to the left. Also as you are beating their blade to the left, it leaves an opening to their chest for a riposte. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 81, except they make a beat instead of a push. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist more to quickly make the beat, and be ready to go straight to the riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the beat parry 4.

High Line Lateral Beat Parry 6 (No. 84) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a lateral beat parry 4 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is probably one of the second most used parries in Foil, maybe even more so than the push parry. As a right handed opponent attacks you, it usually come from the left, so it’s natural to parry away from the chest and body to the right. Also as you are beating their blade to the right, it leaves an opening to their chest for a riposte. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 82, except they make a beat instead of a push. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist more to quickly make the beat, and be ready to go straight to the riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the beat parry 4.

Low Line Parry 7 (No. 85) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a low line push or beat parry 7 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used more in Epee than Foil, but occasionally an

opponent likes to attack low in the groin area. As a right handed opponent attacks you, it usually come from the left, so it’s natural to parry down and away from your right side groin. Also as you are beating their blade to your left, it leaves an opening to their belly or groin for a riposte. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 81, except they make a beat or push down and away instead of laterally across. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it over and down to quickly make the beat or push, and be ready to go right to the riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the parry 7.

85 Low Line Parry 8 (No. 86) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a low line push or beat parry 8 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used more in Epee than Foil, but occasionally an opponent likes to attack low in the groin area. As a right handed opponent attacks you, it usually comes from the left, so it’s natural to parry down and away from your right side groin. Also as you are beating their blade to your right, it leaves an opening to their upper chest for a riposte. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only

86 need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make a cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 82, except they make a beat or push down and away to the outside instead of laterally across. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it over and down to quickly make the beat or push, and be ready to glide down and off right to the riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the low line parry 8.

High Line Circular Parry 4 (No. 87) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a high line push or beat circular parry 4 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used when you find your blade on the wrong side of the opponent’s blade to parry their attack away to a line 4 direction. This happens frequently because the opponent keeps moving their blade around from side to side to get some kind of advantage. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 81, except they make a circular parry to get their blade on the other side so that they can do the parry 4. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it over the top and down to the other side, to quickly make the beat or push parry 4, and be

87 ready to glide down and off right to the riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the circular parry 4.

High Line Circular Parry 6 (No. 88) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a high line push or beat circular parry 6 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used when you find your blade on the wrong side of the opponent’s blade to parry their attack away to a line 6 direction. This happens frequently because the opponent keeps moving their blade around from side to side to get some kind of advantage. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will only need a Foil and glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 82, except they make a circular parry to get their blade on the other side so that they can do the parry 6. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it

88 and off then directly to the riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the circular parry 6. over the top and down to the other side, to quickly make the beat or push parry 6, and be ready to glide down

Quick Retreat Move (No. 89) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a quick retreat when necessary. Sometimes this is the best defensive move. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will not need their mask, Foil or glove for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do a long and fast retreat move. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 3 drill, except they work on only going backwards very fast for log distances. Emphasize: They try to really focus on moving backwards quickly with quick feet, and not stumbling. Remind them that it takes a lot of focus and concentration to be good at this. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get a lot of work on retreating quickly.

Defensive Epee Moves Epee defensive fencing may be the hardest to teach. It’s very fast, no “Right of Way” is required, and you can hit (touch) all over the body. This requires lots of speed work and focusing for all the drills. And you really need to work with your fencers on strategies and tactics. As I talk to Epee fencers, the one thing most of them tell me is learn to defend against the out front wrist and forearm hit. It takes constant (No.1) working on defense against this to be successful.

Semi-Circular Parry From 4 to 7 (No. 90) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a semicircular parry from line 4 to line 7 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This will work when the opponent tries to come in on top to their wrist, chest or shoulder. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see, as a pre-drill location exercise. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with an Epee to show them how to make the move. Part 1 : If you use the pre-drill exercise, do it first, then have them get in a line in front of the cardboard diagram and slowly trace out the semi-circular move from 4 to 7. Each fencer

gets 2 tries, then they go to the end of the line.

90 Part 2 : Next have them pair up with a partner, and get “On-Guard” with the Epee blade tips about touching. Coach designates one fencer to start, then says, “Fence.” First their partner makes an advance then a thrust towards their chest or shoulder. They engage blades in line 4, then make the semi-circular parry down to line 7. The partner needs to let them make the parry without resistance, for practice purposes. After they make the parry, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover to the starting position. Then it’s the partners turn to make the semi-circular 4 to 7 parry. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist strength to maintain contact while they drive the opponent’s blade down. Have them work on their strength because they will need it for this move, especially if the opponent is as strong as they are. Run this activity: For about 10 minutes each on both part 1 and 2. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the semicircular parry 4 to 7.

