footwork....HELP!!!!

Footwork is my no1 prob.... but my not having a coach makes it tough.
I've always been a bit self conscious about footwork anyways so
getting motivated without knowing Im doing it right is a bother!!!


Are there any camps for adult(Im 29) E-rated fencers to go to get
better? Im sure theres camps for kids with rich parents etc... but a
camp for adults with mebbe 1 yr experience? I can go as far as
colorado, CA, and texas, or the pacific northwest. but will go
anywhere if need be. I wanna get good at fencing foil


Secondly, are there any videos on dvd I can watch to see how to do
this stuff? I know the basic mechanics of lunging, balestra, etc. but
just dont feel comfortable without having some authority to turn to.
WHat I really want to develop is the speed and ease some of these good
fencers have in changing direction and lunging.

Thanks for your help!!!

El Magno


PS: Im 5'9-10 and 190 lbs and am wondering if anyone can recommend a
cardio training regimen for me in addition to fencing. Im at about a
shameful 20% bodyfat, perhaps less.

In rec.sport.fencing on 5 Feb 2004 12:43:27 -0800
magni <michael_lichtstrom@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Footwork is my no1 prob.... but my not having a coach makes it tough.
> I've always been a bit self conscious about footwork anyways so
> getting motivated without knowing Im doing it right is a bother!!!
>
>

Not having someone to watch you must be very hard!

You can try with a mirror, moving towards it and making sure your knee
and toe are where they should be, and your body is upright and relaxed.

If you have anyone you fence with, then maybe arrange a turnabout time
with them where you critique them and they critique you. If there are
senior ones around who know what to look for, maybe offer them beer in
exchange for critiquing.

Fast flowing movement is the result of drilling the right thing for a
very long time. It's almost impossible without a teacher who can get
you moving properly right at the start.

Are you sure you have exhausted all avenues of finding one? Hell, put
an ad in the local paper, maybe someone might bring it to a retired
teacher's attention.

Zebee

"magni" <michael_lichtstrom@yahoo.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:23e9ba68.0402051243.126e902a@posting.google.c om...
> Footwork is my no1 prob.... but my not having a coach makes it tough.
> I've always been a bit self conscious about footwork anyways so
> getting motivated without knowing Im doing it right is a bother!!!
>

First you should begin doing it slowly, when you feel confortable, then
accelerate and begin back again. Make sure you have a good balance and that
your back is straith, your feet shoul be square and about at the space of
your shoulder with knee bent.

I can find some document for you ill just try sending them via mail.

Agleos
(Where are you from?)

In article <23e9ba68.0402051243.126e902a@posting.google.com >,
michael_lichtstrom@yahoo.com (magni) wrote:

> Footwork is my no1 prob.... but my not having a coach makes it tough.
> I've always been a bit self conscious about footwork anyways so
> getting motivated without knowing Im doing it right is a bother!!!
>
>
> Are there any camps for adult(Im 29) E-rated fencers to go to get
> better? Im sure theres camps for kids with rich parents etc... but a
> camp for adults with mebbe 1 yr experience? I can go as far as
> colorado, CA, and texas, or the pacific northwest. but will go
> anywhere if need be. I wanna get good at fencing foil
>
>

Well, if there's no coach in your area and you can find some people to
coach, maybe you want to consider going to coaches college, sponsored by
the USFA. You should be able to find info about it at usfa.org

It's kind of a camp, but the focus is on teaching you how to coach foil.
Of course, you'll get some coaching on your footwork, etc., while you're
there if you need it.

> Secondly, are there any videos on dvd I can watch to see how to do
> this stuff? I know the basic mechanics of lunging, balestra, etc. but
> just dont feel comfortable without having some authority to turn to.
> WHat I really want to develop is the speed and ease some of these good
> fencers have in changing direction and lunging.
>

The USFA used to have such video, I think. Check the website.


--Harold Buck


"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

Zebee Johnstone <zebee@zip.com.au> wrote in message news:<slrnc25bm7.s61.zebee@zeus.zipworld.com.au>.. .
> In rec.sport.fencing on 5 Feb 2004 12:43:27 -0800
> magni <michael_lichtstrom@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Footwork is my no1 prob.... but my not having a coach makes it tough.
> > I've always been a bit self conscious about footwork anyways so
> > getting motivated without knowing Im doing it right is a bother!!!
> >
> >
>
> Not having someone to watch you must be very hard!
>
> You can try with a mirror, moving towards it and making sure your knee
> and toe are where they should be, and your body is upright and relaxed.
>
> If you have anyone you fence with, then maybe arrange a turnabout time
> with them where you critique them and they critique you. If there are
> senior ones around who know what to look for, maybe offer them beer in
> exchange for critiquing.
>
> Fast flowing movement is the result of drilling the right thing for a
> very long time. It's almost impossible without a teacher who can get
> you moving properly right at the start.
>
> Are you sure you have exhausted all avenues of finding one? Hell, put
> an ad in the local paper, maybe someone might bring it to a retired
> teacher's attention.
>
> Zebee

Its funny; there is an element of beauty in fencing thats seems
inexorably tied to sound mechanics... despite not having much grace
and no sound mechanics Im not giving up on Fencing. It's too much fun.

DOes anyone know of a camp in the US thats designed for adults to help
them be competitive? It doesnt even matter if Im the oldest there.
Just as long as its designed for weaker fencers like myself to get
stronger.

Thanks,

Magnobitsky

Go to Fencing101.com. In their "store" you can order Tyshler's Footwork
Training
in VHS or CD. Tyshler also puts out Foil Training, I & II. These could help
you a lot, especially with no coach.

Bonnie