Fencing Tips

Advice For Swordplay LA’s Parents

• Practicing fencing at home may not be the best idea for new, young fencers. They need a fencing coach to help them correct their mistakes. But there’s plenty they can do away from the fencing school to become better fencers: 

• Get exercise with push-ups, sit-ups, and other body weight exercises. Having a strong and healthy body will improve their athletic performance.

• Play other sports like volleyball or soccer. Participating in other sports can strengthen their footwork and overall endurance.

• Learn to play chess and play a musical instrument. They’ll have a better grasp on strategic thinking and get an intuitive feeling for rhythm and timing.

• Watch fencing videos on YouTube and enjoy swordfighting movies. Inspiring a love for the sport will help them stick with it!

Advice For All Swordplay Fencers

Critical Thinking And Fencing Mindfulness

• Approaching each fencing bout calmly and objectively will turn you into a better fencer. Here are some simple tips on how you can use your mental game to improve your fencing:

• Pick an actionable, positive, calming, easily repeatable word or phrase to help you stay focused.

• Right after your opponent scores on you, identify where they hit you, what the action was, and how you can either counter the action or prevent them from doing it again.

• Carefully study your opponent to identify exploitable openings. For example: Does their weapon arm leave six exposed? Do they take big steps whenever they’re about to attack? Do they pull their arm back in the middle of their attack?

• Test out different actions and footwork sequences on your opponents to see how they react. For example, if suddenly advancing and extending your arm provokes a parry, set up a disengage with that action.

Getting More From Lessons And Fencing Classes

• How much you get out of your fencing classes and private lessons at Swordplay LA depends on what you put into it. Here are some tips on how you can use your training sessions to really improve your fencing:

• Figure out one or two key actions or techniques you want to work on during a private lesson and inform your instructor.

• Practice whatever you worked on during a private lesson in a fencing bout right away, whether it’s with your instructor or another fencer at the club.

• Come to every class with one or two actions that you’re going to focus on when it’s time for everyone to fence.