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How to move in fencing

As we discussed in the previous lessons, themuscles  they  never  knew  existed.
fencing stance is intregal to the success of
the fencer. Placing the body in the bestThe forward movement is relatively simple.
compromise between comfort and effectivenessPeel the toes of the front foot off floor,
is essential for minimizing the target areakick the foot forward from the knee (without
while allowing for freedom to advance andlifting the knee or the hip) until the leg is
retreat. It is the advance and retreat, whichnearly straight, plant the heel again (which
we  are  going  to  discuss  today.causes the body to move forward) and then
allow the toes to roll back down to the
Movement up and down the strip is whatfloor. The rear foot should be lifted at the
controls the bout. We talked in the lastknee, brought forward until the feet are
lesson about fencing distance. Fencingagain about shoulder width apart and planted
distance is the optimal distance a fencerfirmly back to the ground with a light stomp.
attempts to maintain from his/her opponent,You should end in exactly the same position
where they are close enough to launch ayou were in before the step, one step further
successful attack, and yet far enough away todown the strip. This seems like a difficult
defend or outdistance an opposing attack.and detailed way to say “take a
This distance usually falls around one and astep”, however this process is more
half blade lengths from the opponent and theimportant  than  it  seems.
obvious fallacy of it should jump immediately
to mind. With all but the most mis-matchedStance (Slightly too far forward.) The Step
fencers (in the area of height and reach)(Note that shoulders remain level throughout
once a fencer has moved close enough tostep.) One of the goals to advancing and
attack, he/she has also moved close enough toretreating is to maintain as much solid
be attacked. So how does one maintaincontact with the ground for as long as
“fencing distance?” The answer ispossible. A primary factor in the constant
dynamically, by moving into and out of attackjockeying for position is how suddenly the
distance  as  your  strategy  requires.need to advance can turn into the need for
retreat. Being caught with one foot off the
This constant changing of the distance,ground, off balance, when your opponent
forward and back is, perhaps, the greatestsuddenly lunges makes it difficult to
single offensive and defensive tool. Eachdistance yourself from the attack forcing you
fencer attempts to maintain distance to histo completely depend on the parry. If the
or her advantage while maintaining sync withparry fails, you lose. Regardless of the
their strategy’s timing. A properlysuccess of the parry, a riposte' would be
timed advance will add speed and surprise todifficult  without  retreating.
an attack, whereas an appropriately timed
retreat will devastate the best executedThis step allows for the foot to be off the
counter attack by simply causing it to fallground for the minimum amount of time. The
short  of  the  target.kicking forward motion holds a secret as
well. Next time you are at the mall, watch
If any of you have taken the opportunity tohow people walk. The relaxed walking we do in
visit the “Fencing Footage” siteour day-to-day errands is really more of a
listed with the links, you will see thatcontrolled fall. We thrust our weight
movement is the vital part of attack andforward, and catch ourselves in a sort of
defense. You will also see on this site,loping  action.
unfortunately, people advancing and
retreating in manners completelyThis is terrible for fencing on two levels.
contradictory to this article, which standsFirst, if during the falling forward portion
to emphasize the two laws of any athleticof the step your opponent, again, lunges you
training…  1. Master proper form first.are left with little option as well as being
completely off balance. This can be enough to
2. Do whatever it takes to score the pointruin  a  retreat  and  a  parry.
(within the rules of the game and
sportsmanship) including ignoring rule numberSecond, the loping motion brings your target
one.off defense from your arm. Each bounce up
opens your lower torso to attack and each
The moral of these rules are, of course, thatbounce down opens the upper torso. As it is
without proper form it is impossible torelatively easy to predict which part of the
generate the foundation from which one maybody will open up as you are loping down into
take ‘artistic license.’ Thethe step, it creates a perfect opportunity
basics of advancing and retreating in afor  an  attack.
controlled, balanced manner is key to
controlling your timing, and ruining theThe step we have created here will keep the
timing  of  your  opponent.body level and balanced. Although, it is
necessary to come slightly off balance,
When I was instructing, I preferred to havesimply to remove the forward foot from the
my students drill in the advance and retreatfloor, the motion is subtle, fast and low
for  weeks  before even allowing them a foil.which allows for balance to be immediately
recovered the instant the forward foot is
As we recall, the basic stance is obtained asagain dropped to the floor regardless of at
follows… 1. Stand straight, facingwhat point during the step it is dropped.