Semi-Circular Parry From 6 to 8 (No. 91) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a push or beat semi-circular parry 6 to 8 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used when your opponent tries to attack your shoulders, and you want to drive their blade down and away. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor

91 or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see, as a pre-drill location exercise. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 90, except they make a semi-circular backhand parry to drive the opponent’s blade down to an 8 line. Part 1 : If you use the pre-drill exercise, do it first, then have them get in a line in front of the cardboard diagram and slowly trace out the semicircular move from 6 to 8. Each fencer gets 2 tries, then they go to the end of the line. Part 2 : Next have them pair up with a partner, and get “On-Guard” with the Epee blade tips about touching. Coach designates one fencer to start, then says, “Fence.” First their partner makes an advance then a thrust towards their shoulder. They engage blades in line 6, then make the semi-circular parry down to line 8 using a backhand move. The partner needs to let them make the parry without resistance, for practice purposes. After they make the parry, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover to the starting position. Then it’s the partners turn to make the semi-circular 6 to 8 parry. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it over the top and down to the other side, to quickly make the beat or push parry from 6 to 8, and be ready to glide down the blade and off right to the riposte. This is a back hand power move, so have them work on their wrist and arm strength power to help keep blade contact. Run this activity: For about 10 minutes each on both part 1 and 2. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the semicircular parry 6 to 8.

Diagonal Parry From 4 to 8 (No. 92) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a push or beat diagonal parry 4 to 8 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used when you find your opponent coming in with a thrust to a high outside line 4. This does not happen too often, but your fencers need to be ready for it. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see, as a pre-drill location exercise. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 90, except they make a diagonal parry to drive the opponent’s blade to line 8. Part 1 : If you use the pre-drill exercise, do it first, then have them get in a line in front of the

cardboard diagram and slowly trace out the diagonal move from 4 to 8. Each fencer gets 2 tries, then they go to the end of the line.

92 Part 2 : Next have them pair up with a partner, and get “On-Guard” with the Epee blade tips about touching. Coach designates one fencer to start, then says, “Fence.” First their partner makes an advance then a thrust towards their chest or shoulder. They engage blades in line 4, then make the diagonal parry down to line 8. The partner needs to let them make the parry without resistance, for practice purposes. After they make the parry, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover to the starting position. Then it’s the partners turn to make the diagonal 4 to 8 parry. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it over the top and down to the opposite side, to quickly make the beat or push parry from 4 to 8, then be ready to glide down the blade and off right to the riposte. This is a back hand power move, so have them work on their wrist and arm strength power to help keep blade contact. Run this activity: For about 10 minutes each on both part 1 and 2. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the diagonal parry 4 to 8.

Diagonal Parry From 6 to 7 (No. 93) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a push or beat diagonal parry 6 to 7 (SEE Diagram on Pg. 64). This is used when you find your opponent coming in with a thrust to a high outside line 6. This does not happen too often, but your fencers need to be ready for it. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it, or you can make cardboard diagram such as the one on page 64 and hold it up in front of everyone to see, as a pre-drill location exercise. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 92, except they make a diagonal parry the opposite way to drive the opponent’s blade to line 7. Part 1 : If you use the pre-drill exercise, do it first, then have them get in a line in front of the cardboard diagram and slowly trace out the diagonal move from 6 to 7. Each fencer gets 2 tries, then they go to the end of the line. Part 2 : Next have them pair up with a partner, and get “On-Guard” with the Epee blade tips about touching. Coach designates one fencer to start, then says, “Fence.” First their partner makes an advance then a thrust towards their chest or shoulder. They engage blades in line 6,

93 then make the diagonal parry down to line 7. The partner needs to let them make the parry without resistance, for practice purposes. After they make the parry, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover to the starting position. Then it’s the partners turn to make the diagonal 6 to 7 parry. Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist to roll it over the top and down to the opposite side, to quickly make the beat or push parry from 6 to 7, then be ready to glide down the blade and off right to the riposte. This is a forehand power move, so have them work on their wrist and arm strength power to help keep blade contact. Run this activity: For about 10 minutes each on both part 1 and 2. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the diagonal parry 6 to 7.

