Tactics, Footwork and Execution

Those of you in the Monday night class from 8:00-9:00 with R.J. and I have been introduced to some new tactical concepts in the past couple of months. Some of these concepts have been things like the “Vocabulary of Footwork” mixing up speed, direction, and length with each step making it difficult to follow or predict what action you will perform next. Other items have included hand tempo, foot tempo, and taking over the attack as times to execute an attack to capitalize when your opponent is weakest and less able to defend themselves.

Thinking about tactics off of the strip, and practicing common tactical heuristics is a great way to augment your ability to think tactically on the strip and to help you set up scenarios which you can purposefully capitalize on to score points and eventually win the bout. Once your fencing has reached the point where you can reliably execute the physical motions of fencing, it is time to start thinking about tactics.

Zbigniew Czajkowski’s book, Understanding Fencing, is a great resource for tactical thought and methodically discusses tactics and how fencers purposefully prepare for tactical strikes. It also talks about Foreseen, Partially Foreseen, and Unforeseen responses from your opponent. By sticking to Foreseen, and Partially Foreseen actions you can predict how your opponent will respond to your actions (after a suitable period of recon) and set traps for them to play into. Here is a section from Czajkowski’s work.

Also, much of the material has come from information and systems created by David Littell on his website: Fencing-Always More to Learn. I recommend that you read through his website and take the time to consider it, and/or discuss it with your coach. I recommend all of the articles he has posted but the articles “Hungarian System”, “Foil Tactics”, and “Footwork Phrases” are of special interest. Also go to his video site and look at video numbers 6 and 7 for a look at some of the techniques we have been working on. The videos are great because you can see them over and over. You can also jump here to the Hungarian system in action.

Developing your tactical game will much improve your fencing and will help you land points when it’s easy and also make it more difficult for your opponent. Best of luck.

Stay well,

A. Harms

Heartland Circuit Champ

With all the hoopla involved in the NAC A and the Crossroads Youth Classic, we forgot to acknowledge Preston Kirkpatrick, who took first place on the Heartland Circuit in mixed sabre for the 2008-09 season. Preston is pictured here with his father, Mike, upon receiving the traveling trophy at the HFA Open in Overland Park, on October 3. He'll get to retain the trophy throughout the 2009-10 season. Preston plans to eat his breakfast cereal from the bowl.

Preston is the third DMFC fencer to take top honors on the Heartland Circuit, joining David Bell (2006-07 mixed foil) and Bethany Dorin (2007-08 women's foil).

The HFA Open is the first of six tournaments in the Heartland Circuit, and Preston started his quest to repeat as circuit champ with a second place finish, behind Weston Halberstadt of KCFC. The two now lead in the points standings. The second tournament in the Circuit, the Sioux City Challenge, is on for November 15-16. It is followed by the Turkey Meet Open in Waukesha, WI, on November 22.

Youth fencing

The 2009 Crossroads Youth Classic yesterday featured 65 fencers, representing eleven clubs from five states. Two observations:

• Once again, DMFC's volunteers stepped up and did an excellent job. They were hampered by a couple of poor scheduling decisions (in particular, I should not have put Y12 foil and Y14 foil so close together) but pulled things off as best they could.

• It was my honor to referee the Y14 foil final between William Wharton of Twin Cities Fencing Club and Ryan Zimmerman of Kanza Fencing Club. Both young men put on a clinic; the score was tight, the fencing smart and clean. My one regret was that I didn't think to record a video to share here.
  

Photos appear in DMFC's photo site. Enjoy!

- RJL

Fall Fencing for All

The NAC has come and gone, but Iowa fencers have plenty of opportunities to cross blades over the next couple of months. Register now via AskFRED for upcoming local and regional tournaments.

• Saturday, October 24: Crossroads Youth Classic, Clive IA. This is DMFC's annual youth tournament. About 70 fencers from all over the Midwest are signed up as I write this.
• Sunday, October 25: Sadly, the Maverick Open in Omaha was cancelled, but fencers can go to St. Paul, Minnesota, for Oktoberfence 2009.

