Book Details

	Foil Fencing: The Techniques and Tactics of Modern Foil Fencing By: Smith, John Published By: Summersdale Publishers Ltd. PDF for Digital Editions Price: $23.99 Available to read online in eb20 (what's this?) PDF for Digital Editions	EBOOK OPTIONS ADD TO CART ADD TO WISHLIST TELL A FRIEND RECEIVE ALERTS
	In this comprehensive guide to the practice and techniques of fencing, John "Jes" Smith uses his own experience to provide a starter course for beginners. Informative and practical, the book covers both basic and more advanced techniques and offers expert advice.

Excerpt

Although fencing has variously been described as an art or science and many books on the subject dwell on the history of swordplay, fencing is a modern sport, requiring, like any other sport, commitment to physical endeavour, dedication to the necessary skills training, and the application of tactics. The three T’s are the passport of today’s fencer – Technique, Tactics and Timing. It is the unique combination of these three elements at any one moment that decides the success or failure of the fencer. In this volume I have endeavoured to set out a practical guide that works progressively through the technical material of the sport, integrating offence and defence, basic and more advanced techniques, established practices and more innovative modern concepts. The work then brings this material together with a tactical summary that demonstrates how the concepts of offence, defence and counter-offence are interrelated. I have deliberately omitted ancillary subjects such as fitness training, diet, administration and the rules, and focused exclusively on that one area that draws all of us to the sport of fencing – the use of the blade. It is my hope that anyone learning to fence can open this book at any page and find useful practical guidance on the use of the foil. Having taught at schools, colleges and clubs in London for many years, I have met, trained and developed countless fencers. Regardless of their varied personalities, abilities and aspirations, they all had one common need: a source of reference that was both clear and comprehensive. This book is intended to satisfy that need and to enable any fencer, whether student, leisure fencer, competitor, junior coach or teacher, to see where any one stroke or tactic fits into the greater game, and to enhance their participation in this unique sport. Modern fencing, and in particular foil fencing, is far removed from the logic and practice of ancient swordplay. Today the fencer is safely clothed and protected, and often takes risks that his or her forebears would never have contemplated. Moreover these risks are not discouraged by the conventions of foil fencing (see Appendix A). These conventions originate from the need to judge fencing as a sport rather than as true combat. In true combat a participant would avoid all risk of injury and endeavour to hit without being hit – a principle that is still valid today. However, in the modern sport the conclusion of a fencing phrase often sees both fencers receiving hits and then a judgement made as to which one, if any, scores. Basically the principle is that priority is given to the fencer who, at any one moment, has taken the initiative. The result of these conventions is that a fencer, in some situations and contrary to natural instinct, learns to ignore the possibility of receiving a hit! So, not only is it necessary to master the technical material of the sport, but also to acquire and build new habits and responses. For this reason the novice recreational fencer should be prepared to spend some considerable time drilling a variety of sequences and appropriate reactions before participating in training bouts. Once participating in lessons and bouts these conventions, from which the rules of fencing derive, become more apparent. As to the rules themselves, they are those of the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (F.I.E.) and are subject to continual revision. During my time the rules regarding the fencing area (‘piste’) and its limits, the target, the weapons used, the number of hits, time duration, the permitted (or otherwise) use of hands and feet, and the formulae for both individual and team competitions have all been the subject of change. There is no reason to believe that they will ever remain static, and so the reader should, if intending to become a competitive fencer, be acquainted with the current regulations as published through the relevant national body.

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