94 Direct Thrust Riposte to Arm or Chest (No. 94) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a quick direct thrust riposte to the opponents arm or chest after an attack. This is a defensive move and must be made very quickly to keep from getting hit on your own arm by the opponent because they don’t need to make a parry first. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do the direct quick thrust riposte move. Working the activity: Have all your fencers get in a line and face you. Then get a helper to demonstrate with a Epee to show them how to make the direct thrust riposte move. Have them pick a partner and get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about an advance step away from touching. Coach designates one fencer to start. The coach then says, “Fence” and the partner makes the following moves: Part 1 : The partner takes an advance step then makes a thrust to either shoulder. The starting fencer engages their blade, then while maintaining blade contact they extend and direct thrust to the opponent’s wrist, forearm, arm or shoulder, whichever is closest and open. If they can’t make the hit, they immediately recover to the on guard position. After they make the touch or miss, or return to on guard, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make direct thrust riposte. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Part 2 : The partner takes an advance step then makes a thrust to either shoulder. The starting fencer engages their blade, then lateral parries to either a 4 or 6 line depending on which shoulder is attacked. Then while maintaining blade contact they extend and direct thrust to the opponent’s wrist, forearm, arm or shoulder, whichever is closest and open. If they can’t make the hit, they immediately recover to the on guard position. After they make the touch or miss, or return to on guard, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make direct thrust riposte off of the lateral parry. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Part 3 : The partner takes an advance step then makes a thrust to either shoulder. The starting fencer engages their blade, then circular parries to either a 4 or 6 line depending on which shoulder is attacked. Then while maintaining blade contact they extend and direct thrust to the opponent’s wrist, forearm, arm or shoulder, whichever is closest and open. If they can’t make the hit, they immediately recover to the on guard position. After they make the touch or miss, or return to on guard, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make direct thrust

riposte off of the circular parry. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: They focus on maintaining the engaged blade or parry contact pressure as they prepare to extend and direct thrust. Then they can use their feet to move into the opponent if necessary. Tell them NOT to pull their arm back first to make their thrust, which is a common mistake. Run this activity: For about 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure all fencers get 2 or 3 chances to make each of the part 1, 2 or 3 direct ripostes.

95 Defensive Distance Awareness Training (No. 95) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to maintain a safe defensive distance between them and an opponent. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. One fencer won’t need their mask, the other fencer won’t need a weapon (Epee). You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how maintain a safe distance. Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 43 drill, except they work specifically on keeping and maintaining a safe distances with the partner. Emphasize: They try to really focus on moving backwards quickly with quick feet, and not stumbling. Remind them that it takes a lot of focus and concentration to be good at this. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get a lot of work on their retreating quickly and distance keeping, just out of reach, footwork.

The Quarter Turn “Quartata” (No. 96) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to avoid getting hit with fleche’s, Ballestra’s and long lunges. This is another way to avoid these moves if you are alert and quick, and with good timing. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “quarter turn” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about 5 or 6 advance steps apart. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the partner starts a running fleche right at the starting fencer. The starting fencer then at the last minute pivots on the front foot and steps back behind them with their back foot, letting the running lunging partner go right on by. This is a timing move. They have to step away at the last minute just like a bull fighter avoiding a horn. If they step back too soon, they will need to possibly parry away downward from a thrust or hit by the passing by partner. I suggest walking through this in slow motion by both fencers until they both get the timing down. And just for practice, the partner needs to NOT make a hit as they go by. This is defensive practice. After the miss by the partner, coach calls, “Halt.” Both fencers then recover to the starting position. Then it’s the partners turn to try the “quarter turn” move. Emphasize: They need to get their timing down. Just at the last minute, when the charging partner gets close and starts to extend and go for the a chest hit, the starting fencer needs to quickly pivot, suck in their stomach, and step back away.

96

fencers get 2 or 3 tries at a “quarter turn.”

97 The Head Parry (No. 97) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a head parry. You also need to show them how to be careful on this one, to avoid getting hit on the wrist, forearm or arm because if they are left in this position they are vulnerable. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate the move by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “head parry” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about 1 advance step apart. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the partner starts an advance step then a lunge to the head. The starting fencer turns their epee sideways, raises it to slightly above their head, and blocks the hit. Then they make a roll over parry down to a 1, 4, 5 or 7 line. Emphasize: They must do a power strength bind and press as they make the roll over parry, and drive the partners blade downward. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the head parry.

The Flank Parry (No. 98) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a flank parry to protect their ribs, sides, and thighs on both sides. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate the move by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “flank parry” move on both sides. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about 1 advance step apart. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the partner starts an advance step then a lunge: Part 1 : Towards the starting fencers right flank. The starting fencer engages their blade, and immediately parries outside to a 3 or 8 line. After the partner makes the touch or misses, or returns to on guard, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make a right flank parry 3 or 8. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Part 2 : Towards the starting fencers left flank. The starting fencer engages their blade, and immediately parries inside to a 4 or 5 line. After the partner makes the touch or misses, or returns to on guard, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make a left flank parry

4 or 5. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again.

98 Emphasize: They try to really focus on using their wrist more to quickly make the beat or bind parry to their left or right flank. fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the flank

parry 3 and 4.

