Mirror and keep the distance
Ready when: Advance, retreat, lunge (b3) started.
What you are learning
Keeping the same gap from a partner who moves: when they advance you retreat, when they retreat you advance. Controlling the distance is how fencers stay safe and choose the moment to attack.
Words on this card Touch, En garde, Advance, Retreat, Half step, Distance
- Touch
- Landing the weapon on the other fencer's target; one touch is one point.
- En garde
- The referee's calls: take your stance; get ready; start fencing; stop.
- Advance
- A step forward: front foot first, back foot follows.
- Retreat
- A step back: back foot first, front foot follows.
- Half step
- A small step, or two steps joined quickly.
- Distance
- The gap between two fencers, measured by how far each can reach.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Face the child in en garde on the line, at the safe distance.
- Advance slowly: the child retreats one step. Retreat: the child advances.
- Change speed; the child keeps the same gap without crossing the feet.
Your part while they practise
Be the partner; change speed and direction.
Step by step
- Face each other in en garde.
- When you advance the child retreats, and the other way round.
- Keep the same gap.
- Swap the leader.
How much: 3 rounds of 1 minute 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Keep the gap
The leader tries to close or open the gap; the follower scores for keeping it.
Who plays: the child against you, or two children.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Both stand in en garde with stretched arms just not touching, then lower the arms
- The leader moves for 1 minute, changing speed and direction
- Every 10 seconds you call "check": both stretch the front arm
- Swap after each minute. 3 rounds each
- Fair play
- A grown-up leader uses single steps only.
- Points
- The follower scores 1 point at each check when the fingertips just do not touch; the leader scores 1 point when they touch or are a step too far apart.
- Fouls
- A point to the other player
- Crossing the feet
- Stepping off the line
- The leader running instead of stepping
- Winning
- The most points after 3 rounds each.
- 6 points for 1 star
- 10 points for 2 stars
- 14 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Slow steps only.
Add half steps and double steps.
What you will see, and what to say
- the gap closes
Same gap, always
Step as soon as your partner steps. - the child crosses the feet
Step, never cross
The front foot stays in front.
Self-check
Keep the gap for 1 minute, 3 times.
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 distance, footwork.
awiseathlete.com/sports/fencing/fencing-b6