Hey everyone! Please help me make a database of footwork exercises. Just name one!

[dramamine]

Hey everyone

I thought this might be a good way for us all to benefit a bit from the use of these boards. Just name a footwork exercise (individual, group, or partner) and give a brief description of the drill and its purpose. It can be as basic as you want.

I'll start basic, if there is interest I'll get into some more complicated exercises we do at our club.

Type: Partner - Requires 3 people or a coach leading a group of partners.

Focus: Smooth direction change

Difficulty: Easy

Description: Two fencers start at step lunge distance. Coach/director says go, one fencer begins moving slowly towards the other, taking small, smooth steps. The other fencer just backs up maintaining the distance. This is slow, the distance should not change at all. At any time, the coach/director claps, and the fencers change roles (ie: direction). Adjust length and speed to skill level. Emphasize smooth direction change and low center of gravity.

There's an easy one to start. I'll keep going when I see some more. Please help me out guys!

[sabreur]

Start here:

http://www.fencing.net/forums/search...d=106820&pp=25

And here:

http://www.fencing.net/content/category/5/86/43/

[fencingfrog]

lol - this is torture for noobs, trust me, cuz me and my team did the torturing:
fencing suicides!!!
what happens is you start on one end of the strip, and someone (usually a coach) says 'alright, advance as fast as you can, and when I clap my hands, change direction!' the claps start out slowly, but they speed up to almost constant, and then the drill is over. it's great for endurance, changing directions quickly, responding quickly, and laughing at confused friends!
we also have the 'two - one drill'
this is when you start at one end of the strip, and advance two taped lines up the strip, retreat one line, advance two, etc. until you reach the end of the strip. then do the drill in reverse, but add an advance lunge or something between direction changes. this drill isn't for speed, it's for footwork practice (small, precise steps, good form. speed later)

i hope i can remember more good useful drills for you.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

This is more of an epee drill than foil or sabre, but I've found it good.

Bounce for x length of time.
Lunge-recover.
Bounce for x length of time.
Bounce backwards 3 times fast, and then fleche immediately or lunge immediately.

The other epee drill I'm really fond of is:

Bounce.
Lunge.
Bounce.
Advance lunge.
Bounce.
Lunge-recover forward-lunge.
Retreat to back of strip fast.
Fleche.

These drills are pretty good for working on quick changes of direction, while using epee specific movement. Aim for a smooth and fast transition from the lunges/fleches to the bouncing. Alot of fencers have a tendency to get too tight after performing an action.

[dramamine]

This is more of an epee drill than foil or sabre, but I've found it good.

Bounce for x length of time.
Lunge-recover.
Bounce for x length of time.
Bounce backwards 3 times fast, and then fleche immediately or lunge immediately.

The other epee drill I'm really fond of is:

Bounce.
Lunge.
Bounce.
Advance lunge.
Bounce.
Lunge-recover forward-lunge.
Retreat to back of strip fast.
Fleche.

These drills are pretty good for working on quick changes of direction, while using epee specific movement. Aim for a smooth and fast transition from the lunges/fleches to the bouncing. Alot of fencers have a tendency to get too tight after performing an action.

You can make this a plyometric exercise. Bounce as fast as you can in place and have someone give you commands like lunge, step lunge, etc. Complete the action recover as fast as you can and continue bouncing.

Here's another one that is plyometric:

Have someone hold a glove up around the height you would hit with a high hand after a lunge. As fast as you can, step lunge and touch the glove. As soon as you touch it, your partner throws it up and forward, and you recover w/a fleche and catch it.

Keep them coming guys.

[Cerian]

lol - this is torture for noobs, trust me, cuz me and my team did the torturing:
fencing suicides!!!
what happens is you start on one end of the strip, and someone (usually a coach) says 'alright, advance as fast as you can, and when I clap my hands, change direction!' the claps start out slowly, but they speed up to almost constant, and then the drill is over. it's great for endurance, changing directions quickly, responding quickly, and laughing at confused friends!

i hope i can remember more good useful drills for you.

I've never liked the idea of telling beginners to do footowork as quickly as they can. It usually translates to sloppy movement not fast footwork.

[hpfencing]

i'm still working on a booklet for fencing "games" for everything. Please send me what you end up with. I'll be posting the games and what-nnot somewhere as soon as I get them organizied a little better but i can always use MORE.