Smooth Footwork Drills?

[riceboy]

Hello all,
I've been lurking for a while. I started fencing with rapier in the SCA, and we fence on open ground (i.e. dirt/grass/hills etc.), so bouncing is not that noticible.
Now that i'm taking foil, i am always being scolded for bouncing when i move. Does anyone have any drills to help fix this?
I have heard of the footwork with a book on my head drill, but i can't seem to get the to stay, when i move forward the inertia of the book causes it to fall.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[canthidefromme]

Go slower?

[The0ne]

just do a lot of footwork slowly focusing on having your feet brushing the ground.

[Tireur]

imagine you're under a low ceiling and can't touch it

[whtouche]

Originally posted by The0ne
just do a lot of footwork slowly focusing on having your feet brushing the ground.

\

I'd have to disagree with that.
This is another way of developing another bad habit, not picking up your feet when doing footwork. This is something I'm still trying to shake.

Just do footwork slowly, concentrate on each step, and it'll come.
The key to trying to stop doing something, is simply to stop doing it.

[Tomas N]

Doing your footwork drills in a room with mirrors will help you see how much you are "bouncing" when you do your advances, retreats, and lunges. This is not to say that bouncing is bad. Many top fencers bounce in their on guard position, but then when they move forward or backwards the motion is smooth with no energy wasted on vertical motion.

Tomas

[neevel]

Originally posted by riceboy
Hello all,
I've been lurking for a while. I started fencing with rapier in the SCA, and we fence on open ground (i.e. dirt/grass/hills etc.), so bouncing is not that noticible.
Now that i'm taking foil, i am always being scolded for bouncing when i move. Does anyone have any drills to help fix this?
I have heard of the footwork with a book on my head drill, but i can't seem to get the to stay, when i move forward the inertia of the book causes it to fall.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm going to hazard a guess that your default step size is too large. You typically want your steps to be no more than a foot-length, if even that. You'll have an easier time keeping footwork smooth with smaller steps, and you'll also be able to control distance with far greater precision and react to opportunities and threats with much better timing.

You also want to make sure the back leg is kept compressed at all times in the guard position. "Bobbing" frequently comes about from the back leg relaxing and standing-up a little during the advance. It's tiring to keep that leg bent if you're not used to it (you'll feel it especially in the calf), but once you've got the muscles conditined it'll really help your footwork.

A full length mirror is an invaluable tool for training. If you don't have one, you can buy one at a Home Depot or the like for under $20.

-Dave