99 The Yielding Parry (No. 99) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a yielding parry. You also need to show them how to be careful on this one, to avoid getting hit on the wrist, forearm or arm because if they are left in this position they are vulnerable. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate the move by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “yielding parry” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about 1 advance step apart. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the partner starts an advance step then a lunge to the chest or shoulder area. The starting fencer extends and engages their partners blade. They maintain contact as the partner continues to attack, and they offer NO opposition at first, then suddenly as the partner continues to thrust in, they lift their blade handle with a little short move, and move the partners blade into another line. When the yielding move has been made, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make a yielding parry. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: They do a power strength bind, then lift the partners blade up and over into another line before the partner can disengage. fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the “yielding” parry.

The Knee Parry (No. 100) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a knee parry 2 away from the knee What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate the move by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Have fencers get in a line in front of you, then demonstrate how to make the “knee parry” move. Next have them each get a partner and pair up. Have them get spaced out in the “On Guard” position, blade tips about 1 advance step apart. The coach designates one fencer to start. Then on the word, “Fence,” the starting fencer takes an advance step then a lunge towards the partners chest or area. The partner parries the lunge, then slides off and tries for a knee hit. The starting fencer does a backhand parry 2 away from the knee and recovers to “on Guard.” When the knee parry move has been made, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make a knee parry. Coach calls “Halt” when the

partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: When they see the opponent slide off and go for the knee, they roll their wrist over, engage the partners blade from on top and backhand drive it away towards a line 2. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the “knee” parry.

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101 The Foot Parry (No. 101) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to make a foot parry 2 away from the foot. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate the move by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: I suggest working on this parry right after the No.100 knee parry because they are almost the same. The parry response is the same, except you use the top third of the blade to reach the opponent’s blade. You can work this drill right into the end of No.100. The only difference is the partner initially goes for the leading foot instead of the knee. When the foot parry move has been made, coach calls, “Halt,” and both fencers recover back to the starting position. Then it reverses, and it’s the partners turn to try to make a foot parry. Coach calls “Halt” when the partner finishes. Then both fencers recover to the starting position to go again. Emphasize: When they see the opponent slide off and go for the foot, they roll their wrist over, engage the partners blade from on top, using the top third of their blade to backhand drive it away towards a line 2. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get at least 2 or 3 chances to make the “foot” parry.

Defensive Saber Moves Saber defensive fencing may be almost as hard as Epee to teach. It’s very fast, the “Right of Way” is required first, and you have the whole upper part of the body to make a hit on. This requires lots of speed work, focusing and dexterity drilling. And you really need to work with your fencers on strategies and tactics. As I talk to Saber fencers, the one thing most of them tell me is learn to defend against the out front wrist and forearm hit as well as head hits. It takes constant (No.1) working on defense against these hit areas to be successful. They also need to work on their Foil body and torso defenses. In saber the fleche and running Ballestra moves are used a lot, so you need to also work your fencers on defenses against those moves

Wrist, Forearm and Head Defense (No. 102) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to defend their head, wrist and forearm. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Work these defensive parries the same as Epee drills No. 90 through 94, and 97.

Emphasize: Speed and quickness on each drill, along with good finger and wrist dexterity. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes on each of the drills.

102 Defensive Distance & Proximity Drilling (No. 103) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to maintain a safe defensive distance between them and the opponent. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. One fencer won’t need their mask, the other fencer won’t need a weapon (Saber). You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how maintain a safe distance.

103 Working the activity: Work this activity the same as No. 43 drill, except they work specifically on keeping and maintaining a safe distances with the partner. Emphasize: They try to really focus on moving backwards quickly. Focus and concentration need to be worked on to be good at this. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure all fencers get a lot of work on their retreating quickly and distance keeping, just out of reach, footwork.

Right of Way Drilling (No. 104) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to become very good at getting the “right of way,” and recognizing it when the opponent beats them to it. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Work this just like activity No.17, part 2, in the Foil section,.

104 Emphasize: Learning to quickly recognize that the opponent has the right of way, then they quickly prepare for their parry and riposte. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes on recognizing the “right of way.”

Defense Against Wrist and Forearm Cuts (No. 105) Object of the activity: Teach your fencers how to become very good at the three most used parries to block a wrist/forearm cut, line 3, 4, and 5. What you will need: You will need some space on the gym floor or in the backyard if you are working at home. All fencers will need full equipment and a partner for this drill. You can demonstrate this by getting a coach or someone to come in front and demonstrate how to do it. Working the activity: Work this just like activities No.81, 82, 83 and 84 in the Foil section. Emphasize: Learning to quickly parry using the fingers and wrists more instead of the arm. Run this activity: For about 10 to 15 minutes on each of the drills.

