>>Quoting:
>>"3. Rolling the back foot over onto one's ankle in an attempt to gain
>>distance in an incorrectly launched attack is incorrect in both schools.
>> (One should learn to judge their distance using a flat back foot, which
>>can slide if necessary, but should not roll over)"
>I just had a quick question on this if you don't mind. :-)
>This one seems to me in my experience fairly heavily debated, even in
pre->modern fencing. I am not up on my reading enough to quote anyone in
the >classical period, but didn't L'abbat teach that it was acceptable for
the >foot to roll to the edge, but not full to the side? Did this die out
later >during the classical period, and then not form again until the modern
>period? Oh when you speak of rolling the foot do you mean only the later,
>ie, it is okay to move it onto the edge, but not all the way to the side?
>I was just curious because it is something I run into a lot of different
>opinions on. :-)
Andrew,
A lot of sport fencers are taught to roll the back foot as much as necessary
to gain distance. However, I think this is a handicap. I think it is much
better to learn how to judge the correct distance while keeping that back
foot flat.
By the classical era it was recommended that the rear foot be kept flat for
better balance. So in my school raising the heel any amount at all is
considered incorrect. I was told some classical fencing masters when they
had a student who simply could not keep their back foot flat, they would
nail his shoe to the floor and make him practice lunges that way.
In my school I place them so that their back foot rests against a wall and
make them practice lunging from that position. In line drills when I'm
walking around my students checking their form I will also simply place my
foot against their back foot and force it to stay down so they get the
message.
When the lunge is done correctly the force of the lunge should be enough to
keep the rear foot flat. Some beginners lunge incorrectly by not pushing off
with the rear foot but instead they step forward or fall into the lunge.
Also, I have noticed that some shoes, particularly running shoes which have
been irregularly worn down due to foot pronation will wobble when people
wearing them lunge. This makes the back heel come up slightly. I recommend
to my students that they wear flat shoes. I prefer leather Converse All
Stars over running shoes for this reason.
Rez
--------------------------------------
Rez Johnson, M d'E
Headmaster: Mississippi Academy of Arms
Certified Moniteur d'Escrime (Fleuret, Epee, Sabre): Academie d'Armes
Internationale (AAI)
Certified Fencing Instructor (Foil, Epee, Saber): United States Fencing
Coaches Association (USFCA)
Fencing Master Apprentice of Past USFCA President, Robert F. Scranton,
Maitre d'Armes
Mississippi Academy of Arms
Virtute et Armis - By Valor and Arms
Teaching Fencing Since 1980
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