Footwork?

[timobxsci]

I'm new to fencing. The footwork seems complicated. I've been watching videos on Youtube and I just want to know, which steps are fundamental and which steps are optional...And also, is it a must to step like that?

[Wetmelon]

Hmm... I don't know which footwork things you've been watching on youtube, but I'll assume it's so-so without a lot of specific focus...

You should be seeing a step forward, land on the heel, and as your front foot "closes" (as you put your toe down) your back foot should JUST come off the ground and be brought forward to proper en-garde position.

Going backwards, you need to keep your weight on the front leg (keeps you from leaning back), reach back with your toe of your rear foot, and "pull" your body backwards, closing the rear foot, and returning the front foot to en-garde.

This is the "correct", classical way to advance and retreat and yes, you need to do your basic footwork like this if you want to have a good foundation for more advanced techniques. It's also very effective in its own right.

It'll feel weird for a while, but once you get used to it you'll not even realize you're doing it correctly

Enjoy!

[TBean]

Originally Posted by timobxsci

I'm new to fencing. The footwork seems complicated. I've been watching videos on Youtube and I just want to know, which steps are fundamental and which steps are optional...And also, is it a must to step like that?

Advancing, retreating and lunging are the basics of fencing foot work. After that you begin to add the things that make your footwork dynamic - half-advances , half-retreats, double advances, double retreats, balletra, fleche and more. I don't look at any of this footwork to be optional, without it your footwork would be very monotone, and not successful. Fencing is, among other things, about distance, time and tempo, and changing those things to score touches - that is accomplished at the basic level with your feet.

I've seen fencers with rather unorthodox footwork and stances, but even still you see the roots of the basic footwork system.

[Lady Quindecim]

And bouncing.
Don't forget the bouncing.
=^_^=

[Dev]

Footwork is like ballroom dance.

You go into an introductory ballroom dance class and they tell you how to stand, and then the whole "three-steps-forward-one-step-left-aaaaaand-turn!" deal. You get some simple music and a partner just as awkward as you are, and you stumble through the basic steps until you start to get an idea of "hey, rhythm!" Or not.

Then the instructors decide to show you how ballroom dancing is supposed to look, and they kick into "advanced" mode... and all those basic steps (from the beginner's point of view) completely disappear behind a curtain of flourishes, creativity, and actual rhythm, as they freely break all the rules they've just laid out in attractive and entirely sensible ways.

Fencing footwork is about the same way. You learn clunky, heavy-footed advances and retreats and a lurching lunge, never to cross your feet or bring them too close together. You tromp about in a bout wondering which foot to move and in what order, and get waxed a few times. And you watch advanced fencers doing all that "extra" weird stuff, and wonder where the basic steps went.

Just like ballroom dance, though, they're in there--and they're the foundation of everything those fencers are doing.

[Lady Quindecim]

Originally Posted by Dev

Footwork is like ballroom dance.

You go into an introductory ballroom dance class and they tell you how to stand, and then the whole "three-steps-forward-one-step-left-aaaaaand-turn!" deal. You get some simple music and a partner just as awkward as you are, and you stumble through the basic steps until you start to get an idea of "hey, rhythm!" Or not.

Then the instructors decide to show you how ballroom dancing is supposed to look, and they kick into "advanced" mode... and all those basic steps (from the beginner's point of view) completely disappear behind a curtain of flourishes, creativity, and actual rhythm, as they freely break all the rules they've just laid out in attractive and entirely sensible ways.

Fencing footwork is about the same way. You learn clunky, heavy-footed advances and retreats and a lurching lunge, never to cross your feet or bring them too close together. You tromp about in a bout wondering which foot to move and in what order, and get waxed a few times. And you watch advanced fencers doing all that "extra" weird stuff, and wonder where the basic steps went.

Just like ballroom dance, though, they're in there--and they're the foundation of everything those fencers are doing.

Didn't I see you on "Dancing w/ the Stars?"

[telkanuru]

IMO, just learn to move, form comes later.

[Lady Quindecim]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

IMO, just learn to move, form comes later.

Seconded.
You have to learn "Mary Had A Little Lamb" before you can master "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor."

[Greybeard]

I don't worry about it any more. Wheelchair rocks OK, and rolls