The below is from a email which President and Head Coach Steve Behrends sent to the Des Moines Fencing CLub's membership. It explains the location and restrictions on our new facility in the Jazzercise studio in Normandy Plaza.
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Greetings, DMFC members! I'm happy to announce that we have a new practice facility! We will be joining the Jazzercise group in their facility starting on Monday night (5/23). All classes will move to this facility but keep the same times.
The facility is located in Normandy Plaza in West Des Moines, on the corner of E.P. True and Grand. The address is:
1978 Grand Ave, #47
West Des Moines, IA 50265
... The room is just to the left of the Goodwill store.
A few things to make note of:
1) We cannot be in the building before 6:50. If you arrive before then, please wait outside until the class in progress is finished
2) There is no water fountain in the room. Please feel free to bring your own sports bottles.
3) There is plenty of parking in front of the building as well as behind. The door in the rear has a sign for Jazzercise on it.
That's it for now. There will be more as we get into the space and settled in.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Getting the Most Out of Your Open Bouting
Many fencers show up for open bouting nights, spend some time socializing, perhaps warm up lightly, then hook up to the strip and begin fencing whomever shows up. There is no real plan or method to their open bouting nights. They simply fence for fun and recreation. Although this type of bouting is fun and laid back (and has its place as we will see later), it does relatively little for a fencer's development and training when compared with a planned, and guided night of bouting practice. By planning and giving direction to their bouting nights a fencer can make sure they get the most personal development from the one to three hours they spend during a night of open bouting. Planned, specific, and disciplined practice during open bouting should improve fencing, and tournament results when compared the listless repeated fencing of recreational bouts.
Open bouting nights offer significantly less structure and guidance than a class or personal lesson with a coach. However, as they are the closest representation to competitive fencing one can get during regular practice, they are indispensable tools for improving one’s fencing. There are four types of bouts which a fencer should consider and specifically plan for during a night of open bouting. These are the Technical Bout, the Situational Bout, the Sharp Bout, and the Lax Bout. Each is important and the fencer should alter the ratio of these four types of bout as they move through the training cycle and approach high points in their competitive season. The fencer should try to figure out how many bouts they expect to fence during a night of practice and plan accordingly. The fencer should never get on the strip without knowing specifically what type of bout they are about to fence. This article will assume that a fencer fences 5-8 bouts in a night of practice, and has one “Important” competition at the end of each month. Obviously this will change and vary but it will give an idea of how to plan practices throughout the month and season.
The Technical Bout: During practice this should be the most common type of bout a fencer fences. In the technical bout the fencer is attempting to perform to perfection a very specific technique, or tactical option. This might be something like “Direct simple attack to high inside” or “Circle six beat, deceive one-two, hit high inside” or “Parry, riposte with advance-lunge”. It might also be described in more abstract tactical terms, e.g. “Hit in counter time”, “Avoid being hit by riposte to high outside”, etc. In a technical bout the score is completely irrelevant. The fencer must judge subjectively whether the bout was successful for them or not based on the action they are attempting to perform. During the technical bout the fencer should be attempting to set up the action so that it can succeed, search for correct timing and distance in a dynamic bouting situation, and perform the specific action with perfect surgical precision. These should be the only focus of this type of bout.
Because the opponent will eventually “get wise” to the action the fencer is attempting to perform it is necessary to mix in the chosen action with other tactical and technical options. This being said, the fencer in this bout should always return and attempt to set up and perform the chosen action. For example, if your goal is to perform “lateral four parry, direct simple riposte, high inside” you may score touches as a result of an attack, or a circle six parry, etc. However, if your goal is to “score four touches with the chosen action”, even if you win 5-0 but only pull of the chosen action correctly twice in those five touches, your bout was unsuccessful. Conversely, if you are attempting a complex, new, or difficult action your goal may be to pull of the chosen action only once. In this case even if you lose the bout 1-5 but pull of the action correctly that one time the bout was a success.
Technical bouts should be the focus of most practices. The fencer should always know exactly what action they are going to attempt, and know how many times they plan to pull it off during the bout when they step on the strip. These are variable based on the opponent, and the difficulty of the action. You may want to talk with the director of your bout to help keep you honest and hold you to your goals. This type of bout should be heaviest early in the month, especially with difficult actions. However, they should account for about half or more of your bouts in the evening regardless of the time during the season. Technical bouts for hard actions go at the beginning of the month and taper off as the competition approaches. Easier actions increase as the competition gets closer. Be aware of whether or not your opponent can handle the action you have chosen. If you are working on “second intention, feint-in-time, transfer seven, cede to prime hit” make sure your opponent can manage it.
The Situational Bout: This type of bout simulates external conditions to the fencer and teaches how to cope with the varying situations a fencer may encounter in a bout. This type of bout may take some agreement and discussion with the opponent beforehand. Playing out one fencer’s preferred situation and then the others may be a good way to compromise. These bouts help the fencer cope with and stay relaxed as the bout situation changes. Things you might simulate include, “One fencer starts three points ahead”, or “This fencer uses point-line and strong beats”, or “it is priority and the other fencer has right of way.” There are as many situations as there are bouts and every one of them is different. These bouts isolate specific sections of a competition and help the fencer practice for various contingencies.