• Saturday, October 31: ISU Cantaloupe Open, Ames IA. Guess what you win for first place? Always a fun time.
  

• November 6-9: NAC B (Junior, Cadet, Y14). Kansas City. Two DMFC fencers are taking part: Preston Kirkpatrick in Junior Men's Sabre and Reid Wade in Y14 Men's Sabre.

• November 14-15: Sioux City Challenge, Sioux City IA. A Heartland Circuit event.
• November 15: Athos Youth Tournament 2009, Minneapolis MN. Includes Y10, Y12 and Y14 events in all three weapons.

• November 22: Turkey Meet, Waukesha WI. A Heartland Circuit event.

• December 5-6: KCFC Holiday Tournament, Overland Park, Kansas. Youth and open events, all three weapons. Something for everybody in this -- always a good experience.
  

"Now the Seats are All Empty ..."

Now the seats are all empty
Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
They're the first to come and last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
They'll set it up in another town...
- Jackson Browne, "The Load Out"

Day Four of the NAC A has followed the first three days into the history books. Congratulations to Sarah Timmons (pictured) of Iowa State University Fencing Club, who took seventh in Division III Women's Epee. The Iowa Division had two fencers on the podium this NAC. Gotta love it.

Will Des Moines host another NAC, ever? Word on the street is positive. We asked a lot of people point-blank what they thought of Des Moines as a venue. Everything said nice things to us. They might have been trying to spare our feelings, though. Whenever I was wandering through the crowd, though, on those occasions when I heard anyone say anything about the venue or the city, it was positive. (Steve overheard one person say, over the phone, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm in Iowa." As a transplant to this fine state, I've sometimes said similar things.)

Some of the online discussion (see fencing.net, for example) notes the decline in the number of fencers participating from last year to this year. Various culprits are named, but few seems to think it has anything to do with Des Moines; more people cite the economy, or the changes in the cadet event formats. Many people noted the difficulty of flying to and from Des Moines, since it's hard to get a direct flight unless you live in a hub city like Chicago or Denver. Common problem. Those of us who live here and have to do business travel feel your pain.

The event was blessed with a phenomenal corps of volunteers, headed by Local Organizing Committee chair Kevin Fitzpatrick. We delighted many of the USFA regulars by helping them get out of the venue by dinnertime on Thursday night, despite many of us having never set up metal strips before. We seemed to please on Monday afternoon as well, when it was time to load out; our fencers, parents and friends joined in and got everyone out in short order.

But the only time that seems too short

Is the time that we get to play ...

Some of us will see some of you next month in Kansas City. Peace.

- RJL

(Photo of Sarah Timmons by Kevin Powell.)

Purple on the Podium!

Yep, that's a fencer in a DMFC jacket, accepting a medal at a NAC for the first time ever. Jim Musgrave took third place in the Division II Men's Epee competition at the North American Cup in Des Moines today! Jim did the home team proud. He becomes the first member of our club to medal at a NAC. Way to go, Jim!

Preston Kirkpatrick cracked the top 16 in Division III Men's Sabre as well, so today was a good day, results-wise, for DMFC.

The fourth and final day of competition, tomorrow, will feature Jim once again, this time in Division II Men's Foil. Five of his teammates will also participate in various events.

Some photos from the NAC are available on our photo site. Enjoy! We hope to post more in the next day or so.

- RJL

Day Two an artistic success

We heard good things from our guests around the continent yesterday, as Day Two of the North American Cup A wrapped up. Our six fencers (three in their first NAC) handled themselves well. One fencer, a veteran of the youth circuit but fencing in a senior-level event for the first time, won her first bout! That was wonderful to see. Four of our more experienced fencers take the strip today for Day Three, and hoping one of them will crack the ceiling and win at least one direct elimination bout.

Words cannot express our gratitude to the dozens of volunteers who have chipped in to make this event run smoothly and brilliantly! DMFC is a wonderful club, and our friends and family members have done a wonderful job.

The Des Moines Register printed two photos in its Saturday edition, and featured additional photos in an online gallery (follow this link to view).

Children of the Corn?

