Terminology while coaching

[Durando]

Sounds like an appel.

[epeeslasher]

If the action you're describing is what I'm thinking of, Laurie Schiller at Northwestern has been calling it a check (check-back or check-forward, actually) for awhile.

With a check you have to move your center of gravity with the foot. Here the foot just comes out like an appel but without the noise.

[Rick Thompson]

What was demonstrated was similar to a forwards-check or a backwards check, in that it is a body feint.

A normal forward check involves a half-advance and then a retreat, generally performed as one smooth action. The fencer's weight is shifted forward onto the front foot during the half-advance, and the "bounce" is used to give extra impetus to the quick change of direction and retreat. A backwards check if performed w/ a 1/2 retreat + advance.

The half-step that Andy Ma demonstrated is used in a tactically similar fashion - to fake the opponent out with the perception of a commitment to a distance-changing action. However, Andy's point is that at the higher levels, doing a distance feint where your weight gets committed means you've committed to that time where your weight is shifting, and even that small amount of time & distance is TOO MUCH.

The solution by elite fencers is to perform a smaller feint with the leading/rear foot, where the foot moves, but the weight is not shifted. The foot movement is perforce smaller. And it's a pretty darn good trick to move your foot (leading or rear) without committing your weight while doing other footwork.

Because the weight isn't committed, the recovery & following step can occur that much faster. You might think that it's not a convincing feint, but when an athlete is on the edge, and when success is measured by 3rd intention actions hinging upon milliseconds and centimeters, it sure does seem to work!

BTW, Laurie was there at the conference, and attended one of these sessions - you might ask him about it, too.

[Chuck F.]

I learned mostly French terms, but I have been making a concerted effort to use the Coaches' College vocabulary these days.

When I work with students, I usually introduce new techniques with the CC terminology, but I at least try to mention any other synonyms they might encounter down the road.

(qatet, for most of the CC vocabulary, they DO mention synonyms, at least in the glossary.)

I don't think that we will ever all be "on the same page", but every little bit helps. The most frustrating thing is when you are reading a book and the author isn't even consistent with his own use of the language! I have seen examples of an author using the same term for two different things in different parts of the book, or two different terms for the one thing.

[chefencer]

I learned mostly French terms, but I have been making a concerted effort to use the Coaches' College vocabulary these days.
...

Is there an online resource for the glossary?

[Chuck F.]

Is there an online resource for the glossary?

Not that I know of, but there should be.

It would probably be pretty easy to get a hold of the manual, though. Jerry Dunaway would probably be the best place to start.

[erik_blank]

Not that I know of, but there should be.

It would probably be pretty easy to get a hold of the manual, though. Jerry Dunaway would probably be the best place to start.

This sounds like a good thing to put into our fencing.net wiki pages.

Any takers for this project?

[chefencer]

I agree it should be there, but it might depend on if the USFCA wants to give it up, as the glossary is one of the 'perks' of membership. I don't imagine they'd cry if it were in the wiki, but...

[oiuyt]

I agree it should be there, but it might depend on if the USFCA wants to give it up, as the glossary is one of the 'perks' of membership. I don't imagine they'd cry if it were in the wiki, but...

Given that the glossary in the immediately preceeding discussion is the Coaches College glossary, I don't imagine the USFCA has much to say about it in any case.

Still copywritten material. That's where we get into discussions of Fair Use.

-B

[chefencer]

Given that the glossary in the immediately preceeding discussion is the Coaches College glossary, I don't imagine the USFCA has much to say about it in any case....

-B

Oopsies, correct, although I did read the other day you get a glossary when you join the USFCA, just probably not the Coaches' College's...

[Don Badowski]

Oopsies, correct, although I did read the other day you get a glossary when you join the USFCA, just probably not the Coaches' College's...

When you joined the USFCA, you used to get a copy of Foil Technique and Terminology, by Jean Jacques Gillet. I know, because I had to send out dozens of them when I was secretary. It was to be used as a study guide for your Moniteur test. However, the last I heard was that the USFCA Certification and Accreditation Board was revising this, and you download your study guides.

[qatet]

When you joined the USFCA, you used to get a copy of Foil Technique and Terminology, by Jean Jacques Gillet. I know, because I had to send out dozens of them when I was secretary. It was to be used as a study guide for your Monitueur test. However, the last I heard was that the USFCA Certification and Accreditation Board was revising this, and you download your study guides.

Well, some people might, but I know I didn't. But then I also rarely get the Swordmaster or any other communication except for Dirk's emails. Enh.

[Don Badowski]

Well, some people might, but I know I didn't. But then I also rarely get the Swordmaster or any other communication except for Dirk's emails. Enh.

Dirk took over for me last year, about the same time that the C&A board revised the testing. So no book for you! Your study guides are on-line.

[Goldgar]

But then I also rarely get the Swordmaster or any other communication except for Dirk's emails. Enh.

Publication of the most recent Swordmaster has been delayed, as I understand it, but if you think you haven't received other recent issues, please contact me offline and I'll look into it.

Dirk