Training Fencing E-Book

Katrin Barth

• Herausgeber: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd.
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2005

Seitenzahl: 118

Beschreibung

Building on the book "Learning Fencing", this book explains how to train for the techniques and tactics in the sport of fencing and shows why fencers must improve their endurance, strength, and speed. Young fencers learn to go beyond practice bouts and enrich their training with exercises that may seem to have nothing at all to do with fencing. They discover how important it is to warm up before training and competitions and learn why an athlete gets stiff muscles. The book also includes suggestions about what young athletes can do on their own to improve their skills and to monitor and evaluate their progress. With the help of this book, young fencers learn to manage their own development and to take responsibility for their own behavior

Leseprobe

This book belongs to

Club:

Coach:

Original Title: Ich trainiere Fechten

Aachen: Meyer & Meyer 2002

Translated by Susanne Evens, Petra Haynes AAA Translation, St. Louis, Missouri, USAwww.AAATranslation.com

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Training Fencing

Berndt Barth / Katrin Barth

Oxford: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd., 2nd Ed., 2006

ISBN: 978-1-84126-907-8

All rights reserved, especially the right to copy and distribute, including the translation rights. No part of this work may be reproduced—including by photocopy, microfilm or any other means—processed, stored electronically, copied or distributed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher.

© 2003 by Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd.

2nd, revised Edition, 2006

Aachen, Adelaide, Auckland, Budapest, Graz, Johannesburg,

New York, Olten (CH), Oxford, Singapore, Toronto

Member of the World

Sports Publishers’ Association (WSPA)

www.w-s-p-a.org

Printed and bound by: B.O.S.S. Druck und Medien GmbH, Germany

ISBN 1-84126-096-7

E-Mail: [email protected]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONTENTS

1

Dear Fencer

2

From Duel to Sport

History and description of German and international fencing Sport and art

3

Hi there, Claudia!

A chat with the world champion

4

Training – The Path to Success

Training, how to train properly, goals, motivation, progress

5

Condition

Fitness in general, physical abilities, warming up, stretching, strength training, relaxation, leg power, tracking progress

6

Technique

Technique in general, technique in fencing, training for technique, improving performance, muscle sense, monitoring and self-evaluation, training aids

7

Tactics

Tactics in general, strategy and tactics in fencing, anticipation and planned responses, decisions, strategic planning, research, maneuvers, disguise

8

Psychological Skills

Our “computer” – the brain, perception, reflexes, conscious reactions, mental strengths, competitive strengths, concentration, relaxation, pressure

9

Movements and Positions

Jump, balestra, fleche, positions and changes of position in foil, epee and saber

10

The Electronic Scoring Device

How it works, equipment, material, problem-solving, safety

11

General Health

Nutrition, stiff muscles

12

Fair Play

Fairness, sportsmanship

13

Answers to Puzzles and Quizzes

14

A Message to Parents and Coaches

Photo & Illustration Credits

Caution:

The exercises and practical suggestions in this book have been carefully chosen and reviewed by the authors. However, the authors are not liable for accidents or damages of any kind incurred in connection with the content of this book.

Foily symbols you’ll see in this book:

. . . . . . . . 1 DEAR FENCER

This book is called Training Fencing, and for good reason. You’re a fencer now; you’re not a beginner anymore. You’ve spent many long hours in the fencing hall learning the basics of fencing.

The book Learning Fencing helped to introduce you to many important aspects of fencing. By now, you have had the chance to enter fencing competitions and use the skills you have learned.

How did you do?

In the table on page 8, enter the names and dates of your first tournaments. In the third column, record how you placed. In the last column, enter one of these symbols to show how you feel about the result.

You’ll want to start a logbook to keep track of all the fencing competitions you enter and how well you did in each match.

What comes next? First, a little story:

Hiking in the mountains, a strong young man decided to climb to the top of a high peak. He cheerfully packed up food and water and set out in high spirits. Because he wasn’t sure of the trail, he had some difficulty. He struggled up along one path, but when it faded to nothing he had to turn around and start all over.