It was inevitable that one of the T-shirt designs for the North America Cup tournament in Des Moines would feature a sketch of a fencer in a cornfield. But then, what are the other choices? Des Moines is known for agriculture, insurance and state government. I suppose it could have featured a fencer slashing through stacks of insurance claim forms... Actually, it's a very nice design, and I'll certainly be wearing one soon.

Day One of the NAC today featured three men's events (Div II sabre, Div III foil and Cadet men's epee) and one women's event (Div II epee). DMFC's army of volunteers helped the USFA keep everything running smoothly, and we heard favorable comments about Hy-Vee Hall and downtown Des Moines in general. Two of our fencers participated in their first NAC today, and though both exited after their first direct elimination bout, they both handled themselves well.

Tomorrow, six DMFC fencers take the strip, in all three weapons. One will fence not only her first NAC, but her first senior-level tournament (though she's a three-year veteran of the youth circuit). Kicking it all off will be the mother of two DMFC fencers, who will perform the National Anthem.

More soon! -- RJL

Fence for Life program

Yesterday, I wrote here how Steve and I helped the USFA hold its first Fence for Life program, demonstrating fencing for 250 young people from the Boys and Girls Club. Read the full story as it appears on the USFA website, and see photos from the event.

On the eve of the NAC

For the first time ever, a North America Cup tournament is taking place in Des Moines. About twenty DMFC members spent the afternoon helping set up the venue for what promises to be a lively little shindig. Eleven of our members will be among the 900-plus athletes converging on Hy-Vee Hall, downtown, for four days of fencing.

Two years ago, when Scott of the Convention and Visitors Bureau first approached Steve with the idea of hosting a NAC, it was at once a thrilling and frightening prospect. We liked the idea of not having to drive twelve hours to get to a NAC, but we wondered whether we were capable of sustaining the effort of hosting such an event. Right now, it's hard to believe that the big day is almost upon us!

Steve and I also had the opportunity to demonstrate fencing today to a group of over 150 children at the Boys and Girls Club in Des Moines. I wish I'd had the sense to get a picture, but I didn't. It was a fun experience. Steve and I bouted foil, epee and sabre in succession; oddly, though we didn't keep score, I think I outpointed him in epee while he trounced me in sabre. The kids seemed to get into it, and were full of questions after the demonstration. It was a delight!

Tomorrow, four DMFC fencers will take the strip: two in Division II women's epee, and two in Division II men's sabre. Also in the works are Cadet men's epee and Division III men's foil. Stay tuned! -- RJL

World Championships in Antalya, Turkey

The World Championships are in full swing in Antalya, Turkey. Fifteen years ago, when I resumed fencing, World Championships were something that happened far, far away, that we might read about months after the fact in American Fencing, and then only to the extent that we'd hear how the Americans did. If we wanted to know anything about the fencers from other lands, or see how the bouts were fenced, we had to know someone who was there and hope they'd gotten some decent videotape.

Now, thanks to the internet, we can follow Worlds almost as soon as they happen! We know NOW that Mariel Zagunis is the world women's sabre champ! We know that Kurt Getz finished sixth in men's foil. We know that Italy's fantastic female foilist, Valentina Vezzali, was defeated in the round of eight by fellow Italian Elisa Di Francisca, and that the score was 15-10. The video isn't available online as I write this, but it probably will be soon.

For those wishing to keep track, check these out:

* Universal Sports is covering Worlds, with video and standings as soon as they are available.

* Tim Morehouse's Blog. Morehouse is one of four Americans in the tableau de 64 in men's sabre, set to start just hours from now as I write this. He is posting updates as often as he can given the limitations imposed on internet access in Turkey. The updates are personal and entertaining.

* Official sites: The official Antalya site has an English version, and the FIE site has live results in French.

Gotta love it. Go USA! -- RJL

Max's Maxims

Maxine Mitchell (1917-1991) was one of the top U.S. foilists in the 1950s: four-time women's foil national champion and three-time Olympian. Mary Huddleston, interviewing Mitchell many years ago, collected these thoughts from the champ.