forward, with both feet together at theThis allows for an advance to be reversed
heels.instantly into a retreat (and vice versa
again) if necessary. Remember, the step is
2. Rotate the left foot (if you areperformed from the knees and not the hip as
right-handed. Reverse this if you arewhen  walking  normally.
left-handed) to a 90-degree position relative
to the right foot. The heels should still beThe peeling of the foot off the floor, and
touching.the rolling return are important as well,
however mostly for safety. As you master the
3. With the right, or forward foot, stepadvance and the retreat, you will begin
forward until the feet are about shouldermoving up and down the length of the strip at
width apart. This change will automaticallysurprising speeds. This peeling is vital to
turn  the  body  to  the  side.keeping the toe from inadvertently catching
the floor. At these speeds, and in the middle
The  feet  are  still  at  right  angles.of a bout, there is nothing more frustrating
and dangerous than a full speed face plant.
4. Bend at the knees equally (as if you wereNot to mention that if the fall is onto your
squatting down), until the knees are directlyopponent, you will lose the point and perhaps
above the toes. This is where the really sorethe  bout.
muscles come from, but is the imperative part
of the stance from which the movement isThe retreat is very similar, however
generated. Now, the compromise. Your bodyreversed. To step back, the rear foot is
should have naturally turned to face in thelifted slightly at the knee (again there
direction the rear foot is pointing. Thisshould be little or no raise in the hip)
turn slims your target from the view of yourkicked back and placed to the ground again.
opponent, making it harder to hit. You wishThe body is then pulled back by the rear foot
to turn as much as possible (slimming theas the front foot is “peeled, placed
target as much as possible) without theand rolled” as before and then balance
stance becoming awkward, or causing theis centered between both feet again. The
forward knee to move off-line from over thefront foot should be peeled from the toe,
toe. The amount of this turn will vary fromplaced on the heel and rolled to the toe just
competitor to competitor. You will need toas in the advance…not reversed. One of
experiment to find your position. At thisthe secrets to the rear step (as well as the
point, your body should be balanced betweenlast part of the advance step) is that the
your feet such that a straight line drawnrear foot should be lifted as a single unit
from the tip of your nose, through the centerand placed as a single unit, with almost a
of the groin, will fall exactly equidistantstomp. You do not want to lift either the
between your feet. Keep the back straight andtoes or heel first on the rear foot, but
avoid  hunching or sticking the buttocks out.rather the entire foot. The rear foot is your
anchor. It is where the strength and push for
5. With the knees bent and the body turned,your attacks come from and it is the pull
turn your face to look at your opponent andwhich allows for a quick retreat and recovery
raise your forward (or sword) arm towardsfrom  lunges.
your opponent. The arm will remain bent at
the elbow and straight at the wrist, andThis foot needs to be as firmly attached to
should form a 90-degree angle at the elbow.the  ground,  and  as  often,  as  possible.
The elbow should be about one fist’s
length from the body and the hand (or pointThat is simply (and I DO use the term
of the blade) should be pointing at the eyesloosely) the whole of it. What is hard is the
of  the  opponent.mastery. Aside from the tired, shaky feeling
most of you are probably having in your thigh
6. The rear arm’s position will varymuscles right now (this is fantastic for the
depending on the weapon, however the basicglutes, by the way) the step must be
stance (based on foil) will curl up behindpracticed religiously to maintain speed,
the head for balance. To do this, point thebalance, anchor and smoothness. The body must
rear arm exactly away from the opponent,not bounce when steps, forward or back, are
level with the shoulder. Bend the arm at thetaken. One of the drills I have my students
elbow so there is a 90-degree bend and thenpractice is to fill a bowl of water and carry
allow the hand to fall relaxed. Thisit  in  the  forward hand instead of a sword.
relaxation is also necessary for balance and
speed.The student then advances to the end of the
strip, and retreats to the other end of the
This basic stance provides an easilystrip without spilling the water and,
defendable position with a minimum of targeteventually, without allowing it to ripple.
showing, opens the lungs for good respirationThe graduation from this exercise is to be
and allows for a relaxed position to advanceable to advance and retreat at full speed
and retreat. The balance should be deadwith the water brimming above the edge of the
center between the feet, with weight equallybowl and not spill a drop. Just as a word of
on  both  feet.encouragement, the “graduation”
from this drill usually takes 15 or twenty
If this feels uncomfortable, wait till weyears. Try it. At minimum your will get the
start moving. Most beginning fencers discoverbest leg workout of your life.



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