105 Training Games Why this Approach According to the “American Sport Education Program” (ASEP) the games approach to training may be better than endless hours of drills on fundamental skills. But too many hours of just playing games is not the answer either. And knowing some of today’s youth sports team training techniques, they may be onto something. However, I think the answer is a little of both may be the best answer. There are a lot of clever ways for you to play competitive games with your fencers in the gym, have fun, and still teach them some basic skills or “core training” techniques without them even knowing it. After a while, playing these games will build up their muscle memory to where they will make these moves without even thinking too much about it. Our suggested approach is play these games with your fencers once, then wait maybe a week or two, then come back to playing a game again. It’s guaranteed that if you play one of these games often enough, fencers will learn a skill from it. How Long to Play the Games When you look at the time we suggest you play the game, in this book, you will notice they are fairly short sometimes. This is because younger kids down in the 5 to 9 years old range have a pretty short attention span. So some of the suggested game playing times are short because of this reason. Another suggestion is mixing in the regular fencing training with the games. Or maybe playing the game at the end of a training session so that everyone can go home with a having had a fun feeling. If you are a coach you can come up with a “practice time plan”. This way you can keep the practice session going, with a game here and there, without kids standing or sitting around getting bored and not learning anything.

Skill Activity No.106- Jump and Catch Jump Rope Game The Basics of the Game Are This is a game that will help you with your basic coordination, foot speed, eye to hand coordination, and quick lunging ability. All fencers can benefit by playing this game, but especially Epee fencers where you have to be very fast. You will need at least 7 people to play the game. Basically you have coaches, parents, or other kids, holding a jump rope on each end. Then you have a coach or parent standing off to the side with some yellow tennis balls. The yellow is easier to see. And last you have a line of jumpers (fencers) standing off to the side on the same side as the coach with the tennis balls (SEE DIAGRAM 106). Basically you have the jump rope holders swing the rope around in a circle, at a moderate speed. Not too fast or too slow. The coach says, “GO,” and the jumper runs into the center and starts to jump rope (SEE DIAGRAM 106). Now here is the tricky part. As the jumper comes in they have to turn their body so that they are facing the coach with the tennis balls. Otherwise they won’t see the ball when the coach lobs it into them. This also helps

their

106 coordination. They have to catch the ball while still jumping the rope. After they catch, or miss, the ball they jump out and the next jumper in line starts to come in. How to Play the Game Here are several game variations: Variation 1 (Non-Competitive) Have all your fencers line up on one side. On “GO,” the fencer at the head of the line(s) comes in and starts to jump the rope. The jumper will have to turn to their right as they start to jump so that they are facing where they can see the coach tossing in the ball. After the jumper has made 2 or 3 successful jumps, and are settled in at jumping, the coach lob throws a tennis ball over to them up in the air. They have to catch the ball and continue to jump the rope. After catching the ball they hold onto it and continue to make 1 or 2 more jumps, then jump out and go around to the end of the line and give the ball back to the coach as they go by. If they miss the catch, they continue to jump the rope and get one more chance to make a catch. Then whether THEY catch the ball or miss, the next fencer or player gets ready to come in and jump. Each fencer should get at least 3 attempts to jump the rope and make a catch. Coach can keep track of who makes catches and who misses. That way you will know who needs help. Variation 2 (Competitive) If you have 6, 8 or 10 fencers, you could split up into teams. Have a line for each team. They alternate coming in to jump. Coach yells, “GO,” and the fencer at the head of one of the lines comes in and starts to jump the rope. The rest of the game is the same as variation No. 1(2 tries for one catch), except if the fencer makes the catch on the first try they go out and a new jumper comes in. This lets a team get more chances in for a catch. If a jumper misses on the first try, they must stay in for a second try. This lets the little kids get more chances. At the end of the time period coach will keep track of how many catches each team has. The team with the most catches wins. How Long to Play the Game Depending on how many players there are, I would suggest NOT playing the game longer than 30 to 40 minutes. Once they do it a few times most fencers catch onto the technique and the game goes faster. Making the Game Easier or Harder If its too HARD for your smaller younger fencers, then do several things. Have the rope holders move in a little closer, and turn slower. Also they can come in from the other side so that they don’t have to make the turn in the air to face the coach. The coach can keep track of which fencer or team makes the catches or misses. That way the coach can then see who is making progress and who is having trouble. If it’s too EASY, only let each jumper have one try for a catch. Or set a shorter time period, then they have to go faster to get more points within the time period.

