TENTATIVE COURSE CHRONOLOGY

This chronology is designed for a standard 16 week semester but is easily modified through extending or decreasing techniques practice.

WEEK 1

AN INTRODUCTION TO FENCING
Definition and basic history of the art
Philosophy of American versus European techniques
Introduction the general rules and weapons and protective equipment
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of the 4 body quadrants and target areas for each weapon
Demonstrations and practice of the stance, walk, and lunge
Discussion of basic fencing tradition and courtesy rules (The salute etc.)
DRILLS: Stance, walk, and lunge
BOUTS: As called by instructors

WEEK 2

INTRODUCTION TO THE FOIL TECHNIQUE AND PHILOSOPHY
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of the history, philosophy, technique, and rules of foil fencing
Discussion and demonstration of The 8 guards of the foil currently in standard use
Concentration on guards 3,4, and 6
Discussion and demonstration of the foil target area and of the 4 body quadrants and lines of attack
DRILLS: Practice of guards
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 3

FENCING FOOT WORK, BALANCE, AND FENCING DISTANCE
Warm up and stretching
Discussion and demonstration of proper fencing foot work and fencing distance.
Discussion and demonstration of the ballestra attack
DRILLS: Foot work and distance drills.
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 4

CONCEPTS OF THE ATTACK, PARRY, AND RIPOSTE (FOIL)
Warm up and stretching
Discussion and demonstration of the attack and the rule of RIGHT OF WAY
Discussion and demonstration of the parry and counter attack or riposte
DRILLS: Practice attack, parry, and riposte
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 5

THE TECHNIQUE OF THE FEINT ATTACK AND THE BEATING ATTACK
Warm up and stretching
Discussion and demonstration of the feint and beating attack
Discussion of combination feint and beating attacks
DRILLS: Practice of the beating attack
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 6

THE TECHNIQUE OF THE FLECHE ATTACK, FRENCH BOUNCE, AND FLICK ATTACK
Warm up and stretching
Discussion and demonstration of the fleche attack, French Bounce, and Flick technique
DRILLS: Practice of the fleche attack, French Bounce, and the flick attack
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 7

INTRODUCTION TO THE EPEE TECHNIQUE AND PHILOSOPHY
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of the epee history, philosophy, technique, and rules of epee fencing
Discussion and demonstration of the classic epee guard stance
Discussion of epee scoring (Number of touches)
Discussion and demonstration of the epee target area
DRILLS: Epee guard, and attacks (Review: beat and feint combination attacks)
BOUTS: As called by the instructors
WEEK 8

THE EPEE TARGETS: FEET & LEGS, FREE ARM, SWORD HAND, SWORD ARM, AND TORSO.
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of the non application of the right of way rule in epee technique.
(As the epee was used as the standard dueling weapon the rule of right of way does not apply in epee bouts. The first person landing a touch scores. If both land at the same time a touch is recorded for each fencer)
DRILLS: Attack, parry, and riposte with the epee
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 10

EPEE DEFENSE: PARRIES, DISTANCE, COUNTERATTACKS, RIPOSTES.
Warm up and stretching
DRILLS: Attack, parry, and riposte with the epee (Review: epee guard and attacks)
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 11

INTRODUCTION TO THE SABER (SABRE) TECHNIQUE AND PHILOSOPHY
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of the philosophy, history, technique, and rules of saber fencing
Discussion and demonstration of the saber target area
Discussion and demonstration of the five commonly used saber guards
DRILLS: Saber guards
BOUTS : As called by the instructors.
WEEK 12

INTRODUCTION TO THE SABER (SABRE) FOOT WORK
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of proper foot work as applied to sport saber fencing
Discussion and demonstration of the saber target area
DRILLS: Saber guards
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 13

INTRODUCTION TO THE SABER (SABRE) CUTS AND THRUSTS.
Warm up and stretching
Discussion of The Cheek Cut, The Flank Cut, The Chest Cut, The Arm Cut, and The Thrust.
DRILLS: Saber cuts
BOUTS: As called by the instructors

WEEK 14

IN-CLASS FENCING TOURNAMENT BEGINS
An introduction to official USFA Rules, Regulations, and Scoring tournaments.
OPENING POOLS

WEEK 15

IN-CLASS TOURNAMENT CONTINUES
DIRECT ELIMINATION BOUTS

WEEK 16
IN-CLASS TOURNAMENT CONTINUES
AWARDS CEREMONY