| Hitting the target is one of the essential tasks for a | | | | the target you are training to hit. But it also depends on |
| fencer. This means that accuracy training is an | | | | the level of your training. Start with the biggest ball |
| important part of any fencer's development as an | | | | available. As you go through the drill progression, go |
| athlete. Unfortunately accuracy comes with practice - | | | | back to the big ball every time you start a new level. |
| lots of practice. Experience in the martial arts suggests | | | | When you are hitting it reliably, even when moving, |
| that 10,000 or more repetitions of a skill are needed to | | | | move to the next smaller ball. |
| develop mastery. As you can imagine, your fencing | | | | Drills with the ball would seem to be rather simple. A |
| master and your fellow fencers really get bored being | | | | logical progression is: |
| a target to get to those sorts of numbers. This means | | | | (1) from on guard, hit with a simple extension from the |
| that a training aid that is simple, inexpensive, and | | | | static position. |
| portable is worth exploring. | | | | (2) then hit with a thrust with a step forward. |
| There are a variety of sophisticated target trainers | | | | (3) then hit with a thrust and lunge |
| available--the Target Speed is an excellent example | | | | (4) then hit with a thrust on the advance-lunge. |
| and the various flexible arm systems are another. | | | | (5) then hit from the balestra-lunge. |
| However, these are a reasonable investment for a | | | | But there are variants that will make the drills more |
| club, but can be somewhat pricey for the individual. | | | | difficult and increase the training load. For example: |
| Plastic balls with holes in the shell, the practice ball, | | | | ... on guard with the point level with the ball, immediately |
| offer one option. | | | | retreat one step and lunge. |
| These balls are readily available in three sizes: a | | | | ... on guard with the point past the ball, withdraw the |
| softball sized ball, a baseball, and a golf ball. Each of | | | | arm and extend to hit. |
| these represents a different target. The softball | | | | ... advance-lunge at a ball of one size, followed by |
| approximates the shoulder in epee or any of the flat | | | | advance-lunge at a second ball of a different size |
| surfaces in the primary target zone from low line | | | | behind the first and displaced laterally approximately |
| under the weapon arm, up on the inside of the | | | | half a strip width. |
| forward chest. The baseball is an approximate lower | | | | ... changing the hand position to lunge point up or with |
| arm, the available target as an opponent quickly | | | | opposition. |
| reverses direction with a parry after seeing the start | | | | I am sure you can identify other patterns that simulate |
| of the final action of a feint attack, or the target on an | | | | fencing situations. The key point is that to get better at |
| opponent with a large bib and a crouching on guard. | | | | hitting the target, you have to practice hitting a target. |
| The golf ball is approximately the exposure of the | | | | The varied sizes of practice balls offer you an |
| hand and lower arm on a careless epee guard. | | | | inexpensive option to do just that. At 100 practice |
| The ball you select as a practice partner depends on | | | | actions a day, you get to 10,000 quickly. |