Skill Activity No.107- Glove Drop Accuracy

The Basics of the Game Are This is a game that will help them speed up their hand movements, and thrust accuracy. All fencers can benefit by playing this game, but especially your fencers that have slow hand speed, and are not too fast. How will you and your fencers know they are improving their skill level. After they have played the game 5 or 6 times they will notice they are getting more touches in training bouts. How to Play the Game Here are several game variations, make sure they stand close enough to touch the falling glove: Variation 1 (Non-Competitive) Have your fencers line up in front of one of the padded walls in the gym. The first fencer in line spaces out close enough to make a touch hit on the falling glove. They stand in a ready, “on Guard” position. A coach or parent with a glove, stands just to the side next to the padded wall. They hold a fencing glove up high, then say, “Ready,” then wait until fencer is “on Guard” and ready. All of a sudden they drop the glove straight down. The fencer has to extend-thrust, and hit the falling glove pinning it to the padded wall. Then they go to the end of the line. Variation 2 (Competitive) If you have 6, 8 or 10 fencers, you could split up into teams. Have a line for each team. Two coaches or parents hold up gloves. You say, “Go,” and both coaches or parents drop their gloves. Each fencer only gets one try. The head coach can count which team has the most hits at the end of the time period, they win. Variation 3 (Competitive) Play this game just like variation No.2, except make it a relay race. The team with the most hits at the end of the time period wins. Each fencer only gets one try. How Long to Play the Game Depending on how many players there are, I would suggest NOT playing the game longer than 10 to 15 minutes. Short time period games will help them speed up their tempo and quickness. Once they do it a few times most fencers catch onto the technique and the game goes faster.

107 Making the Game Easier or Harder If its too HARD for your smaller younger fencers, then let them have 2 or 3 tries. If it’s too EASY, only let each fencer have one try for a hit. And have them stand back at one advance step away from the wall.

Skill Activity No.108- Dodge Ball Game The Basics of the Game Are Now some of you are right away thinking how in the world will this game help. This is a game that will help your fencers speed up their thrusting move to the target. After a while you will notice their arm speed improving when they make a thrust or lunge. And just think, they are having fun playing a game doing this. Now this will really blow your mind. The fencer inside of the ring dodging the ball could be getting core training or muscle memory for making the “Quartata” or 1/4 turn move. Basically 2 fencers get on the outside of a ring or circle and throw the ball back and forth across the circle, attempting to hit one of the players on the inside of the circle. The fencers on the inside move around and try to avoid being hit by the ball. How to Play the Game Here are several game variations: Variation 1 (Individual) Mark a ring or circle big enough so that the thrower’s are close enough to hit fencers inside of the ring. But make the size so that it is fair to thrower’s and dodgers. A suggestion is make it about 25 or 30 feet in diameter, then adjust from there. Mark it with cones. Have 2 of your fencers get on the outside of the circle and attempt to hit any of the fencers on the inside. The rule is they can only push throw the ball. Same motion as thrusting in fencing, except with a flat palm. Fencers on the inside avoid being hit. A A TTipip: Tell your fencers inside to turn sideways to the thrower, they make a more narrow target for the thrower to hit. On the word, “Go,” the game starts. If a thrower hits a fencer, they get +1 point. If a fencer inside gets hit, they get -1 point Coach can keep track of who has the most (+) points at the end of the time period. That fencer wins the game. Variation 2 (Team Competition) If you have 6, 8 or 10 fencers, you could split up into two teams. Have one team spread out around the outside. The other team spreads out around the inside of the ring. Set a time period for both teams. At the end of the time period the teams switch from outside to inside. However, if the outside team can hit all the fencers inside of the circle before the time period is up, they go immediately and switch places with the inside team, which goes to the outside. As an incentive, 3 team bonus points are given for hitting all the fencers before the time

period is up. Give 3 bonus points to the inside team if they can get through the time period without any fencers being hit, then they go ahead and switch places and become

the outside team, whether the 108time period is up or not. Give 1 point for a miss to the inside team for every missed throw. Give 1 point for every hit to the outside team. At the end of the game time period, the team with the most points wins. Coach keeps track of the points and referees the game on disputes. Disputes might come from the thrower getting a hit, but they threw the wrong way. Or a dispute might be because of a graze, NOT a solid hit. Grazes don’t count, and wrong throwing techniques don’t count. Make sure all players fully under the rules. How Long to Play the Game Depending on how many players there are, I would suggest NOT playing the game longer than 10 minutes each per inside and outside period, and 40 minutes or less for the whole game. Short time period games will help them speed up their tempo and quickness. Once they do it a few times the game will go faster. Making the Game Easier or Harder If its too HARD for your smaller younger fencers, then make the circle smaller, and let them throw any way they like. If it’s too EASY, make the circle larger, and the thrower’s still need to push throw.

Skill Activity No.109- Obstacle Course Game The Basics of the Game Are This is a game that will help your fencers with their advance and retreat footwork speed. An “S” shaped course is set up. The players start at one end then use their normal footwork (advance and retreat) to step their way through the course as fast as they can all the way to the end for a time. Timing the players makes a game out of it instead of just a practice. Each leg of the “S” can be 4 yards long (12 feet). How to Play the Game There are five variations of the game that you can play: Variation 1 (Individual Advance Stepping) Here is how it works. Have one fencer at a time go through the course. They start at the beginning. Coach gets a stop watch and says, “Go.” The fencers goes all the way through the course “advance stepping.” Coach records their time. Next fencer comes up and goes all the way through the course. Each fencer gets two times through the course for a time. Both times are added together. The fastest total time for the two run through’s wins the game. Variation 2 (Individual Retreat Stepping) Play this game the same as variation 1, except the fencers have to “retreat step” all the way through the course. Variation 3 (Individual Cross Stepping Forward) Play this game the same as variation 1, except the fencers have to “forward cross step” all the way through the course. Variation 4 (Individual Side Stepping)