The extra distance cost him a lot of effort. But every now and then, he was lucky enough to find a path that took him a little farther. After many such attempts, he reached the summit, where he found other hikers already enjoying the view. They told him that a good hiking trail led right to the top. He could have followed the trail instead of taking so many wrong turns.

Why hadn’t he used a map or a guidebook, or at least asked someone who had hiked to the summit before?

The eager mountain climber in this story can help you as you start to train for fencing. Many athletes before you have trained for fencing and achieved good results. You don’t have to start from scratch to figure out fencing and invent a training program. Instead, you can learn from the experiences of other fencers before you. That will make it much easier.

This little book, Training Fencing, can serve as a map, a guidebook to show you how you can climb the mountain of fencing without getting lost along the way. And of course you also have a fencing coach who can show you the right path.

You may find that experienced fencers, coaches, and authors of books about fencing have different opinions about movements or positions. That’s normal. If something is not clear to you, ask questions and discover the reasons behind other people’s different views.

But before you tuck this book under your pillow, fall asleep, and think you will wake up in the morning as a winner, we would like to say one more thing about the path to the summit:

We want to give you advice and explain to you how to train properly. But only you can do the training. Whether you reach the summit or not is mostly up to you.

The explanations about training in this book apply just as much to girls as to boys. The same is true for coaches, who may be men or women. In our descriptions, we alternate between he and she, him and her, his and hers.

We hope you will have a lot of fun with this book. You will surely find plenty of interesting material here, which will help you travel the path to the summit quickly and safely. Good luck!

The authors and Foily.

. . . . . . . . 2 FROM DUEL TO SPORT

The earliest drawings that have been found indicate that humans always did something like fencing. Their weapons were sticks, bamboo poles, and later also metal rods that they could use to strike and thrust. They fought like this when a person’s body, life, or property was threatened. But there were also exhibitions that celebrated the art of combat. In those days, such contests were gruesome! Often the spectators waited eagerly to see one of the combatants fall to the ground, pierced through or even dead.

Starting in the 15th century, soldiers used firearms in war and other battles, largely replacing the less powerful fencing weapons. Little by little, fencing developed into a pure sport. Fencers began to use lighter weapons that they could wield with greater skill and speed.

As time went on, Italian fencing masters brought order to the wild battles. They developed rules and established standard positions for the hand and blade. These are the basis for our present-day weapon positions. In Europe, fencing schools were founded and books were written about the sport of swordsmanship.

Primarily young men from rich families, nobles, and students turned to the sport of fencing to harden their bodies and prove their courage. They met in clubs or studied under famous fencing masters.

We found this drawing in a book about sports published in 1891. It shows young men practicing fencing. (From Des deutschen Knaben Turn-, Spiel- und Sportbuch, Bielefeld/Leipzig, 1891.)

A young man who mastered the art of swordsmanship and proved his bravery and manhood in a duel won honor and high regard. Of course, even in those days a few progressive girls and women learned to fence. At that time, female fencers were unusual; today we take them for granted.

Some young fellows enjoyed the rollicking life of students. They formed “associations” where they met to fight with fencing weapons. Usually these were duels about honor and tests of courage. Anyone who didn’t want to participate in these wild and sometimes bloody fencing battles was ridiculed as a weakling. A wound on the face, known as a cut, was considered a sign of manhood and the fencer was proud of the scar. These fights among students sometimes ended in death, and the universities finally stopped them by prohibiting the use of the epee in duels.

Fencing was revived later in Germany and citizens established fencing clubs. The German fencing association (the Deutscher Fechter-Bund, DFB) was founded in 1911.

Fencing in Germany

After World War II, German fencers at first went separate ways. The Deutscher Fechter-Bund was revived in West Germany, while the Deutsche Fecht-Verband (DFV) was formed in East Germany. The German fencing teams were reunited in 1990.

