Introductory Foil Fencing I
Mr. Michael C. Heggen, Instructor
Mr. Rafael S. Villarreal III, Assistant Instructor
[ Up ] [ Expectations ] [ Syllabus ]
Class Syllabus
You will be learning about recreational foil fencing in this
class. If you decide to fence competitively or to learn one of the other two
weapons, the knowledge you gain here will transfer very well. In Intro
Foil II,
you will be introduced to the basic concepts of competitive fencing.
|
Technical
Basic terminology
Basic offensive and defensive maneuvers
|
Physical
Form, balance, and movement
Fencing exercises and drills
Coordination of hands, eyes, and feet
|
Psycho-social
Interaction between fencers
Self-control and identity development
Sportsmanship
|
Class meetings will take the following form:
|
Discussion
Review of what we have learned so far
Explanation of new concepts
Explanation of new movements
Demonstration
Independently (each part of the movement isolated)
In context (the entire movement at once)
|
Group drill
Review of previously learned movements
Drill of previously learned movements
Second demonstration of new movements
Drill of new movements
|
Paired drill
Directed practice
Undirected practice
Sparring
(after the 12th class)
Free play
|
|
|
Footwork |
Bladework |
Development |
|
Week 1 |
Ready (1st) position |
Hand grip |
Expectations |
|
The Guard |
The Guard (central) |
Why are you here? |
|
|
Extend/Recover |
Examine the 3 weapons |
|
|
|
Form and Balance |
| |
|
|
|
|
Week 2 |
Refine 1st position |
Quarte(4) (cart) |
Uniform fittings |
|
Refine the Guard |
Sixte(6) (sees) |
History (medieval) |
| |
Get on guard and then rest (repeatedly)
until it is right. Ensure 1st position is taken before getting on guard. |
Drill the parries against the air only (no
blade interaction).
Think small parries! |
Define Target Area |
| |
|
|
Line (inside/outside) |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 3 |
Advance (1,2 rhythm) |
Refine 4 & 6 |
History (up to 1950) |
|
Retreat (1,2 rhythm) |
|
Rhythm |
| |
Limit line drill to about 20 minutes: drill 5 min.; rest; drill 10
min.; rest; drill 5 minutes; done. |
Drill the parries against the air first,
then with blade interaction |
Extension distance |
| |
|
|
Maintaining extension distance
(belt & spikes game) |
|
|
|
Cooperation |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 4 |
Refine the Advance/Retreat |
Riposte from 4 & 6 |
Self-control |
|
|
The Touch
Drill touches against instructor and TAs first, then one-cycle
parry-ripostes against each other, then with continuous interaction |
History
(up to present) |
| |
|
|
Maintaining extension distance
(belt & spikes game) |
|
|
|
Interaction |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 5 |
Lunge |
Refine the riposte |
Exhale with the lunge |
| |
Recover from lunge |
|
Maintaining lunge distance
(belt & spikes game) |
| |
|
|
Right-of-way explained |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 6 |
Refine the Lunge/Recovery |
Septime(7) (sehp-teem) |
Line (high/low) |
| |
|
Octave(8) (ock-tahv) |
|
|
|
Drill the parries against the air only (no blade interaction).
Think small parries! |
Maintaining lunge distance
(belt & spikes game) |
|
|
|
|
| Week 7 |
Refine the Lunge/Recovery |
Refine 7 & 8 |
Intro. to Judging |
| |
Jump Retreat (1,2 rhythm) |
Drill the parries against the air first,
then with blade interaction |
Maintaining lunge distance
(belt & spikes game) |
|
Cross Retreat (1,2 rhythm) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Week 8 |
Refine the Lunge/Recovery |
Riposte from 7 & 8 |
Judging practice (TA bouts) |
| |
Refine the retreats |
Drill one-cycle parry-ripostes against each other, then with continuous
interaction |
Maintaining lunge distance
(belt & spikes game) |
| |
|
|
|
|
Week 9 |
Advance-Lunge (1,2,3 rhythm) |
Attack low line w/ adv-lunge
Drill pincushion attacks first, then attacks with parry-riposte |
Judging practice (TA bouts) |
| |
Begin slow-to-moderate speed smoothness
drills... |
|
Maintaining fencing distance
(belt & spikes game) |
| |
|
|
|
|
Week 10 |
Refine the Advance-Lunge |
Attack high line w/ adv-lunge
Drill pincushion attacks first, then attacks with parry-riposte |
Judging practice (TA bouts) |
| |
|
|
Maintaining fencing distance
(belt & spikes game) |
| |
|
|
|
|
Week 11 |
Patinando (the slide)
(1-&-2 rhythm) |
Direct vs. Indirect -- changing line
Feint-Disengage/Change |
Judging practice (TA bouts) |
| |
|
Attack high line from distance
Drill direct and indirect.
Keep parries small. Riposte! |
Tempo |
| |
|
Parry & Retreat |
Sneaking distance |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 12 |
Refine the Patinando |
Attack any line from distance
Drill direct and indirect.
Keep parries small. Riposte! |
Sparring etiquette |
| |
Add calls for known footwork to smoothness
drills... |
Refine Parry & Retreat |
Sparring |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 13 |
Leap Back (1,2 rhythm) |
Circular 4 & 6 |
Judging practice (TA bouts) |
| |
|
|
Sparring |
| |
|
|
|
|
Week 14 |
Refine the Leap Back |
Refine Circular 4 & 6 |
Judging practice (TA bouts) |
|
|
|
Sparring |