Play this game the same as variation 1, except the fencers have to “side step” all the way through the course. Variation 5 (Teams Advance Stepping Relay) Play this game the same as variation 1, except the fencers have to “advance step” all the way through the course as fast as they can. A teammate is waiting at the end. They hand tag the teammate, and they go through the course. This keeps going all the way through each fencer on the team. It’s a relay so the team finishing with the fastest total time wins the game. How Long to Play the Game Depending on how many players there are, I would suggest NOT playing the game longer than 30 minutes, then move on to another drill. That’s long enough. Their legs are going to be tired, but the more often they do this, the better,

faster, stronger they will get 109at going through the course. Making the Game Easier or Harder If its too HARD for your smaller younger fencers, then make the “S” legs shorter. Like maybe 2 yards long (6 feet). If it’s too EASY for the bigger kids, stay with the 4 yard “S” legs, and make each leg a different step, like forward then backward, and so on.

Skill Activity No.110- The Castle Game The Basics of the Game Are This is a game that will help your fencers with their learning to make touches, and their all around skills. It’s competitive, but kids

110 like it because it breaks up the long times for drilling. Since most fencing practice takes place in a gym, the full basketball court is usually used to play the game. Basically there are two castles (goals), each with a treasure prize. Two teams of fencers storm the castle and try to get the treasure prize (in this case a fencing glove). Each castle has a protector or king to defend it, and each one has a team of fencers to help him protect the castle. The team that gets the prize (glove) from the other kings castle and brings it back to their own castle wins the game. How to Play the Game Each team of fencers sword fights the other teams fencers. If they get a touch on a fencer that fencer goes down on the spot, on one knee, and is temporarily out of the game. They stay out of the game until they are brought back to life. However, each king has extraordinary powers. They can bring a fallen fencer back to life by running out and touching them on their shoulder with their sword (Foil). The object of each team is touch all the fencers on the other team before they are touched so that the other team is entirely out of the game (down on one knee). Then they storm the castle (goal) and reach out with the tip of their foil and attempt to snag the glove and drag it back to their own castle. That wins the game. The rules are that the king can come out of the castle (goal) to bring their fallen fencers back to life, and continue to defend (sword fight the other team). However, if the king is touched, they are dead and go down on one knee. Then there is nobody to save their fencers and bring them back to life. So eventually nobody is left to defend, and one of the fencers can go right in then, snag the glove (prize) and drag it back to their own castle, winning the game. It’s a fun game. Sometimes it comes down to the two kings that are the only ones left in the game. And they sword fight until one is killed (touched). Then the other king just goes in and snags the glove (prize), drags it back to their own castle, and wins the game. How Long to Play the Game Depending on how many players there are, I would suggest NOT playing the game longer than 30 minutes, then move on to another drill. That’s long enough. Or you just play until one team wins. Usually the coach leaves this game until the end of practice. Then the game goes on until there is a winner. Then everyone had fun as they leave to go home.

Typical Practice Schedules Why Have Practice Schedules When you lay out a practice schedule, kids learn more, and faster (Training is usually in 8 week cycles for beginners). You can’t always follow it to the letter, but you try to follow it as close as possible. I know many of you coaches don’t like to follow a schedule, but if you do, you are going to find that the kids learn a lot more, do it quicker, and their skills improve. The secret is plan out what you want to teach each session, the get some assistant coaches to help. They can be parents, who may just be sitting around watching anyway. Might as well put them to work. It’s not hard if you just show them exactly what it is you

want them to do. I do this all the time. And I find that many parents are willing to help as long as you show them exactly what it is you want them to do. We will put some different types of 1 hour and 1.5 hour sample schedules together for you to see some different ways to see how to do it. The idea is to show you how to teach larger groups the same fundamentals in 2 days instead of 3 or 4.

