Basic Fencing Swordplay Techniques

Fencing is a sport that requires learning finite stimulus detection and reaction skills. Unlike other sports fencing moves at lightning pace. Perhaps the fastest sport around. Once one learns basic footwork they can move into the fundamentals of swordplay. This swordplay is based upon the carriage of the body and how it moves back and forth. 

For example, a lunge requires the movement of both the foot, leg, body, and arm to make a hit. Simple attacks forward can be learned with a little practice. Of course, the sport is not based only on simple moves and experts can get very crafty with their attacks, defending, and movements. Sometimes it only takes a few seconds to defeat your opponent in a bout. 

When one wears all of the gear that includes glove, vest, helmet, shoes, etc. they will naturally built up a great sweat. When bouts last for any length of time both sparring partners can become winded and worn out. Epee is considered one of the more aggressive fencing styles and doesn’t have all of the rules found in foil. Sabre is the freest flowing sport using most of the body as a target. 

Footwork as the Foundation of Fencing

Boxing Basics for Those Who Want to Get Fit While Learning Self-Defense

Boxer’s Start-Up by Doug Werner offers the beginners guide to boxing. Every healthy lifestyle should include some sports and fitness activities. A variety of sports like karate, boxing, horseback riding, skiing, jogging, bicycling, etc. affords the opportunity to learn new skills while conditioning the body into shape. Boxing is a heavy cardiovascular sport and is well known to lead to higher levels of physical abilities. This may be one of the many reasons why gyms offer kick-boxing as a fitness routine. 

This book is more for those who want to understand the basics of the sport. I have watched boxing, engaged in some boxing activities, and enjoyed some self-defense sports. Moving into the fundamentals allows for further mastery of skills that come with self-defense and fitness. The book will cover everything from clothing to routines. 

It will provide information on basic learning, boxing gear, stances and footwork, punches, combinations, heavy bag, basic defense & counters, mitts, working out, sparring and history of boxing. It provides a broad overview of the sport and will give most fitness enthusiasts the necessary fundamental techniques. 

I have done some low level boxing for fitness and basic defense. This book will cover most of what I have experienced in entry level classes. As this is not the only sport I practice I would be seeking something more in combinations but this will give a person a good start. In particular, I like the pictures and descriptions that help to show the beginning, middle and end of the motion. Add that to previous experience and you have a good idea what they are looking for. 

The book will talk about the protective box that is a zone of defense for your head and midsection. It will teach you about how to block and counter. More difficult concepts include the combinations and how to snap your wrist to put extra power into your punch. Body mechanics may be something you need an expert to review with you because weight positioning and movement can be tricky. Our natural movement may not be the best movement.

As a person who believes in protecting your head I think that such a sport is great for fitness, fun, and self-defense but not as a long-term occupation. There are risks to such sports and these can be serious. Sparring is acceptable if you are wearing the right head gear and keeping speed and power down to the minimum. Any sports enthusiasts should have some basic boxing training as most of these techniques will be used in a tight situation. My suggestion is to master the basics and then move onto other self-defense sports that take less repeated blows to the head.

Werner, D. (1998). Boxer’s Start-Up: A beginner’s guide to boxing. Tracks Publishing; CA.