Training of a Champion: Foil Fencing

Basic skills

Foil fencing is characterized by a great variety of blade movements. This is well represented in conventional methods of training. However, only certain actions, as well as tactical intentions have proved to find wide usage in a contemporary bout. Therefore, their constant assurance in situations typical of a bout ensures specialization of a training session and promotes acquirement of foil fencing technique and tactics.

Training of attacks. Choice among alternative actions

Situation 1: Attack on a coach or an opponent who arbitrarily alternates attempts to execute a beat in engagement of quarte and sixte. A fencer performs disengagement (or double feint) in the opening sector.

Situation 2: Attack on a coach or an opponent who arbitrarily alternates delayed parries with sudden parries and ripostes. A fencer parries ripostes and delivers counter-ripostes.

Situation 3: Attack on a coach or an opponent who arbitrarily alternates delayed parries with parries and retreat. A fencer executes remises.

Situation 4: Attack on a coach or an opponent who arbitrarily alternates a parry with a counter-attack. A fencer parries a counter-attack as he approaches a coach.

Situation 5: Attack on a coach or an opponent who arbitrarily alternates retreats with approaches or stops. A fencer either prolongs or shortens attacks.

The system of parries and ripostes

Exercise 1: Among parries direct parries of quarte and sixte prevail.

Ripostes and counter-ripostes are direct with opposition.

Exercise 2: Upper parries are often executed also from the lower position, ripostes are direct or with disengagement.

Exercise 3: Counter-parries usually include upper parries - of quarte and sixte, executed with riposte and counter-riposte in the upper sector.

Exercise 4: Lower parries include: parry of octave with riposte in the upper sector (substituted by parry of seconde), parry of septime with a direct riposte or a high parry in septime with a riposte on the opponent's back.

Maneuvering and preparative blade movements

Exercise 1: A fencer moves in steps and keeps out of distance, the weapon is in the sixte. He does not react with his weapon to an opponents or coach's actions.

Exercise 2: A fencer maneuvers and alternates engagements executes beats and short simple attacks. A coach keeps out of distance and does not react with his weapon to a fencer's actions.

Exercise 3: A fencer and a coach arbitrarily maneuver and perform preparative blade movements, false attacks, false counter-attacks, parries with riposte.

Choice of attacks. Ideomotor training

A fencer executes a preparative simple attack or attack by prise-de-fer. A coach performs a parry. Evaluating an opponent's or coach's intention, a fencer attacks by feint and disengagement or by beat and disengagement.

Masking of attacks

Situation 1: A fencer maneuvers voluntarily forward or backward, then attacks after a step forward or backward.

Situation 2: A fencer voluntarily alters positions and engagements, false beats and short attacks, then proceeds to attack.

Situation 3: A fencer executes false parries or deep retreats on the opponent's or coach's attacks. He attacks in the next phrase.

Situation 4: A fencer executes an attack with a lunge to the lower sector. In the next phrase he repeats the attack, then executes a continuous attack by beat and disengagement.

Situation 5: A fencer retreats from an opponent’s or coach's deep attack. In the next phrase he executes an attack on the preparation by beat and disengagement.

Masking of defensive actions

Situation 6: A fencer uses the upper position, on-line position, the lower position. A coach performs a series of attacks, while a fencer voluntarily chooses an appropriate moment for a parry and riposte.

Situation 7: A fencer executes a false direct parry with a step backward.

In the next phrase he uses a counter-parry and riposte.

Situation 8: A fencer executes a false parry with a step backward. In the next phrase he executes a counter-attack with opposition.

Situation 9: A fencer executes a false parry with steps backward. In the next phrase he performs an attack on the preparation by beat and direct hit or disengagement.

Situation 10: A fencer executes a false counter-attack with steps backward. In the next phrase while stepping forward, he performs a high parry of septime and delivers a riposte from above to the opponents back.

Independent choice actions in standard situations

Model 1: A fencer alternates attacks to different sectors.

Model 2: A fencer alternates attacks with feints and attacks by prise-de-fer.

Model 3: A fencer alternates a valid attack with a false attack and counter-riposte.

Model 4: A fencer alternates a direct parry with a counter-parry and ripostes.

Model 5: A fencer alternates a standing riposte with riposte with a lunge.

Model 6. A fencer alternates a direct riposte with riposte by disengagement.

Model 7: A fencer alternates a parry with riposte and a counter-attack.

Model 8. A fencer alternates a riposte of first intention with riposte of second intention and a counter-riposte.

Model 9: A fencer alternates a direct parry and a counter-parry from a coach’s riposte. Then he performs a direct counter-riposte, or counter-riposte by disengagement, or counter-riposte by double feint.

Model 10: A fencer alternates a parry with riposte with a 2-time attack on a retreating opponent or a coach.

Combinations of actions with probable tactical decisions of an opponent in the fencing phrase

Combination 1: A fencer executes a preparative approach in engagement of sixte, then parries attacks on the preparation or attacks a retreating opponent or a coach by three consecutive disengagements. A coach arbitrarily alternates direct upper parries with an attack on the preparation by disengagement to the inside sector.

Combination 2: A fencer executes a counter-attack with opposition against a deep attack. He performs a parry of second against an opponent's or a coach’s remise and performs an attack with double feint on a retreating opponent.

Combination 3: A fencer attacks by prise-de-fer, performs a counter-parry against opponent's counter-attack, he executes disengagement against the defending opponent or a coach. A coach arbitrarily alternates a counter-attack with disengagement and direct parry.

Combination 4: A fencer attacks by beat in engagement of prime and coupe in the upper sector. A coach arbitrarily alternates a combination of upper parries (parry of quarts and parry of sixte) with direct counter-attack.

Modeling of a probable sequence of actions in a bout

Model 1: A fencer executes a succession of actions: an upper parry and riposte, a counter-attack with opposition, a combination of parries: a direct and counter-parry and riposte, a counter-parry with approach and riposte, an attack on the preparation.

Model 2: A fencer executes a succession on actions: attack by prise-de-fer, an attack with a series of coupes, approach and parry with riposte, a 3-time attack, false attack and counter-riposte.

Counteraction to the "on-line" position

Exercise 1: A fencer attacks by beat and coupe on the flank (to the lower sector).

Exercise 2: A fencer attacks. Blade seizure in engagement of sixte and septime, then performs a direct hit.

Exercise 3: A fencer executes an attack by prise-de-fer, performs counter-parry and riposte.