Foil Fencing

Course Syllabus

Readings are assigned to be read for that day's class - required reading will reference directly the skills taught and practiced in class, and can be assessed on the final exam. 

 

Syllabus for the course:

Class Date Discussion Topic Practice Subjects Assignment
1 1/20 Introduction to the course - Fencing Exercise and stretching. Fencing Exercise, the weapon. Wikipedia article on the fundamentals of fencing - sections 1 - 4.

Foil Fundamentals, section on Foil Basics.

2 1/25 Equipment issue

Historical Origins of Fencing - the Code Duello - How Fencing changed swordsmanship

Basic positions illustrated
Advance – Retreat, Footwork, Extension - Lunge – Recovery
Why fence?
3 1/27 The rise of sport fencing - 1896 Olympics

The Sword

The idea of the parry-riposte

Reviewing and drilling on basic concepts and skills Basic concepts of the phrase
4 2/1 Swords in Art Point in Line, The Parry, Target Quadrants, Simple Parry When we fence are we pursuing an art or a sport?
5 2/3 "De-fense" Practicing the Parry-Riposte Defensive actions
6 2/8 Elementary Bouting: Offense Straight Thrust,  – Riposte, Right of Way, Crossover and half-stepping Read this essay on strategic balance
7 2/10 Elementary Bouting: Defense Making contact... and avoiding it.
Always always riposte!
Offensive actions
8 2/15 Judging and Refereeing the action Ruling on the action  
9 2/17 Changing lines and pacing in the attack. The Coupé, Degage; Tempo and Fencing Time Sentiment du fer
10 3/1 Controlling the Opponent's reaction The Feint Feints, and Deception
11 3/3 Emotion: Anger, Pride & Fear - and Touche The Beat (simple, change, grazing and expulsion) Engagement and Absence of Blade
12 3/8 Composing an attack   Timing in the non-parried counterattack
13 3/10 Pressing the attack Continued Attacks - Remise, Reprise, Redoublement  
14 3/15 Practice    
15 3/17 Attacks of Secondary Intent Electrical fencing  
16 3/22 Practice    
17 3/24 Outside the Salle: Negotiation and Life-as-Duel Disengagement  
18 3/29 Practice    
19 4/12 The sword that cuts itself - Philosophies of fencing Identifying your opponent's strengths and weaknesses  
20 4/14 Practice    
21 4/19 Practice    
22 4/21 Practice    
23 4/26 Practice    
24 4/28 Tournament How the tournament works Pools
25 5/3 Tournament   Direct Elimination
26 5/5 Tournament   Finals
27 5/10 Course Conclusions
Turn in Equipment
   
         
         
  5/19 Final Exam 11 AM