Fencing looks like something only crazy warriors
from movies can do. The truth is, the basics of fencing can be taught and
learned just like a vocabulary list or the rules of soccer. Once you get things
down, then you can slowly start raising your level.
First you have to know the footwork. Without good footwork, you will not be
able to get in distance, make an attack, or get out and avoid getting hit.
Footwork can also be used to trick your opponent and if used right, you could
make them walk right into your tip.
Before you can do footwork you must know how to get
"En Garde." This is the famous line that everyone says when they think of
fencing, but it is in fact a real term. En Garde is the position you assume when
you fence. You will put your strong hand side forwards, and put your feet a
little farther then shoulder width apart, and then shift your feet to be square
from one another (one foot facing forward, the other one facing sideways.) Then
take your back hand, and raise it over your head behind you, or at shoulder
height. The reason why you do this has been a mystery to everyone, believe me.
It looks funny, but it helps you maintain balance, and facilitates a lunge.(See
lunge.) The last thing you need to know is you must bend your knees. Not
way to much, but enough so you don't have stiff-as-a-board knees. Here's the
footwork.
Now that we have covered the footwork,
we can move on to
blade work.
First of all, you must know how to "parry." A parry is a deflection of the
blade. You can execute a parry:
- Laterally (across the body, side to side.)
- Circular (in a circular motion.)
- Semi-Circle (in a half-circle motion.)
- Diagonal (Rarely used, it doesn't need to be explained.)
Then finally, there are three kinds of simple attacks.
- Straight (A straight attack directly to the body.)
- Disengage (A disengage is a motion that evades your opponents
parry by going under the blade.)
- Cut-over (a cut over is a motion that evades your opponents parry
by going over the blade.
You now know the basics of fencing, or at least enough to get started. I hope
you go into the field, and find yourself a good place to learn it. With this
knowledge, you may be slightly ahead of all the rest, and if you start fencing,
I wish you good luck, and happy hunting!
