Shadow fencing?

[mleivey]

I have a question for experienced fencers:

I have had a very little bit of basic instruction in sabre fencing, but I live in an isolated northern community with no access to coaching, equipment, civilization, etc.
Is there any way to train solo so that I can be somewhat practiced up for whenever I am able to resume the sport in earnest?

Thanks
-ML

[Spanky]

Hi mleivey

I find myself in cimilar circumstances so i can sympathise. Unfortunately i can only offer limited advice and i'm sure my ommisions will be pounced upon by the more experienced members of the board.

what i can offer by way of advice is this: i find that sabre demands quite high levels of foot dexterity (oxymoron?)...so do as much solo foot work as you can. practice step-ballestra-step or ballestra-step-step, and such like. try work on varying the pace, small step first then accelerate with a ballestra or accelerate with a ballestra and slow with a step. the lower down your centre of mass for these execises the better. bend those knees! this will allow you to change direction more easily (if you will wish to do so in a bout), and this will also increase the strength in your legs...always a good thing for fencers in general, i should think.
another is practice the parries. make sure that the blade and guard are in the correct position everytime...eventually this will make your parries faster: muscle memory is a useful thing!
last thing i can think of is to set up a target, one with a forward and a back piece to simulate advance and main(?) target, that is the leading arm and the body/mask. use the target in conjuction with footwork partice. i suggest things like feint to arm then disengage or cut-over to mask or body. also you can use the target for somewhat more defensive actions, like counter attack to the arm, (imaginary) parry, repost to the mask/body. the feet will be busy during all this, so it will help get the distance more or less correct.
unforunately there is no substitute for a warm body....(no sniggers!) so if you can find a willing 'dummy', that is some one prepared to follow your instructions while you practice hitting them, then do so. it will help simulate the correct distance.

thats it. happy practice!

[ 06-15-2002: Message edited by: Spanky ]</p>

[Cheryl]

I have heard the suggestion of getting a dress-makers manequine. If you have a spare jacket you could put it on it. At least this way you have a "human" form....