Again these bouts take specific planning ahead of time. You opponent may not agree to play out your scenario. Again, the score of the bout may not be important. Perhaps the goal of the bout is to run out the clock, or maintain a lead of at least two points for the entire bout. These types of bouts can be used when the opponent is doing a technical bout. If you are especially bad at dealing with “feint-deceive” then doing a situational bout against someone practicing and simulating a fencer who loves to use this action will benefit both of you. Again work with your director to keep you honest and know what you are trying to achieve before you salute. These bouts are excellent at the beginning of the month right after a tournament where you fell prey to a bad situation, and at the end of the month where you know you will be fencing a specific hard opponent, or will be in a difficult situation. During these high points try for two to three situational bouts a night, and maybe one or two during a lull.
The Sharp Bout: Sharp bouts are where the rubber hits the road. These bouts are perfect simulations of pool or D.E. bouts and can be fenced against anyone. The object of a sharp bout is to win by the highest margin possible, in the least amount of time required to pull it off successfully. This does not mean rush the bout. However, you are attempting to win the bout 5-0 if possible. You must pay attention to your indicators and overall performance. If you find an action which is working keep doing it. If your opponent is powerless to stop you, keep going. If they are superior to you do everything to can to keep your score as high as possible and theirs as low as possible, even if you lose the bout. Practice sharp bouts against as wide a variety of opponents as possible. Fence sharp bouts with both superior and inferior opponents.
Sharp bouts should not be the main focus of your training. Fence at most one or two most nights. Two weeks before a tournament you should increase their ratio and fence several more if possible, but give yourself time to recover the week before the tournament.
The Lax Bout: If a fencer does not plan, or think about their training most of the bouts they fence at open practice are Lax bouts. A Lax bout is a laid back, slow paced bout which is fenced for fun and recreation. This type of bout makes a good warm up, or cool down and can be a well earned reward after a hard night of technical, sharp, and situational bouts. Lax bouts are about fun and keeping you fresh and excited about fencing. If all of fencing were a hard grind in practice fencers would quickly burn out. The score of these bouts is not important, though you should try and win if you can. You are not trying to do anything specific here, though you should focus on simple clean actions which let you practice your basics. Save the hard material for technical bouts.
Give yourself one or two lax bouts per night at most. The week before a tournament fence some technical bouts working on a basic action, some situational bouts if your know what to expect at the competition, and a few lax bouts. Lax bouts are to remind you why you enjoy and do the sport. They let your mind and body relax and so make good cool down bouts.
The key with Lax bouts is to name them as such and not let them take over your training. Know in advance how many you are going to fence and the rest should be a mix of technical, situational and sharp bouts.
Other Tips: In addition to planning your open bouting and using and naming the goals, types, and success conditions for each bout you fence you can also get the most out of your time by arriving early and warming up properly ahead of time. Socialize before practice starts and focus on your training during. Remember you are there to improve to the level you want to achieve. Use your time well and plan in advance. Know what you are going to do every time you get on the strip.
Alex Harms, Moniteur d’Armes
Fencing Coach
Des Moines Fencing Club
Open bouting nights offer significantly less structure and guidance than a class or personal lesson with a coach. However, as they are the closest representation to competitive fencing one can get during regular practice, they are indispensable tools for improving one’s fencing. There are four types of bouts which a fencer should consider and specifically plan for during a night of open bouting. These are the Technical Bout, the Situational Bout, the Sharp Bout, and the Lax Bout. Each is important and the fencer should alter the ratio of these four types of bout as they move through the training cycle and approach high points in their competitive season. The fencer should try to figure out how many bouts they expect to fence during a night of practice and plan accordingly. The fencer should never get on the strip without knowing specifically what type of bout they are about to fence. This article will assume that a fencer fences 5-8 bouts in a night of practice, and has one “Important” competition at the end of each month. Obviously this will change and vary but it will give an idea of how to plan practices throughout the month and season.
The Technical Bout: During practice this should be the most common type of bout a fencer fences. In the technical bout the fencer is attempting to perform to perfection a very specific technique, or tactical option. This might be something like “Direct simple attack to high inside” or “Circle six beat, deceive one-two, hit high inside” or “Parry, riposte with advance-lunge”. It might also be described in more abstract tactical terms, e.g. “Hit in counter time”, “Avoid being hit by riposte to high outside”, etc. In a technical bout the score is completely irrelevant. The fencer must judge subjectively whether the bout was successful for them or not based on the action they are attempting to perform. During the technical bout the fencer should be attempting to set up the action so that it can succeed, search for correct timing and distance in a dynamic bouting situation, and perform the specific action with perfect surgical precision. These should be the only focus of this type of bout.
