Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Aerevon · 01-20-2005, 11:40 PM

I was wondering- how does everyone practice/drill at home? I always feel like i'm not accomplishing anything when i practice on my own...I miss fencing inbetween classes and lessons, but I have no idea how to practice.

Hurriranger · 01-20-2005, 11:51 PM

i normally stand there and see what i have to do to make the best swishy noise with my blade as i cut.

hehe nah i do some footwork, not alot coz it's just too boring, then do weight lunges (hold a weight plate to ur chest with both arms)

Pancakes · 01-20-2005, 11:53 PM

Fence the wall, lots of footwork, 'do my own thing'. I don't really drill much at home, though, as there's no where that's particularily good to do it here (which is extremely annoying).

When I do manage it, I generally start by repeatedly hitting the same spot on the wall, then taking a step back, extending, and a step forward to hit, then after a while of that, I go to lunging distance, then step lunging distance, etc.

Eventually I wind up doing five steps back, five steps forward then hitting with a step, then five back, four forward (or whatever) and hitting with a lunge.

But just doing the same thing over and over again isn't really the best thing to do unless you're trying to perfect form or some such. Mix it up.

kalivor · 01-21-2005, 12:48 AM

Technically I fence my punching bag, not the wall. Fencing the wall damages both my walls and my tips. Only occasionally the ball thing. And I wouldn't describe footwork as "loads and loads." At least, not anymore.

Pancakes · 01-21-2005, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalivor

Technically I fence my punching bag, not the wall. Fencing the wall damages both my walls and my tips. Only occasionally the ball thing. And I wouldn't describe footwork as "loads and loads." At least, not anymore.

Do you not own any dry foils?

laughingduelist · 01-21-2005, 01:12 AM

Practicing doesn't necessarily mean only fencing drill. Last year I dislocated my knee, tore up my cartilidge, damaged tendons etc. For the next 5+ months I worked out religiously. I did push ups, crunches, pull ups, chin ups, just about anything I could for about an hour or two a day. Even though I didn't fence for that whole period when I finally got back the exercise had really paid off, because even though my technique had suffered, the fact that I had a whole new set of muscles meant that I was easily able to start from the ground up, and I'm a hell of a better fencer for it. Plus the discipline required to do that improved my ability to practice.

glowstix · 01-21-2005, 01:29 AM

a 45 min non stop footwork/bladework/strength training regimen. i'll do a series of footwork patterns then inbetween sets i'll do ab/core work. i'll continue to alternate between ab/core work, bladework (golf ball drill) with upper body exercises between sets of footwork patterns. all this with as little rest as possible between sets. good for an all body workout/circuit training type of thing. i try to be as spontaneous as possible to not get bored. i'll do the routine on my non fencing days which ends up being most days of the week nowadays.

kalivor · 01-21-2005, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pancakes

Do you not own any dry foils?

Nope. I have one with a sabre grip that I use to give lessons with, but it's broke. Besides which, I don't think I'd practice with it anyways.

Spazz57 · 01-21-2005, 01:45 AM

It sounds stupid, but sometimes when I just need to practice stabbing something, I get a chair, put loads of big poofy pillows on it, and just lunge at it. It really helps you get good point control. If pillows seem too dull, you could always get a big teddy bear... (mine never seem to talk to me anymore)

Coup de Grace · 01-21-2005, 02:19 AM

I do sabre practice at home and miss it when I don't. I have a tennins ball on a string hanging in my garage. I like to work on form primarily- stance, grip, parry drills and footwork. Jumping rope helps to break the monotony and get some fitness work in as well.

cornflower · 01-21-2005, 03:21 AM

I don't really practice outside of twice a week lessons. Although my club will be closed for the next two weeks as there are going to be exams in the gym that we fence in. So, my friend and I are going to get together during that time and do footwork and fencing games.

Alain · 01-21-2005, 08:25 AM

Woah, you guys really have got it bad... I love fencing too, but am just a little too vain (or should it be sane..?) to do fencing-related exercises at home. That and a distinct lack of time - fencing, obviously, and helping to run the club, combined with Tae Kwon-Do, going to the gym, seeing my girlfriend and not doing any work for uni... it's all a bit much!

Besides, practising at home with my brother - ummmm, methinks my parents wouldn't appreciate the broken furniture...

Still, if you have time for it and you find it helps, then of course go for it

Best to keep it simple, focusing on technique, and do it little but often - you'll get bored otherwise...

Best of luck

telkanuru · 01-21-2005, 08:58 AM

When I practice, it's mainly footwork stuff concentrating on changing tempo, ie. slow advance, quick lunge. I also do partnered drills when practicing with the college team.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 01-21-2005, 12:51 PM

Boat loads of point control drills. Try to hit the marble on the string type stuff. Pushups and situps and weights and crap. Jumping rope. Footwork.... it makes a difference over the long run.

keith · 01-21-2005, 01:22 PM

For the 'do my own thing';

Juggle! good for the old hand eye co-ordination.

Balance board for self explanatory reasons.

Ballroom dancing is also quite good for the footwork.

drippingwet · 01-21-2005, 02:08 PM

There's tons of stuff you can do outside the salle:

Endurance training
Speed training
Coordination training
Strength training
Footwork training
Ideomotoric training
Visualisation
Blah
Blah
Blah

If you think that's a long list, try dividing it up into all the individual exercises that you can do. Woo hoo, that's serious fencing for you. Hard work, if only there was money in it.

VELISARIOS · 01-21-2005, 06:03 PM

I start with footwork combos and after half an hour I practise in target technicks.

ThatReallyHurt · 01-22-2005, 01:50 PM

I try to do some work every weekday morning before I go to work:

- Hop on the treadmill or run outside for about 15 minutes.
- Stretch for another 10-15 minutes.
- Practice footwork in the basement for about 10 minutes or so.
- Practice against the wall, lunging pad, ball on string.

Something I've recently done is put a screw into my lunging pad that I can fasten an old curtain rod to at a height and angle that approximates someone holding their weapon. I'll do 50 disengages in one direction, then 50 disengages in the other, keeping the tip moving in as slow a circle as possible. If I hit the curtain rod, I start the 50 over again.

It seems to be helping my fencing, but it's definitely helping me get up and moving in the morning, and I feel a lot more refreshed and limber during the day.

Ms Epee · 01-22-2005, 07:44 PM

I need some good drills to get my legs stronger so my footwork tempo can be quicker. Anyone have ideas?

ThatReallyHurt · 01-22-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms Epee

I need some good drills to get my legs stronger so my footwork tempo can be quicker. Anyone have ideas?

I find that bending my knees more when practicing footwork has sped my regular footwork up quite a bit. I do squats too, but I've heard differing opinions as to whether that's hard on your knees or not...