Syllabus

Salem Classical Fencing: promoting classical fencing in Salem, Oregon
354 Belmont NE, Salem OR 97301 -- (503) 375-9209 -- http://salem.classicalfencing.us

Member of the
US Fencing Association
(despite our philosophical differences)

Intermediate Foil Fencing - Defense

Mr. Michael C. Heggen, Instructor

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Class Syllabus

This class will focus on improving and refining the foil fencing skills you already have.

Technical
Review basic terminology
Refine blade-work, especially parries
Improve understanding of right-of-way

Physical
Improve form
Increase effective fencing distance
Improve efficiency of footwork

Psycho-social
Don't get hit!
Analyzing the other fencer
Mental focus
Journaling

Class meetings will take the following form:

Discussion
Questions from previous sessions
Review topics for this session

Demonstration
Independently (each part of the movement isolated)
In context (the entire movement at once)

Group drill
Line drill, focusing on topics for this session

Paired drill
Directed practice
Undirected practice

Sparring
Sparring with or without restrictions

Bouting
Bouting with analysis

	Footwork	Bladework	Development
Week 1	Refine the Guard	Refine the grip	Don't get hit!
Expectations	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Quarte/Sixte-Riposte	Refine form and balance
	Limit all line drill to 20 minutes, going 5 min., break, 10 min., break, 5 min., done.		Refine sense of distance ("Can he/she hit you from there?" drill)

Week 2	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Quarte/Sixte-Riposte	Don't get hit!
Training for the duel			Refine form and balance
			Refine sense of distance ("Can he/she hit you from there?" drill)

Week 3	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Septime/Octave-Riposte	Don't get hit!
	Refine the Jump Retreat		Refine sense of distance ("Can he/she hit you from there?" drill)
			Defensive sparring (low-line direct attacks & ripostes)

Week 4	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Septime/Octave-Riposte	Don't get hit!
	Refine the Jump Retreat		Refine sense of distance ("No parry vs. adv-lunge" drill)
			Defensive sparring (low-line direct attacks & ripostes)

Week 5	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Connecting the dots: lateral parries in low line	Don't get hit!
	Refine the Leap Back		Refine sense of distance ("No parry against adv-lunge" drill)
			Defensive sparring (low-line attacks w/coupe & ripostes)

Week 6	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Connecting the dots: lateral parries in low line	Don't get hit!
	Refine the Leap Back		Refine sense of distance & timing ("Just-in-time parry" drill)
			Defensive sparring (low-line attacks w/coupe & ripostes)
			Refine concept of right-of-way

Week 7	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Connecting the dots: semi-circular parries	Don't get hit!
	Retreat Check		Refine sense of distance & timing ("Just-in-time parry" drill)
			Defensive sparring (attacks w/change & ripostes)

Week 8	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Connecting the dots: semi-circular parries	Don't get hit!
	Retreat Check		Defensive sparring (attacks w/change & ripostes)
			Defensive bouting vs. TA (as bad fencer) Goals (in ascending order): --go 3 minutes --go 3 minutes w/ >3 touches rec'v'd --go 3 minutes w/only 1 touch rec'v'd --go 3 minutes w/o getting hit --go 3 minutes w/o getting hit and score 1 touch --go 3 minutes w/o getting hit and score 3 touches --score 5 touches w/o getting hit

Week 9	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Connecting the dots: diagonal "yin-yang" parries	Don't get hit!
	Integrate all defensive footwork into adv-ret-ret-adv drill		Defensive sparring (attacks w/change & ripostes)

Week 10	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Connecting the dots: diagonal "yin-yang" parries	Don't get hit!
	Adv-ret-ret-adv drill in three		Defensive sparring (attacks w/change & ripostes)
			Defensive bouting vs. TA (as bad fencer)

Week 11	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Circle Parry-Riposte	Don't get hit!
	Integrate all defensive footwork into adv-ret-ret-adv drill, in two or three		Defensive sparring (one-two & one-two-three attacks & ripostes)

Week 12	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Circle Parry-Riposte	Don't get hit!
	Integrate all defensive footwork into adv-ret-ret-adv drill, in two or three		Defensive sparring (one-two & one-two-three attacks & ripostes)
			Defensive bouting vs. TA (as bad fencer)

Week 13	Refine the Advance/Retreat (adv-ret-ret-adv drill)	Bringing it all together: building a wall of steel	Don't get hit!
	Integrate all defensive footwork into adv-ret-ret-adv drill, in two or three		Unrestricted sparring (good fencer/bad fencer)

Week 14 (two pools of 4?)	Mini-tournament (allow three hours for class)	Mini-tournament	Mini-tournament