October 2000
We hope to provide a continuing resource of fencing facts and tips.
Everything from footwork, tactics, armory skills, history and
anecdotes.
Every person, from birth, has a certain speed factor which, conditioned by their natural aptitude, the kind of work they do, and the kind of sport they practice, will place them in one of three classifications: 1. fast, 2. medium, or 3. slow.
1. The "fast" fencer: The fast fencer usually does not possess much coordination; while he is very fast in executing movements, he usually does not take the time or the patience to complete them. Often his arm is still bent on the lunge, simply because in his impatience to go on the attack his feet have gotten ahead of his arm. He prefers to attack rather than to parry and reposte.
2. The "medium" fencer: The medium type of fencer is one who is inclined to be fast on some days and slow on other days without any special reason. The personality of this kind of fencer is also usually undetermined; They are usually indecisive.
3. The "slow" fencer: The slow fencer often possesses the perfect coordination in their movements but will execute them very slowly. This type is usually very deliberate and mechanical in their movements.
Can you pick put what type of fencer you are? Or better yet, can you pick up what type of fencer your opponent is? Each type has its own advatages and disadvantages. The "slow" fencer for example usually achieves a thorough understanding of what they are studying, but it may take a long time for them to progress. The "fast" fencer usally has initial success due to his speed, but their principal deficiency is their small bag of tricks upon which they depend to score most of their touches. Their main drawback is their impaience. The "medium" fencer has to try to compensate for their "inconsitancy", fast one day, slower the next. Which shall it be today?
The "fast" fencer should practice complex attacks, 3 or 4 movements, thus having to wait for their partner or instructor to make their final parry before they can execute their lunge. This way when bouting they can usually accomplish shorter movement attacks much cleaner and crisper. In practice or class another drill is to have to parry several times before allowing a reposte, so that they can get accustomed to completing a parry before reposting.
The "medium" fencer should train to maintain the same speed of movement for all their moves.They need to be "pushed",challenged so that they get an increased tempo ingrained into their fencing.
The "slow" should concentrate on the simple movement attacks untill they acheive some speed in their execution. The same holds true for their parry repostes. Then they should gradually add more complex movenets.
Everyone has strenghts and weaknesses, we must learn to balance them with each other. Strengths should be identified and honed, weaknesses must also be identified so they can be reduced.
And the only way to do either is to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
The only way to get better is to Fence.
I hope to meet you on the strip sometime.
Good Fencing!
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WEBMASTER
