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Beginner Fencing How To Teach

YOU Can Teach Beginner Fencing

Are you home schooling, or just stuck at home?  Looking to teach your child something new, or even learn for yourself?  Beginner fencing skills is not difficult!

If you try to watch Olympic fencing on YouTube, it may seem fast and complicated, but isn’t that what it’s like for any sport?  You can learn AND teach the basics of fencing even without fencing equipment (but you can do  some DIY crafting).

The ideal student is ages 7+.  The teacher doesn’t have to have any experience, you don’t even have to be athletic.  You just have to follow along the video!  If you can teach your student to skip, play any games, cook, or anything of that nature, you can teach your child beginner fencing!  

DISCLAIMER

Your participation in any activity is at your own risk. Any equipment you choose to use to learn, play or participate in any fencing activity is your choice and responsibility and you assume your own risk or risk to any participants.

The All-American Fencing Academy and/or USA Fencing are not liable or responsible to any injuries or damages that may occur as a result of your participation, to those around you, or to any of your surroundings.

We emphasize that you always exercise and observe safety by wearing safety goggles if using PEX DIY fencing weapons and wear complete fencing safety gear if using standard fencing equipment. (At minimum, mask, jacket, plastron, glove)

NEVER practice or teach fencing with fencing weapons without both participants wearing a mask, jacket, plastron, and glove.

An Intro To Fencing Part 1

PART 1

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZCifiSFG8Q
16 minutes, 20 seconds

In this section:
– Your instructor
– Intro to Olympic fencing
– Rules to foil fencing
– DIY practice fencing weapon
– OR ordering a fencing set
– The fencing uniform

Description:
In this section, you’ll get a small primer on the background of Olympic fencing.  The weapons involved (we’ll only be using one) and the rules.  The rules will be the important part to teach to your student.

You’ll also learn how to make your own practice weapon or how to purchase your own beginner fencing set.  Both a DIY practice weapon or a beginner set can be used to teach your student.  In a pinch, half a pool noodle for a weapon can work too.

Lastly, we’ll talk about the gear you commonly see fencers use.

Link to the foil starter set at Absolute Fencing Gear: https://www.absolutefencinggear.com/shopping/product_info.php/products_id/592/cPath/62

Weapon/blade size is based on age groups:
What age group is your student in? This naturally changes every year. Determine which age group you or your student: https://www.usafencing.org/age-classification-eligibility

Weapon/Blade sizes:
#5 blade: Senior Fencers (standard blade size)
#2 blade: Y12 Fencers
#0 blade: Y10 Fencers

How To Teach Beginner Fencing

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Teaching Basic Positions and Movement Part 2

PART 2

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPSyqr5QvAM
18 minutes, 43 seconds

In this section:
-Basic position
-On guard
-Advance(s)
-Retreat(s)

Description:
In this section we’ll you’ll begin to learn and teach your student some of the beginner positions in fencing as well as simple movements.  These are simple but there are common mistakes to look out for! 

We recommend you learning for yourself then teaching to your student.  We provide some sample practices you can do with your student at the end of the lesson.

Take your time in advances and retreats!  They don’t have to be and shouldn’t be fast.  Watch their feet!

Other Tips:
What to wear?  Wear something comfortable to move in.  Shorts and shirt for boys and girls, yoga pants are ok as well.  We really recommend you do these exercises with tennis shoes.  Try to avoid barefoot, slippers, or Crocs.

How To Teach Beginner Fencing

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Teaching Attacks Part 3

PART 3

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpgNq5TKEDQ
14 minutes, 9 seconds

In this section:
Attacks
-Extension and Recover
-Extend Advance
-Lunge and Returning From a Lunge

In this section, you’ll learn how to teach your student 3 different attacks without hitting a target yet.  You might want to do some warm up and stretching exercises before this one!

We recommend you learning for yourself then teaching to your student.  We provide some sample practices you can do with your student at the end of the lesson.

Tips:
Don’t be afraid to talk out loud.  Say everything you’re doing and everything you want your student to do.  Learn to do it yourself so you can demonstrate!  Some students are visual learners, some students are audio learners.  Like before, it doesn’t have to be fast, take your time with these moves.

Watch their feet and watch their body!  Students will cheat when they can! 🙂

Remember to demonstrate!

How To Teach Beginner Fencing

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Giving Your First Lesson Part 4

PART 4

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW9eJUcj00w
20 minutes, 35 seconds

In this section:
• Holding the weapon
• Salute
• Giving a basic lesson with
   – Keeping distance
   – Extensions
   – Extension advance
   – Lunge

Description:
This will be the first section your student will be holding a weapon.  Holding the weapon correctly might be the most difficult parts of learning how to fence, make sure you pay attention to how they are holding the weapon and where their arm is!

You will also be getting hit yourself!  So prepare yourself!  Whether you are using DIY weapons or actual fencing weapons, make sure protective gear is worn.  If you are using DIY weapons, a shirt will be just fine, but if you want to wear something with padding, that may help you and your student be more comfortable.

We recommend you learning for yourself then teaching to your student.  We provide some sample practices you can do with your student at the end of the lesson.

How To Teach Beginner Fencing

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Giving a Decision Making Lesson Part 5

PART 5

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNu4EAxvNqY
12 minutes, 56 seconds

In this section:
• Giving a basic lesson in student decision making. Student will have to determine the appropriate attack based on the coach’s queue.
   – Without movement
   – With movement (advances and retreats)
• Lesson demonstration with fencing gear.

Description:
We expand on what we did in Part 4 and start to provide the student lessons with decision making.  The student will now have to respond to the queues and movements you give them.

We will also demonstrate what the lesson looks like with fencing gear as well.

We recommend you learning for yourself then teaching to your student.  We provide some sample practices you can do with your student at the end of the lesson.

We definitely recommend having tennis shoes on for these exercises.  Keep an eye on which part of the foot the front foot lands on when they lunge.  If they do this without shoes, they often will try to land on the balls of their feet.

How To Teach Beginner Fencing

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Did you use and enjoy our online tutorials for How To Teach Beginner Fencing?  Your donations allows to continue to make free instructional videos, please consider making a donation!