Hey folks, as you know, Junior Fencers are often physically talented but when it comes to tactics, if it’s raining brains, they don’t get wet. This is a program I came up with for junior fencers to practice tactics. I made this a few years ago while coaching in Florida, and will now be bringing this back with the so called newly established DCFC Fight Club. If you have any questions as to what these things mean, feel free to reach out!
- 2 Minutes roundabout to warm up.
- The most important factors in fencing, according to Lazlso Gerentser: “Sense of technique (including speed), Sense of Tempo, Tactics, Mental Strength”
- 5-8 minutes stretching.
- Footwork
- Implementing half-advance, half-retreat
- Developing more explosive, efficient fleche
- Being on the balls of our feet.
- Developing Hand/Foot Coordination.
- “Shadow Fencing” to gain a better sense of opponent’s tempo.
- Suit Up
- Drills
- 6 line, 8 line drills.
- Point over bell guard, disengage in 8 drill.
- Preparation drills.
- Fun Drill: Infighting Drill
- Tactical Situations
- Both in training and competitions always figure out why touched or were touched and what you can do about it.
- Avoid being in a situation where you have no ideas, always think to outwit your opponent.
- If at first you don’t succeed, CHANGE YOUR TACTICS!
- Always look for, and SEIZE every opportunity to execute your attack in tempo.
- Pay attention to the following: Patterns in your opponents footwork, tempo
- Fencer is down 3-0.
- Fencer who is down MUST take blade for single lights.
- Fencer who is up is likely to either: Burn out the clock, go for double touches, or be on the defensive, as he/she knows the other fencer must attack.
- Fencer is down 4-3 with 10 seconds remaining.
- The quickest a fencing action can occur is in about 2.2 seconds. 10 seconds is actually plenty of time to tie it up.
- Fencer is down 4-3 with 20 seconds remaining.
- Fencer A uses offensive maneuvers for a 5 touch bout, Fencer B uses only defense.
- Fencer A and B fence 5 touches, attacks to the hand or foot are worth 2 points.
- The boring drill: Fence 5 touch bouts. After each action, discuss with your opponent how it happened.
- 20 second drill. Simple- You fence, but take 20 seconds to analyze your opponent’s movement/tempo before doing anything.
- Analysis drill: Having two random people engage in a five touch bout. Allow the people to analyze their movements.
- Conditioning
- 3 minutes of step ups
- 30 box jumps.
- Advance/Squat Down.
- Chop and Drop 2 minutes.
- 3 sets of 15 burpees.
- Outdoor Sprints
- Abs: Crunches, Slow Bicycles, Obliques, Hip Thrusts, 2 minutes of planks.
- Short Lessons/Free Fencing.