flexibility

[labouche]

Originally posted by Prometheus
So your distance is 36" closer.... the physics of a lunge still mean that over extending is going to mean a slow recovery. This generally equates to getting pounded on the repost if you havent already made the touche.

Well, if you continually make short lunges chances are you'll never be able to hit your oppenent anyway so I guess you wouldn't have to worry about that. Just out of curiosity, why do you think most of the top foil fencers have amazingly strong, fast lunges?...because it is inferior to a short lunge? I think not.
-Elijah

[sabreur]

One of my coaches recently had me completely rework my lunge. I've shortened the distance between my feet in the final position, so that they are only about twice as far apart as in my en garde position--I'm pretty flexible for an old guy (I can get close to doing the splits) and I used to do long lunges. However, this hasn't necessarily shortened the distance or speed of the lunge--rather, I let the back foot slide considerably more than I used to.

The key for me is to keep the back foot flat as it slides, to emphasize the front foot "kick" when I lunge, and to end the lunge with my front foot over the instep, instead of behind it. The result is a more upright final position from which I can recover much more quickly. It also has dramatically improved my ability to counter-parry if necessary, and allows me to better adjust the length of the lunge, depending on the distance. In lessons, this particular coach constantly varies the distance I must lunge, which requires a lot of attention to distance and constant decision-making about how far to lunge, or whether an advance- or ballestra-lunge is required.

It also is a lot easier on my knees.

Cheers, MR

[MyraTrue]

Well, if you continually make short lunges chances are you'll never be able to hit your oppenent anyway so I guess you wouldn't have to worry about that. Just out of curiosity, why do you think most of the top foil fencers have amazingly strong, fast lunges?...because it is inferior to a short lunge? I think not.

It is not being said that a long lunge, when properly used is "inferior" to any other lunge. But a long lunge, when overused, when misused, when being learned, when used by the wrong person, when used at the wrong time (I could go on, you get the idea) isn't the right choice of tools. A long lunge by itself isn't all that slow- you can put some serious speed into one, but when you find yourself with your back leg almost flat to the floor and your front knee jammed into your chest (hey, you said you wanted a long lunge), THIS is a place you can't get out of as quickly.

What I'm getting at is that sometimes a long lunge is OVERKILL. More so, some of the best fencers are not those at 18, who depend on the speed that "youth" allows, but the older fencers (well, "older" is completely relative, but I'm saying late 20's and early 30's etc) still beat them. Why? I'm not so sure its "experience", so much as they've perfected their footwork. If you can't hit someone with a short lunge, then you ALTER THE FOOTWORK, you change the distance, you redouble. But I am of the mind you can be a good fencer with or without the long lunge. Like anything else, its a tool, and best not overused.

And I suppose I will add this: if you want one, get one. I'm not here to try to stop anyone. Once you have one, see where it gets you. Decide what you think of it once you can do it. I hope it works for you.

[Joan of Ark]

Originally posted by Thomas
[B]Has anyone here achieved a full split? And if so how long did it take you?[B]

I could, when I was five. Younger people are natrally much more flexible. Streach two-four times every day for ten minutes each time. You get much, much more flexible.

[klauver]

Are their any Pilates practitioners out there? Has it helped your fencing? It seems like one it's goals is to lenghten your muscles and increase your flexibilty. It sounds like an ideal fencing regimine.

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

Originally posted by MyraTrue
A long lunge by itself isn't all that slow- you can put some serious speed into one, but when you find yourself with your back leg almost flat to the floor and your front knee jammed into your chest (hey, you said you wanted a long lunge), THIS is a place you can't get out of as quickly.

having your knee jammed into a chest is a characteristic of a bad lunge with bad posture, not a characteristic of a long lunge..

oh, and i can reach a full split. hurts like anything, but i can do it

~Jes

[Inquartata]

Originally posted by klauver
Are their any Pilates practitioners out there? Has it helped your fencing? It seems like one it's goals is to lenghten your muscles and increase your flexibilty. It sounds like an ideal fencing regimine.

Only Pontius Pilates...