Things You Can Do To Improve Your Fencing

Greetings,

I usually don't do the "list of things you can do to improve your fencing" thing, because I think that it is rather simplistic. I think that my time is better spent focusing on particular elements and focusing on these elements to a greater degree. However, there are some things that people should be aware of that they should keep in mind that will improve their fencing overall. I will go through these things one at a time in a kind of list form, not in order of importance, because they are all important in their own way. Indeed each is necessary for a complete methodology and learning process.

1. Practise

Let's start with the really obvious one, practise. Practise is important to improving your fencing. If you are not practising in some measure, on a regular basis, you will not improve it is as simple as that. I recommend, if you are not practising fencing, in some measure, at least three times a week you will not improve. You need one lesson to learn a technique, one lesson to work on that technique, and one lesson (at least) for that technique to become a part of your active fencing. Many people do not have access to this opportunity. So, in the main, we can examine practise in two parts: Group Classes, and Solo Training.

1.1. Group Classes

This is what most people think of when they think of as training. A most-often, structured school-type setting with a senior individual who gives lessons, which goes for a period of time. Where, hopefully, there is warm-up, lesson, bouting and cool-down periods. This may happen once or twice a week. Maybe even more, if the individual is lucky or attends different schools. This form of training is usually administered by a teacher, the student essentially only has to have the motivation to turn up and follow what the teacher says.

If you attend these, at least you will improve gradually, depending on how many classes you attend, and how regularly you attend. It will also depend somewhat on the teacher, the classes, and the other students, as this is the nature of this structured approach. Each one of these things can have a positive or negative impact on your experience, and thus your training.

1.2. Solo Training

I am not talking about having the attention of a teacher to yourself, that is personal training, specialised to your requirements, that is something else and fits in between these categories (a sort of 1.1.5). You are lucky if you can get this sort of training as it can advance your improvement a great deal if you harness it properly. This is also likely to cost you, and quite a bit, unless you are extremely lucky. 

If you are one of these lucky people who gets personal training, don't take it for granted.

In regard to solo training, I am talking about the training a person does by themselves. This must be self-motivated because you do it. You need to choose to get out and do it, but the benefits of this sort of training is that you will improve, even if you only focus on the basics. Doing footwork on a patch of grass, or practising your attacks against a target with footwork, are all a great asset; so long as you ensure that you are performing the actions properly. I am a great believer in this sort of practise as an adjunct to any sort of other training, and for maintaining skill where you cannot engage with other people.

This form of training is most important where a person cannot make it to classes for one reason or another. Maybe the student has moved away from where their regular classes are held. Maybe they have lost their regular means of transport. Maybe there is some external reason that training cannot occur. It should not stop the dedicated fencer's training. Practise footwork, practise your thrusts, parries and other actions. You can find ways around most problems, and find useful tools around you. I have written a previous post on this subject of solo training, focused on doing it all alone, you can find it here. I was in this situation before, it is hard, but very rewarding in the end.

2. Learn

Learn. Sounds simple, and sounds like a very broad statement, which it is. People improve when they learn because they are learning new things about their skills, and themselves. This is no different for fencing. If you read a book about fencing, even if it is not related to what you are actually studying, it will give you information about how the sword works. All swordsmanship is based on the same principles, regardless of the weapon, or its methodology. You must keep learning to improve your skills otherwise you will stagnate, and that is no good for your fencing.

2.1. Read

Reading was mentioned briefly above as something that you can do. Ask your teacher what texts you are using or if there are any texts which might be suitable. Have a look at a period treatise, even if you just give it a quick scan to have a look at the pictures and examine them, you will get an idea of movement patterns. Read things about duels, social aspects of the period, history of the periods in which the sword was used. You will be surprised how much is explained by small social elements, especially how the sword was used. The best thing, you can read in many places where you cannot swing a sword, or even practise simple practical aspects of fencing.

2.2. Watch

Watch other people fencing, watch how they move and how their actions are formed. You can gain a lot of information about fencing by watching two fencers bout. The internet has given us great access to visual aids to allow us to watch other people fence, YouTube has many different videos of people fencing, which you can watch and analyse. Have someone film you and watch it after, this is a great aid to assisting you improve. Repeat the process to check for improvement.

3. Listen

The Stoic philosopher Zeno of Citium is credited with the origin of the saying that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason; we should listen twice as much as we speak. It is good to sit back and listen to other fencers talk about fencing, listen to how they describe their actions, describe fencing theory. You should accept what people say, and ideas that they have about fencing, even about your fencing, with open arms. Try everything properly at least once, you never know, you might find something really useful that will improve your fencing a lot, a thought may be given to you which will enable a break-through.

4. Ask

I believe that there is no such thing as a "stupid" question. When it comes to improving your fencing, this counts double. If you have a question about something that a person has said when it comes to a technique, or a theory, ask them. Remember to phrase your question politely, but make sure you ask the question. Wait until you can ask it one-on-one, but ask the question. If you are unsure about something in your fencing, ask a teacher, ask a friend, ask the question. Asking questions is how we find answers. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves questions and find the answers ourselves, but the question still needs to be asked.

5. Accept Criticism

Where something does not work, it needs to be fixed. Some people might even offer suggestions about how you might improve aspects of your fencing, and this will come across as criticism. Accept the criticism, take it in, learn from it. It may be valid, it may not be valid. Until you examine the criticism, you won't know. If you go blindly along ignoring all criticism you will not improve, and you will miss the chance for some useful advice along the way.

There will also be those which will criticise any time they get the chance. Often these individuals also have no solutions to go with their criticism and the only reason they are presenting the criticism is because they believe they have some sort of right to be heard. Examine all criticism in the same light, examine it rationally and see whether it is based on evidence or not; where it is you can use it to your advantage and improve; where it is not, you know you can ignore it and not be concerned, understanding that there are some who are only happy when they are complaining about something.

Broad Terms, Lots Present

So, some ways to improve your fencing have been presented. Each one is important in its own way. Each one will allow you to grow as a fencer, but each will require some truthful examination and dedication on your part. Take the time, think about ways that you can improve yourself as a fencer. Plan out some ideas how you can utilise aspects which have been presented here, and others that you may come up with. I hope that this helps.

Cheers,

Henry.