Sample Lesson - Week 1

Begin by covering the basics. I don't have a specific order in which I teach these items, but the simple attacks always occur last.

Safety and Gear

What should you do when someone calls a hold?

  • Stop fencing and put your sword in a non-offensive position.

What gear should fencers wear to spar?

  • Mask
  • Hood
  • Gorget
  • Fencing jacket or equivalent
  • Gloves (optional under SCA rules)
  • Athletic cup (if appropriate)
  • Athletic shoes 
Parts of the Sword
  • Blade
    • Tang
    • Ricasso
    • Strong
    • Medium
    • Weak
    • Tip
    • Strong and weak edges
  • Guard
    • Pommel
    • Grip
    • Quillions
    • Dish/rings/etc.
On Guard Position
  • Begin with the feet in an L shape with the dominant foot pointing toward the opponent.
  • Step forward about shoulder width apart and bend the knees with weight evenly distributed (you can mess with weight distribution as you progress through your fencing journey).
  • Bring the sword arm up, sword extended with a bent arm and pointed between the opponent's eyebrows and collarbones.
  • The back arm should be raised and ready to hand parry.
Footwork
  • Advance
  • Retreat
  • Lunge
    • Recover back
    • Recover forward
  • Passing step forward
  • Passing step backward
Hand Positions (this is a good time to explain "inside" and "outside" lines)
  • 1st - palm facing out
  • 2nd - palm facing down
  • 3rd - palm facing in, like a handshake
  • 4th - palm facing up
  • Intermediary positions
    • 2nd and 3rd - between second and third, at an angle
    • 3rd and 4th - between third and fourth, at an angle
Simple Attacks (attacks that can be completed in one tempo)
  • Straight thrust
  • Disengagement
  • Glide
For the simple attacks, you can focus on one line (low or high inside or outside) or work your way through all four.

For the first lesson, the student fencer needs only a mask, (possibly) a glove, and a sword while learning the simple attacks. The rest of the lesson can be completed with no gear besides a sword.

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