Because the opponent will eventually “get wise” to the action the fencer is attempting to perform it is necessary to mix in the chosen action with other tactical and technical options. This being said, the fencer in this bout should always return and attempt to set up and perform the chosen action. For example, if your goal is to perform “lateral four parry, direct simple riposte, high inside” you may score touches as a result of an attack, or a circle six parry, etc. However, if your goal is to “score four touches with the chosen action”, even if you win 5-0 but only pull of the chosen action correctly twice in those five touches, your bout was unsuccessful. Conversely, if you are attempting a complex, new, or difficult action your goal may be to pull of the chosen action only once. In this case even if you lose the bout 1-5 but pull of the action correctly that one time the bout was a success.
Technical bouts should be the focus of most practices. The fencer should always know exactly what action they are going to attempt, and know how many times they plan to pull it off during the bout when they step on the strip. These are variable based on the opponent, and the difficulty of the action. You may want to talk with the director of your bout to help keep you honest and hold you to your goals. This type of bout should be heaviest early in the month, especially with difficult actions. However, they should account for about half or more of your bouts in the evening regardless of the time during the season. Technical bouts for hard actions go at the beginning of the month and taper off as the competition approaches. Easier actions increase as the competition gets closer. Be aware of whether or not your opponent can handle the action you have chosen. If you are working on “second intention, feint-in-time, transfer seven, cede to prime hit” make sure your opponent can manage it.
The Situational Bout: This type of bout simulates external conditions to the fencer and teaches how to cope with the varying situations a fencer may encounter in a bout. This type of bout may take some agreement and discussion with the opponent beforehand. Playing out one fencer’s preferred situation and then the others may be a good way to compromise. These bouts help the fencer cope with and stay relaxed as the bout situation changes. Things you might simulate include, “One fencer starts three points ahead”, or “This fencer uses point-line and strong beats”, or “it is priority and the other fencer has right of way.” There are as many situations as there are bouts and every one of them is different. These bouts isolate specific sections of a competition and help the fencer practice for various contingencies.
Again these bouts take specific planning ahead of time. You opponent may not agree to play out your scenario. Again, the score of the bout may not be important. Perhaps the goal of the bout is to run out the clock, or maintain a lead of at least two points for the entire bout. These types of bouts can be used when the opponent is doing a technical bout. If you are especially bad at dealing with “feint-deceive” then doing a situational bout against someone practicing and simulating a fencer who loves to use this action will benefit both of you. Again work with your director to keep you honest and know what you are trying to achieve before you salute. These bouts are excellent at the beginning of the month right after a tournament where you fell prey to a bad situation, and at the end of the month where you know you will be fencing a specific hard opponent, or will be in a difficult situation. During these high points try for two to three situational bouts a night, and maybe one or two during a lull.
The Sharp Bout: Sharp bouts are where the rubber hits the road. These bouts are perfect simulations of pool or D.E. bouts and can be fenced against anyone. The object of a sharp bout is to win by the highest margin possible, in the least amount of time required to pull it off successfully. This does not mean rush the bout. However, you are attempting to win the bout 5-0 if possible. You must pay attention to your indicators and overall performance. If you find an action which is working keep doing it. If your opponent is powerless to stop you, keep going. If they are superior to you do everything to can to keep your score as high as possible and theirs as low as possible, even if you lose the bout. Practice sharp bouts against as wide a variety of opponents as possible. Fence sharp bouts with both superior and inferior opponents.
Sharp bouts should not be the main focus of your training. Fence at most one or two most nights. Two weeks before a tournament you should increase their ratio and fence several more if possible, but give yourself time to recover the week before the tournament.
The Lax Bout: If a fencer does not plan, or think about their training most of the bouts they fence at open practice are Lax bouts. A Lax bout is a laid back, slow paced bout which is fenced for fun and recreation. This type of bout makes a good warm up, or cool down and can be a well earned reward after a hard night of technical, sharp, and situational bouts. Lax bouts are about fun and keeping you fresh and excited about fencing. If all of fencing were a hard grind in practice fencers would quickly burn out. The score of these bouts is not important, though you should try and win if you can. You are not trying to do anything specific here, though you should focus on simple clean actions which let you practice your basics. Save the hard material for technical bouts.
Give yourself one or two lax bouts per night at most. The week before a tournament fence some technical bouts working on a basic action, some situational bouts if your know what to expect at the competition, and a few lax bouts. Lax bouts are to remind you why you enjoy and do the sport. They let your mind and body relax and so make good cool down bouts.
The key with Lax bouts is to name them as such and not let them take over your training. Know in advance how many you are going to fence and the rest should be a mix of technical, situational and sharp bouts.
Other Tips: In addition to planning your open bouting and using and naming the goals, types, and success conditions for each bout you fence you can also get the most out of your time by arriving early and warming up properly ahead of time. Socialize before practice starts and focus on your training during. Remember you are there to improve to the level you want to achieve. Use your time well and plan in advance. Know what you are going to do every time you get on the strip.
Alex Harms, Moniteur d’Armes
Fencing Coach
Des Moines Fencing Club
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