In fencing there is a variety of footwork, knowing and mastering the basics is vital to improving your fencing.
Footwork Basics:
(For the purpose of this post, I assume you know what the “en garde” position is and how to do it)
Advance: This is, as its name suggests, is the primary way of going forward in fencing. To perform an advance assume the “en garde” position take a step forward with your front foot, and make sure your heel lands first, and then your toe. Take a step forward with your back foot, and that is an advance. Common mistakes include: feet should still be hip width distance part when you finish an advance. You took too big of a step, advances are meant to move you forward, but not at colossal proportions. Your arm should not cover target when you advance (obstruct any part of the lamé), and your weight should still be centered, and your heels should still be aligned.
Retreat: Also as its name suggests this is the primary way of moving backward in fencing. Assume the “en garde” position push off with your front leg and take a step backward using your back foot, on this your toes land first, and then your heel. Take a step backward with your front foot (toes are also the first to land then heel when taking this step). Once finished check your heels, they should still be aligned. Common mistakes include: Taking too big of a retreat, weight not being centered, using your heel to step first, and feet still need to be hip width distance apart when your finished.
Lunge: This is the primary way to score a touch in fencing, the purpose of a lunge is to propel us to hit our opponent. Get in “en garde”, take a step forward with your front leg, and at the same time push off with your back. Your back arm at the same time goes out behind you (this is to keep from covering target and to help with balance). Your front arm extends to hit your opponent. Things to keep in mind when lunging: your back leg should be straight when in a lunge, and your front leg bent. Your back arm should extend straight out behind you, this is to keep from covering target and to help with balance. Your front arm should extend to hit your opponent. Your head should be up, and looking at your opponent. Common mistakes include: dropping the arm when you lunge, this loses you ROW. Keeping your balance, whether you wobble or fall over. Over lunging meaning you lunged to far or too deep, and you will have a hard time recovering.
Recovering: Now that you are in a lunge, its important to know how to recover. The purpose of recovery is to get out of the lunge position, and get back to being able to move up and down the piste. To perform a recovery, first lunge, then bend your back knee as you bring your front leg in, re-center your weight as you recover. You should end up standing tall and in “en garde” by the end of it. Your feet should be hip width distance apart when you have recovered.
Check Steps:
Check steps are used to “steal” distance or collapse it on your terms. The check refers to the half step you are taking to “check” the distance. A half step is half the size of a normal advance.
Check advance: For this check step you are going to “check” the distance backwards and then advance. You take a small half step with your back foot, and then take a normal step forward with your front foot to begin your advance then you take a step with your back foot completing the advance (for what part of the foot touches the ground first see above, it applies across the board to back and front feet). [back foot] Half step back > [front foot] normal sized step forward > [back foot] normal sized step forward. (back, front, back)
Check retreat: For this check step you are going to check the distance in front of you, and then retreat. You take a small half step forward with your front foot, and then take a normal step back with your back foot and then a normal step back with your front foot to finish the retreat. [front foot] half step forward > [back foot] normal step backward > [front foot] normal step backward. (front back front)
Double check advance: For this check step you are going to check the distance ahead of you, behind you, and then advance. You take a small half step forward with your front foot, a small half step backward with your back foot. Now take a normal step forward with your front foot, and a normal step forward with your back foot, to complete the advance. [front foot] half step forward > [back foot] half step backward > [front foot] normal step forwards > [back foot] normal step forwards. (front, back, front, back)
Double check retreat: For this check step you are going to check the distance behind, ahead and then take a retreat. You take a small half step backwards with your back foot, then a small half step forwards with your front foot. You then take a normal step backward with your back foot, then you take a normal step backwards with your front foot to complete the retreat. [back foot] half step backward > [front foot] half step forwards > [back foot] normal step backwards > [front foot] normal step backward. (back, front, back, front)
I hope you now have a clearer understanding of the basics of footwork.
Until next time,
-Fuzzy
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