MAX'S MAXIMS
* If you are winning, don't change your tactics.
* If you are losing ask yourself "WHY am I getting hit?"
* Each motion should have a purpose. Your feint must get a reaction from your opponent.
* If you want your opponent to attack, you don' t have to back up.
* Fence different opponents in different ways.
* Don't use the same tactics for everyone.
* To get something from fencing, you have to give something to it in terms of hard work.
* You meet many nice people and make many friends, BUT, just remember that fencing isn't everything!

Updated Calendar and "Built to Fence"

Hi, everyone. Two things:

* Today's art was provided by young fencing fan Zack Qureshi. Enjoy!

* Below, I updated the post "Gearing up for 2009-10 Season" with current links to tournament signup pages on AskFRED.net. You'll note that the Fall Fencing Fest, one of our annual DMFC tournaments, is not on the list; we decided that with a NAC and an RYC in town in October, we'd be better off gearing up for those. There are two earlier opportunities to fence: the Hawkeye Open in Iowa City on September 26, and the HFA Open in Kansas City on October 3-4. We'll see you at those events!

- RJL

UPDATED 8 September: Gearing Up for 2009-10 Season

The dust has barely settled from Nationals, yet it's time to start preparing for the 2009-10 season. Register now via AskFRED for upcoming local and regional tournaments. Iowa Division fencers also have two North America Cup events nearby: October 9-12 in Des Moines, and November 6-9 in Kansas City.
Some dates to watch. (Links are provided to registration pages, where known):

• Monday, September 14: DMFC fall session begins.
• Saturday, September 26: Hawkeye Open, Iowa City IA
• October 3-4: HFA Fall Open, Kansas City. A Heartland Circuit event, which will include Y10 and Y12 foil and sabre (woo hoo!).
• October 9-12: NAC A (DVII, DVIII, Cadet). Des Moines, IA. Register by August 24.
• October 17-18: Remenyik Open, Evanston IL. A Regional Open Circuit event.
• Saturday, October 24: Crossroads Youth Classic, Clive IA.
• Saturday, October 31: ISU Cantaloupe Open, Ames IA.
  
• November 6-9: NAC B (Junior, Cadet, Y14). Kansas City. Register by September 7.
• November 14-15: Sioux City Challenge, Sioux City IA. A Heartland Circuit event.
• November 15: Athos Youth Tournament 2009, Minneapolis MN.
• November 22: Turkey Meet, Waukesha WI. A Heartland Circuit event.

Cityview features DMFC

We had a visit from Cityview reporter Matt Miller last week, and his article is online here (at least for this week):

http://www.dmcityview.com/locker.shtml

Keep an eye out for the print copy, which ought to be available in the Des Moines metro area tomorrow.

- RJL

Cautionary Tales and Optimistic Forecasts

At last, I'm home and can post again. My hotel's internet connection was out for the past four days (even the lobby PC couldn't connect after a while), so I haven't been able to post updates. However, to summarize:

* Bethany Dorin's 28th place finish (out of 133) in Division II women's foil was the high-water mark for DMFC at Summer Nationals. (For full results, go to the USFA results pages.) Bethany fenced well and, in her quiet and patient way, got it done!

* Allison made the cut in her second event, fencing better in Division II women's sabre than she did in Division III, and earning 48th place. The difference was experience and energy. (Congratulations, by the way, to Rachel Arkebauer, one of our friends at the Lincoln [NE] Fencing Club, who took the gold medal in the Div II women's sabre event.)

* Sarah Timmons, an alumnus of DMFC now fencing for Iowa State, took 39th (out of 113th) in Division II women's epee in her first National event. Way to go, Sarah!

* I missed the cut for direct elimination this year (in Vet-40 men's sabre) by one touch. Had I scored one more touch, in any of my bouts -- had I lost one bout by 5-2 instead of 5-1, for instance -- I would have made the cut. (Even better would have been to get that one more touch in one of the two bouts I lost 5-4, of course.)
As a fencer, I'm disappointed, but as a coach I'm delighted to serve as a cautionary tale for my students: in pools, every touch matters!

* One of the high points for me was my conversation with Maestro Dan DeChaine, one of the world's top armorers, who entertained me for over three hours with stories and perspectives from his career in fencing. That conversation deserves a separate post, so (pending his approval), I'll share that here in the near future.

