How to begin without gear

[Schultz]

I'm fairly new to teaching fencing and I'll be starting a beginning fencing class through our community college's extended education program soon and won't have any gear to loan my students. The class is only four weeks long (one session per week) so I was thinking that I would start with the basics: history, footwork, rules of right-of-way, extension, and lunge. Then the last couple of weeks introduce the lines of the body, lateral and circle parries in 4 and 6 using foam swords. An intermediate class is scheduled to begin the week after the beginning class ends. I thought at that point, if students are returning, that they could then purchase a basic set of gear.

Let me know if this sounds like a good course of action. Thanks.

[Applesauce and Foils]

4 weeks of work without the blades will definitely tell you who really wants to do it and who doesn't. I understand this is probably your only course of action.
I may be doing something similar with a rec center that I'm working with. I'm staying tuned to your thread to see what others suggest.

AF

[Fencergrl]

Some DVD's might also help. Along with strategy & distance games.

[Schultz]

I plan on doing some distance and footwork drills with them to stress the importance of tempo, distance and timing. Hopefully they will "get it".

[pjsise1]

Years ago I started a program at a small local college and was told "The gear will be here soon." It actually took almost 3 months for the school to acquire the gear. In the meantime I taught them everything I could without blades including footwork attacks, and parries. I had them mock the blade actions by pointing their hands where the blades would be. Sometimes I had them verbally describe what they were doing, ie "I'm attacking with a feint into the high inside line hoping you'll parry 4, and now here's my deception and touch in the high outside line." etc. When the finally we able to use equipment we had a lesson on hitting properly so the blade bends the right way and then experimented with replicating all their equipmmentless fencing with equipment. It was remarkable what they understood and could actually do their first time with foils.

[Fencergrl]

Make it fun... it's going to be hard to keep students if they're not going to get to fence. Beginners are always eager to start whacking & poking, so you're in for a tough go at things.

[Applesauce and Foils]

You could just have them watch the promotional USFA fencing video every week to keep interest up!

(That's a great video, btw. It's the one that came with the club resource kit. May be available on the web, at usfencing.org, but that's just a guess.)
AF

[ivlobane]

Make them fall in love with the idea, so show some Olmpic videos from fenvingvideos.net and play a lot of games, the foam swords will come in handy. Best game that gives a feel for the sport is the glove game: One attacker, one defender. Attacker gets up to two tempos (two steps, a step+lunge, lunge+ redouble, ect...) to slap the opponent anywhere but below the forearm and face, defender can retreat as much as they want. Attacker can also try to draw op out by swinging early. Roles switch after each swing and valid hit. Much fun, I've done this in parks with washcloths and it works, everyone starts sweating and doesn't even notice they are getting a work-out.

[Allen Evans]

I'm curious why a community college would offer a class without equipment?

[Schultz]

I'm curious why a community college would offer a class without equipment?

It's a community extended education class, not for college credit but for people of all ages to learn something new. The students pay a small amount for the class that covers administration costs but that's about it.

[Allen Evans]

I understand how extended ed classes work, what I'm curious about is why an administration would offer a class without the means to actually teach it. Imagine a class taught on cooking without stoves, pots, pans, or food, or a class in baseball without a field, bat, gloves, or a ball.

Someone didn't think this through very well.

[Schultz]

I understand how extended ed classes work, what I'm curious about is why an administration would offer a class without the means to actually teach it. Imagine a class taught on cooking without stoves, pots, pans, or food, or a class in baseball without a field, bat, gloves, or a ball.

Someone didn't think this through very well.

I can see where you're coming from. At least they're letting us use space in their gym or else we wouldn't even have a venue.

[Fencergrl]

Allen makes a good point. It's misleading. No one is going to expect that they would offer a fencing class without fencing equipment. You will be fighting this the entire time and might lose the vast majority (if not all) of your participants. It's going to be a rough 4 weeks.

Foam blades are not necessarily going to ease this issue, although by then, your remaining students would likely have had their expectations lowered sufficiently that they would no doubt be thrilled with getting any equipment.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

I can see where you're coming from. At least they're letting us use space in their gym or else we wouldn't even have a venue.

This is badly thought through, which makes it easy to suggest simple improvements. Go for the low-hanging fruit:
1. Say that gear is on its way. Give the impression, without saying so, that it is not your fault that they are late.
2. Get PVC piping and sturdy foam (for the bells). Let them "fence" under close supervision with this less than perfect, but more than nothing, approximation of fencing weapons.
3. Invite fencers with their own gear so they at least can see a complete fencing bout.


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Allen Evans]

1. Say that gear is on its way. Give the impression, without saying so, that it is not your fault that they are late.

Peter, either the Turing test now involves lying (in which case you pass) or you didn't read the orginal post closely. This is definately NOT the way to go, though your suggestion for using piping has merit.

The class offering of "Fencing" without any fencing actually involved is misleading enough. Leading beginners on for four weeks with the promise of gear that they are going to have to supply themselves is a huge mistake and will destroy this program before it even gets started, to say nothing of the reputation of someone who propogates this sort of fiction.

[michaelheggen]

4 weeks of work without the blades will definitely tell you who really wants to do it and who doesn't. I understand this is probably your only course of action.

I agree with AF.

While we do tend to have short attention spans and a need for instant gratification here in the U.S., it is certainly not necessary (nor, in my opinion, desirable) to have students suited up and fencing on the first day of class.

Within reason, having a number of class sessions without gear builds some anticipation. Students generally feel like they have "earned it" by the time gear is issued.

We follow the same track when it comes to allowing students to actually fence. That point generally comes after about 14 hours of instruction and drill (with uniforms and blades, though!). The looks on students' faces after that first sparring session prove that all the work and anticipation was worth it to them.

But, as always, your mileage may vary.

-Mike

[RkfdFencer]

If you even had only two sets of equipment, you could have one pair doing something other than footwork and rotate people out. At the extreme of this, just a couple of masks and weapons for controlled partner drills.

Or, a mask/weapon and your own stuff so you can do instructor led drills with one student at a time, rotating people every few minutes, while the rmainder does footwork games/drills.

Great that you can get a venue and are willing to put in the time, but I really think you need some kind of gear to really make this work.

[antonsilver]

Wax on. Wax off...

Good luck! - What about promising them some kind of contest (with the real gear) at the end of the course ore at the beginning of the next... Would keep them wondering who is the best, while they are doing all the "boring" stuff?

[Schultz]

There are some really good ideas in some of your posts that I will definitely use. Thanks for taking the time to consider my question.

I've also sent an email to my division president to see if he has any ideas or ways he can help.

I'd also still welcome any other ideas anyone has. Thanks again.

[prototoast]

I'd also still welcome any other ideas anyone has. Thanks again.

Here's an idea. If you can't get at least 2 sets of non-electric fencing equipment, cancel the class before it's too late.