One Hour Sample Schedules METHOD 1- BEGINNERS (Smaller Groups of up to 6)

Day 1 (One Coach) Coach (Whole Group) 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising 4:40 to 4:50 On-Guard/ Recover Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance/ Retreat Footwork Training 5:05 to 5:15 Holding the weapon (Foil or whichever) 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Extend Then Thrust Training

Day 2 (One Coach) Coach (Whole Group) 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising 4:40 to 4:50 Lunge Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance Lunge Training 5:05 to 5:15 Parry 4 Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 6 Training METHOD 2- BEGINNERS

For Large Groups of 7 to 16 Day 1 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 4:40 to 4:50 On-Guard/ Recover Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance/ Retreat Footwork Training 5:05 to 5:15 Holding the weapon (Foil or whichever) 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Extend Then Thrust Training Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 4:40 to 4:50 Lunge Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break

4:55 to 5:05 Advance Lunge Training 5:05 to 5:15 Parry 4 Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 6 Training

Day 2 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 2 4:40 to 4:50 On-Guard/ Recover Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance/ Retreat Footwork Training 5:05 to 5:15 Holding the weapon (Foil or whichever) 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Extend Then Thrust Training Assistant- Group 1 (Simultaneously) 4:40 to 4:50 Lunge Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance Lunge Training 5:05 to 5:15 Parry 4 Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 6 Training METHOD 3- BEGINNERS (Staying in a Normal Progression Sequence)

For Large Groups of 7 to 16 Day 1 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 4:40 to 4:50 On-Guard/ Recover Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance/ Retreat Footwork Training 5:05 to 5:15 Holding the weapon (Foil or whichever) 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Extend Then Thrust Training Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 4:40 to 4:50 On-Guard/ Recover Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance/ Retreat Footwork Training 5:05 to 5:15 Holding the weapon (Foil or whichever) 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Extend Then Thrust Training

Day 2 (One Coach, One Assistant)) Note: Split into Groups 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 4:40 to 4:50 Lunge Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance Lunge Training

5:05 to 5:15 Parry 4 Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 6 Training Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 4:40 to 4:50 Lunge Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Advance Lunge Training 5:05 to 5:15 Parry 4 Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 6 Training METHOD 4- BEGINNERS (Staying in a Normal Progression Sequence)

For Large Groups of 7 to 16 Day 3 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 4:40 to 4:50 Parry 4 Then Riposte Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Parry 6 Then Riposte Training 5:05 to 5:15 Proximity Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Advance/Retreat Cross Step Training Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 4:40 to 4:50 Parry 4 Then Riposte Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 Parry 6 Then Riposte Training 5:05 to 5:15 Proximity Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Advance/Retreat Cross Step Training

Day 4 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 4:30 to 4:40 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 4:40 to 4:50 Fleche Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 1/4 Turn (Quartata) Training 5:05 to 5:15 Parry 7 Then Riposte Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 8 Then Riposte Training Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 4:40 to 4:50 Fleche Training 4:50 to 4:55 Water Break 4:55 to 5:05 1/4 Turn (Quartata) Training 5:05 to 5:15 Parry 7 Then Riposte Training 5:15 to 5:20 Water Break 5:20 to 5:30 Parry 8 Then Riposte Training

Hour and a Half Sample Schedule

METHOD 5- ADVANCED BEGINNERS (Staying in a Normal Progression Sequence)

For Large Groups of 7 to 16 Day 1 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 6:30 to 6:45 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 6:45 to 7:00 Advance/Retreat Continuous Training 7:00 to 7:05 Water Break 7:05 to 7:20 Advance-Advance Lunge Training 7:20 to 7:35 Parry 4/ Parry 6 Riposte Training 7:35 to 7:40 Water Break 7:40 to 8:00 Dodgeball Game (All Together) Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 6:45 to 7:00 Advance/Retreat Continuous Training 7:00 to 7:05 Water Break 7:05 to 7:20 Advance-Advance Lunge Training 7:20 to 7:35 Parry 4/ Parry 6 Riposte Training 7:35 to 7:40 Water Break 7:40 to 8:00 Dodgeball Game (All Together)

Day 2 (One Coach, One Assistant) Note: Split into Groups 6:30 to 6:45 Stretching and Exercising (All Together) Coach- Group 1 6:45 to 7:00 Finger Dexterity Training 7:00 to 7:15 Fleche Training 7:15 to 7:20 Water Break 7:20 to 7:30 1/4 Turn (Quartata) Training 7:30 to 7:40 Circular Parry 4/ Parry 6 Training 7:40 to 7:45 Water Break 7:45 to 8:00 Castle Game Assistant- Group 2 (Simultaneously) 6:45 to 7:00 Finger Dexterity Training 7:00 to 7:15 Fleche Training 7:15 to 7:20 Water Break 7:20 to 7:30 1/4 Turn (Quartata) Training 7:30 to 7:40 Circular Parry 4/ Parry 6 Training 7:40 to 7:45 Water Break 7:45 to 8:00 Castle Game Summation There are all kinds of ways to set up training. And they may all work, but some ways are better than others because they are more efficient. Also progression is probably a better way to go. In other words start with what fundamental skill they need to know first before they start the next one. Also it may be a good idea to have the coach one day, and the assistant the next day, teaching the same skill. It’s like batting in baseball, some kids will catch on with one particular technique over another, and be successful with it. Such as how they swing the bat or how they pitch. So maybe another coaches technique will help a

young beginner learn how to do something in another way that will make them successful.