On Strip/At Home Series: Bladework Exercises (Video!) + Updates

UPDATES

I hope everyone is doing well during these times of social isolation.  But above all, thank you for being members of the All-American Fencing Academy.  Your continued membership is what will allow us to stay open during these times.  As you can imagine, many small businesses like gyms, dance studios, yoga studios, crossfit gyms and the like are hit hardest by this and our ability to stay open looms constant on the minds our the owners.
Additionally, US Fencing clubs are not given the choice.  As a sanctioned member club of USA Fencing, they have given all US Fencing clubs direction to remain closed for 3 weeks.

Here is the actual notification from USA Fencing:”In order to protect the health and safety of all of our members – including athletes, coaches, staff and their families – clubs should suspend practices, lessons and gathering for the next three weeks. This applies to any club activity, including group sessions as well as individual lessons. In consultation with our insurance carrier, we will not be providing insurance coverage for Member Clubs beginning March 18 and continuing through at least April 6. Coaches at Affiliate Clubs will not have liability insurance coverage for the same period of times.”

SO OUR PLANNED RETURN TO CLASS ON MARCH 29TH MUST BE RESCHEDULED.  ALL CLASSES WILL STILL BE SUSPENDED FROM MARCH 29TH-APRIL 6TH.  We will send out a reschedule shortly.

AT HOME EXERCISES

So here’s some practice for footwork and bladework that you can continue to do at home.
Before I get to it, I understand that not everyone may have equipment, so in the videos, I’ll demonstrate things you can do without a weapon.  But if you can try to get out and grab a pool noodle that you can cut in half.  If you don’t have a weapon, half a pool noodle is a reasonable alternative, and you’ll have a second “weapon” that a partner (parent or sibling) can help you with.

If you haven’t watched it you, watch the Beginner Homework Exercises I posted online.  Remember, it’s not just good for beginners, it’s good for all fencers to practice.  It doesn’t take long, do a set of 1 each every day.  You can find the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfAgfq4UmIs

Advanced fencers can skip to the 4:30 mark to skip the explanations and do the exercises with me.
The next video are exercises you can do with a target (padded and not padded).  These are blade work exercises. 

Again, I’ll demonstrate what you can do with or without a weapon.  You can view that video here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEf6qW3YDgw

(I had to reduce the definition, because my phone couldn’t save the video in a higher format.  And yes, I now realize that tag on my shirt is sticking out.)

I know these seem like simple exercises, but simplicity and basics are good for beginner and advanced fencers.  Here’s a great example of simplicity by Marcus Mepstead in the 2019 World Championships.  It’s a simple disengage lunge.  (In case the skip to link doesn’t work, skip to 1:03:48)  https://youtu.be/arROQ6VlLks?t=3798
I really miss everyone and hope we can get back to normal pretty soon. (There’s a Part 2 to this e-mail, but I didn’t want to make it too long, keep an eye out for it).