The purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to some of the basic physiological concepts that come into play when a muscle is stretched. Concepts will be introduced initially with a general overview and then (for those who want to know the gory details) will be discussed in further detail. If you aren't all that interested in this aspect of stretching, you can skip this chapter. Other sections will refer to important concepts from this chapter and you can easily look them up on a "need to know" basis.
Here are some ideas about fencing and movement. Most come from the discipline of Alexander Technique that I have been studying for several years. Clearly it's easier to convey these concepts in person, but along with some of the exercises, hopefully you will find this material useful.
The fencing strip is divided into several physical zones. Much like "red zone" offense and defense in football, the fencer's location on the strip often influences the tactics most likely to be employed.
What are the common mistakes made by fencers (both offensive and defensive) in the different zones? How can you capitalize on these common mistakes?
Once you have established either your ability to carry out a simple attack, defense or counter-offense, you will need to be able to "spin the wheel" to move to the next set of tactics. This, of course, assumes that your opponent is thinking of their actions in the bout and adjusting their tactics to counter what you are doing well.