It was soon recognized that peak athletic performance demanded many years of intensive training. Special training centers were established, for example in Tauberbischofsheim and Bonn, Leipzig and Potsdam. Here the best fencers could train together under the most successful coaches. Special schools also made it easier for young athletes to combine education and intensive training. Physicians specializing in sports medicine took care of the fencers, because only a healthy person can train properly.

Of course, the German fencers wanted to keep up with the top fencers around the world and succeed in international competitions. Sports scientists soon recognized that it was time to depart from classical fencing. Winning athletes could not continue fencing in the same way as fifty years ago.

Experts in training methodology researched and developed training methods and ideas. For example, the Tauberbischofsheim training center introduced an innovative regimen with daily lessons, many competitions right from the start, and an environment that encouraged effort. The program also emphasized better education for the trainers and coaches. The German fencers won many international medals and always ranked among the most successful athletes on the podium at world championships or the Olympics.

Though they sometimes struggle to reconcile the varied opinions and views of their coaches and researchers, they have laid out ambitious plans toward a common goal. We look forward to a successful future. Maybe you will be among the fencers who win a medal in a world championship or at the Olympics.

Fencing Internationally

The international fencing federation, the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (F.I.E.), was founded in 1913.

There is also a European fencing confederation, the European Fencing Confederation (EFC) or Confédération Européenne d’Escrime (CEE).

International Tournaments

World Championships are held every year for

Cadets:

You must be younger than 17 years old on January 1 of the year in which the world championship is held.

Juniors:

You must be younger than 20 years old on January 1 of the year in which the world championship is held.

Open:

World championships are not held in Olympic years.

Seniors:

Tournaments for fencers over 40 years old.

European Open and Junior Championships are held each year.

The F.I.E. rulebook was first adopted in June of 1914 by the International Congress in Paris. Since 1919, it is known as the Règlement pour les Épreuves (Rules for Competition).

You can find more information on the Internet. Take a look!

F.I.E.:www.fie.ch/

SPORT AND ART

Sports and athletes are popular themes with many artists. The elegance of movement, the beauty of the bodies, the speed and the power inspired many paintings, drawings, sculptures and photos.

Have you ever seen such a piece of sport art? Pay attention the next time you are in a public building or a museum.

1 Kleinplastik

2 L. Zitzmann, “Fechter“

3 I. Muizulis “Im Angriff“

. . . . . . . . . 3 HI THERE, CLAUDIA!

Epee

Born 30.08.1973 in Ter Apel (Netherlands)

Silver medal at Olympic Games and World Champion

Student of chemistry

Claudia, you are a very successful fencer. Can you tell us your secret?

There’s no secret. I simply enjoyed fencing. I never had to think about whether or not I wanted to go to practice. I always went fencing in my free time, and with all that practice I got better automatically.

And how long did that take?

It took me nearly twenty years. I started to learn fencing when I was nine years old. In 2001, at age 28, I became Individual World Champion. Of course I had many good results in between, which proved that I am on the right track.

Can you give us some examples?

For instance, I already was Individual Junior World Champion in 1992 and 1993, and in 1993 I also won the silver medal with the team.

And what about back when you first started training?

I always tried to score every hit. Winning bouts against equally strong fencers or even a few good hits against better fencers, have always motivated me and made me feel validated. I could feel that the training was worth it and that I can make it.

And why did you choose fencing?

I have tried many sports, but none have fascinated me the way fencing has. You have to be able to react and make decisions quickly, and you must be physically fit and strong. All of these things make it a very versatile sport which I enjoy practicing everyday.

With so much training, do you have any time for leisure or hobbies?

Fencing is my hobby, and through fencing I have made many friends and seen a lot of the world. Of course school was always most important, and it is difficult to combine that with such an intensive hobby like a competitive sport. But one was always a welcome change from the other, and it helped me with learning to organize my time.

What advice do you have for young fencers?

It is worth hanging in there, even if training is really hard sometimes. Regular training will help you improve automatically and that makes fencing even more fun.