The four lines and distance
Ready when: The grip and en garde, without a weapon (b2) done.
What you are learning
The foil target (the body from the neck to the groin) and its four parts, called lines, each with a number: 6 high outside, 4 high inside, 8 low outside, 7 low inside. Fencers name where they attack and defend by these numbers. Also the safe distance, where stretched arms cannot touch.
Words on this card Touch, Target, Foil, En garde, Distance, Lines
- Touch
- Landing the weapon on the other fencer's target; one touch is one point.
- Target
- The part of the body where a touch counts.
- Foil
- The three weapons. Foil and épée score with the tip; sabre with the tip or the edge.
- En garde
- The referee's calls: take your stance; get ready; start fencing; stop.
- Distance
- The gap between two fencers, measured by how far each can reach.
- Lines
- The four parts of the target, each with a number: 6 high outside, 4 high inside, 8 low outside, 7 low inside. Outside is the side away from the body.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand in en garde and draw the target on yourself with a finger: neck to groin, front and back.
- Split it into four: high and low, inside (toward the other arm) and outside (away from the body).
- Move the hand to each line and say its number: 6, 4, 8, 7.
- Stand facing the child with both arms stretched: step back until the fingertips cannot touch. That is the safe distance.
Your part while they practise
Call a number; the child shows the hand position.
Step by step
- Learn the target: the body from the neck to the groin.
- The four lines: 6 high outside, 4 high inside, 8 low outside, 7 low inside.
- You call a number; the child shows the hand position.
- Stand at a distance where stretched arms cannot touch.
How much: 10 calls, 2 rounds 8 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Fast lines
Call a number; the first to show the right hand position wins the point.
Who plays: 2 children against each other, or the child against you; one caller.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Both stand in en garde at the safe distance
- The caller says a number: 4, 6, 7 or 8
- The first to show the right hand position scores
- 10 calls
- Fair play
- A grown-up must close the eyes until the number is called.
- Points
- 1 point to the first correct hand position.
- Fouls
- The point goes to the other player
- The wrong line, such as inside for outside
- Stepping inside the safe distance
- Winning
- More points after 10 calls.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 6 points for 2 stars
- 8 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Two lines.
All four in random order.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child mixes inside and outside
Outside is away from the body
The side of the weapon arm. - the hand drops
Hold the line
Keep it there until the next call.
Self-check
8 of 10 calls shown correctly.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains target understanding, distance.
awiseathlete.com/sports/fencing/fencing-b4