I'm exhausted, but delighted and optimistic about DMFC's future on the national scene. Respect is earned in fencing. Our fencers earned a measure of respect from competitors this year, and can build on that during the upcoming season. More importantly, I think all of us from DMFC -- fencers, coaches and parents alike -- developed a higher level of respect and appreciation for the sport of fencing in the United States: for the talent and dedication needed to compete at the national level, and for the richness of the fencing experience.

- RJL

Five Fencers in Three Events in One Day

The internet connection in my hotel room is dead, so I'm using the lobby computer. So, my time is limited and I can't postany photos. However, I can say that we had a big day today. Allison and Nile made their national tournament debuts; Allison fenced Div III women's sabre, while Nile teamed with me and Preston in the Men's Sabre Team event. Also, Bethany fenced in Div II women's foil.

Our men's sabre team lost its only match today, but we made them earn every touch. After a bystander predicted that this New York team would beat us 45-0, Preston and Nile staked us to a 10-5 lead. The other team came back to defeat us 45-28, but they won't forget us any time soon! Hee hee hee. Bethany made the round of 32 (out of 130+ competitors). Allison didn't make the cut in her event, but gets another chance on Sunday.

Tomorrow (Friday the 10th), Preston takes the strip for Div III men's sabre. If he is switched on the way he was today during the team event, he'll be unstoppable.

It's so great to be able to share the Nationals experience with other DMFC members and families.

- RJL

Reid on the Big Stage / Fencing Hall of Fame

July 6 was a big day for us at the Summer National Championships here in Grapevine, Texas. So much has happened. I'll make it brief; post a comment if you want more detail.

* Reid Wade represented Iowa and DMFC in Y12 men's sabre. It was his first time at this level, and he fenced well and held his own. He insisted on practicing on the metal strips the day before, so we suited up and did a lesson, and he could get used to the different footing. I was impressed by his initiative.
His best bout of the day was his direct elimination bout. His pool bouts were solid, but not great results-wise, and apparently the other fencer's coach thought his fencer would have no trouble. So the coach (a well-known sabre fencer in his own right) went to coach another fencer. Reid won the first bout in the best-two-out-of-three format, and someone from the other fencer's club lost no time in getting his coach to the strip! With both of us coaches standing next to each other yelling and cheering our guys on, the second bout went to the other fencer, 5-3, and the last bout (if memory serves) went to la belle before the other fencer won. I have it on videotape and will check. Anyway, Reid lived up to his "Cardiac Kid" nickname, never giving up, fencing one touch at a time, and handling himself like a pro.

* We stayed to watch Division I men's sabre final (Cheney defeated Homer) and the Y12 men's sabre final. Quite frankly, the Y12 final was more fun to watch. It featured Calvin Liang of San Diego division versus Jonah Sheinberg of West-Rock division. Both fencers were universally described as great kids by everyone I spoke to, both were gracious in victory and defeat, and both fenced with joy and passion. It was an honor and a delight to watch that final.

* After calming down, we attended the USFA Hall of Fame Reception in the evening. Five new members were inducted. The highlight for me was the photo display created by Andy Shaw, whose Museum of American Fencing is an amazing thing. Two-time Olympic medallist Sada Jacobson spoke to the audience about two of her coaches who were being inducted, and we gained new appreciation for the richness of fencing history in this country. There's a tendency to think that US fencing history begins with our recent successes at the World and Olympic level over the past decade, but of course the roots of that success are deep.

A big day! I was delighted to experience it with Reid and Steve, as I was delighted to experience the events of the 4th with the Fitzpatricks. So proud of Jack and Reid, I could burst.

No DMFC fencers are on the strip today. I'm going to rest up in anticipation of the next three days. More to come...

Foil, Fitz and Fireworks on the 4th

Jack Fitzpatrick got us started off at Summer Nationals today, fencing in Y12 men's foil. For his first Nationals, Jack fenced well and held his own. As soon as I can get the good pictures and video sorted out from the bad ones, I'll try to post some here.

