Good way to practice blade control?

[Nocturne265]

I've just recently gotten into fencing (about 2 months) and really enjoy it and am looking forward to getting better. Oh, and I'm currently fencing foil.

I know I'm really new and this will get better with time, but I am having a really tough time with blade control. Actually, its more of an accuracy problem, which I assume stems from poor blade control, but I could be wrong? When I move in to attack (or try to counter-attack, for that matter), my foil never seems to hit within my opponents target area. Most of the time I end up hitting high, usually on their blade-arm/shoulder.

Since I recently aquired a foil for myself, I was wondering if there were any drills I could do by myself that might help with my accuracy. Should I just put up a target and try to consistently hit points?

Again, I'm a big newbie about all of this so any advice would be helpful. Thanks

[Black Jeebus]

One of the perenial favorites is the tennis ball hung from- well anything really. You just put an eye-bolt through the ball then use a nut to secure it and tie a string onto the eye of the bolt and then tie the string to something else, and proceed to hit the dangling ball.

Truthfully, we tell our beginners as new as yourself not to practice outside of club; we don't want them to develope bad habits. For every hour you practice something wrong, that's more or less an hour we have to work with them to straighten it out.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

you're new, its ok. Blade control takes alot of time. Work on using your elbow, should and wrist less, and your fingers more. Fingers are for fine movement. Finegers, really. Just work on your basic actions, do the parry motions with controlled speed. Make a target a few inches around, and work on hitting it. No need to get fancy yet.

[noahz]

If you're not already, practice using a French (also "straight") grip. Some people start using a pistol grips too early, which is bad because it allows you to get away with using your wrist to manipulate the blade.

Other than that, practice. Spend a lot of time making tiny circles with the point, tracing your initials in the air, etc. etc.

I'm not a big fan of the tennis ball thing, except when I want to work on my hand picks (I'm an epee fencer). I think you can get to that after you've mastered doing moderate, relaxed, comfortable lunges to a generous wall target.

[esskreemr]

Check your grip, make sure your not holding it too tight. Also make sure you're not holding it like a sabre. A good rule of thumb is to keep your blade (at least while your starting out) lower than your opponent's eyes.

Most importantly, give yourself some time, ask the instructor/coach about it so they can take a look at your grip.

[Araznal]

Most common problem I see with new fencers is that their upper body is incredibly stiff. Not only does this cause poor point control, but also poor parries and poor reaction time.

[Larrison]

Basic point control drills

Fingertip control -- extend the arm, holding the foil. Now *without moving your wrist* move the point of the foil straight up and down, trying to get at least a 90 degree arc. Then do the same for a horizontal arc.

Doorkob dril -- extend the arm, holding the foil and trace circles around a doornknob. Try for small circles. Then repeat going the other way (clockwise, then counter clockwise). Then repeat doing U's instead of circles.

Extend drill -- extend the arm, to touch a target on the wall. Recover and repeat. Did you hit the same point? Why not?

Lunge point control drill -- lunge and hit a target on the wall. Reover and lunge again. Did you hit the same spot? why not?

Box Drill -- Draw a box on the wall, with sides about 12" (30 cm). Practice extending and lunging to hit each of the corners of the box in sequence. Repeat with advance lunge. Then retreat, advance lunge. Then advance advance lunge, etc.

Some clubs have boards where you hit a series of targets, or move your point along a scribed path, or lunge to hit a swinging tennisball. All do the same thing...

[achilleus]

Most common problem I see with new fencers is that their upper body is incredibly stiff. Not only does this cause poor point control, but also poor parries and poor reaction time.

What's Araznal says above is very accurate.

Considering you're a complete noob, do not do drills without your coach present. It's a surefire way to do them wrong, and instill bad habits that will stick with you for quite some time.

I would recommend for you to work on relaxing your upper body, specifically your shoulders. Try stretching/yoga to help you keep things relaxed and smooth.

Also remember the body is connected. If your balance is off when you lunge, advance, etc... it will throw off your point control.

[JackOfHearts]

My first coach suggested using a pencil. "You want to practice at home? You don't need a foil. Use one of these. *holds up a pencil* Two fingers are all you need. Up, down, left, right, circle left, circle right. Two fingers". When I'm at work, or just bored in class, I tend to practice with my pencil.

[ReverseLunge]

When I move in to attack (or try to counter-attack, for that matter), my foil never seems to hit within my opponents target area. Most of the time I end up hitting high, usually on their blade-arm/shoulder.

If you want to practice using a swinging tennis ball then let me teach you how to do it the right way. First of all it is useless to just try to hit it. That's now how fencing works. By doing that all you are doing is training yourself to be stiff and mentally inflexible. In fencing once you see the target it is no longer there by the time you want to lunge for it. You could also whack the ball first and start it moving and then go for it at the right time but that would be the worst thing you could do since what you are doing is training yourself to move to your opponents rhythm and tempo. a.k.a. Playing his game.

The best thing to do is take a whack at that tenis ball then close your eyes and then open your eyes and lunge as fast as you can and try to hit the ball wherever it is. That way you are learning how to fence in the moment. Real fencing. When you get better you can start lunging as you open your eyes.

I hope this helps. Cheers and good luck.

[VELISARIOS]

I've just recently gotten into fencing (about 2 months) and really enjoy it and am looking forward to getting better. Oh, and I'm currently fencing foil.

I know I'm really new and this will get better with time, but I am having a really tough time with blade control. Actually, its more of an accuracy problem, which I assume stems from poor blade control, but I could be wrong? When I move in to attack (or try to counter-attack, for that matter), my foil never seems to hit within my opponents target area. Most of the time I end up hitting high, usually on their blade-arm/shoulder.

Since I recently aquired a foil for myself, I was wondering if there were any drills I could do by myself that might help with my accuracy. Should I just put up a target and try to consistently hit points?

Again, I'm a big newbie about all of this so any advice would be helpful. Thanks

My opinion is to do target practice. Yoy can get a target at the wall and you can start to do your practice with some lugnes, imaginery parry-ripost e.t.c.
Just do it and you will see advancement.

[ReverseLunge]

My opinion is to do target practice. Yoy can get a target at the wall and you can start to do your practice with some lugnes, imaginery parry-ripost e.t.c.
Just do it and you will see advancement.

That's not the way to do it. I have explained above. You want to do worthless kata or you want to do JKD. Up to you.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Get a bottle cap, throw it in the air, and try to bounce it back up a little by using the thin part of your blade, keep bouncing it, like a paddle ball. When 1 cap is easy, add another cap. You will have very good kung fu.