The venue here in Grapevine is huge. 62 strips are set up, and with almost 190 fencers in Y12 MF, plus the Y12 women's foil, Y14 men's sabre and junior team foil, plus many others, all 62 stips were BUSY! It's the biggest fencing tournament in the world, they say, and I believe it.

More to come ... RJL

Another Nationals qualifer -- but not in the US

We learned this week that another DMFC member has qualified for Nationals -- in Venezuela! Anson Tonelli, a DMFC member who is with his family in Merida this year, qualified for the 12-14 age group event (called "Infantil B"). I think that makes Anson the second DMFC fencer to have success overseas (Jennifer Semon fenced in college while at Cambridge).

We're delighted over here. Congratulations, Anson! Can't wait to hear about it when you return.

More than just our seven at Nationals

In addition to the seven Des Moines Fencing Club fencers participating in Nationals next week, at least two DMFC alumni will also be there. Yuly Suvorov (Division 1A men's epee) and Sarah Timmons (Division II and III women's epee) represent the Iowa State University Fencing Club, and we knew 'em back when!

A recent USFA email reports 6,325 registrations for fencers at this year's Nationals. I don't know how many people are fencing more than one event, but my guess is that between 3,500 and 4,000 individual fencers are participating. Our guy Jack is in the second-largest single event; Y12 (age 12 and under) men's foil has 190 fencers registered. Seven days from now, that event takes the strip. If I can manage an internet connection, I'll write it up here.

- RJL

One week before Nationals, DMFC fencers are on FIRE!

We have one week of practice left, and our doughty competitors looked pretty sharp last night. I'm probably most excited about watching our 12-and-under fencers in their first national competition. Jack kicks us off on the 4th in Y12 men's foil and Reid goes two days later in Y12 men's sabre.

We had a discussion the other night about preparing for a major tournament like this. Fencing on a metal strip in a huge convention hall while sixty other bouts are going on around you can be intimidating first time out. It can also be an exhilarating and educational experience. Last year when Preston and I went, we kept saying how much we'd love to be able to share the experience with folks back at the club. This year we'll have five people experiencing a national tournament for the first time (one has been to a NAC, which helps).

I can't shut up about it. I'll try to post updates here if I can. We will also bring back pictures and video.

The Fencer's Library

During lessons the other night, we got to talking about the fencing books everyone ought to read. Fencing doesn't produce the athlete biographies or sport histories you find on the bookshelves for other sports; most fencing books are about how to fence, or how to coach. Here are several, though, which deal with the history of the sport and the characters who inhabit it.

Any to add?

* By the Sword, Richard Cohen. A good introduction to fencing history, though limited in some respects. Excellent portraits of Helene Meyer, Jerzy Pawlowski and other notable fencers of the twentieth century.

* The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts, J. Christopher Amberger. Excellent research into the history of the sport. Amberger debunks a number of myths about fencing history, and tells an intriguing tale about participating in a mensur.

* Harnessing Anger, Peter Westbrook and Tej Hazarika. Autobiography of the six-time Olympian and thirteen-time U.S. national champion.

Press release: Seven Des Moines Fencers to Nationals

A club-record seven members of the Des Moines Fencing Club will compete in the U.S. National Championships Fencing Tournament, to be held in Dallas, Texas, July 3-12, 2009.

All fencers qualified through tournaments held earlier in the season. Leading the charge will be Heartland Circuit champions Preston Kirkpatrick and Bethany Dorin. Kirkpatrick, of Des Moines, will compete in Division II men's sabre on July 8 and and Division III men's sabre on July 10. Dorin, of Pleasant Hill, will compete in Division II women's foil on July 9.

Also representing DMFC:

• Jack Fitzpatrick of Des Moines, 12-and-under men's foil, July 4;
• Reid Wade of Des Moines, 12-and-under men's sabre, July 6;
• Allison Crawford of Granger, Division III women's sabre, July 9, and Division II women's sabre, July 12;
• R. J. Lesch of Adel, veteran's men's sabre, July 12;
• Nile Engelhardt of Waukee, who will join Kirkpatrick and Lesch in the men's sabre team event, July 9.