Introductory Fencing Class Syllabus As developed for basic training in rapier combat In the Barony of Carolingia In the Kingdom of the East
Considerations:
We have created a program of similar length and focus to the pervious syllabus (8 weeks), but with a different structure. The emphasis on this program is on drilling and practicing basic techniques as well as introducing the students to bouting at an earlier stage. Each week is designed to practice and integrate the skills learned thus far and then introduce a new skill to practice. A short warm-down lecture is included to provide a guided discussion of the EK rapier rules and the SCA at large. Warm-down stretching may be included as well.
Classes will be conducted for approximately 2 and one-half hours between stretching and warm down lecture, which should be limited to 15 minutes or less. Warm down stretches may be included if desired.
Students will be introduced to schlager type weapons earlier on as a common blade in the SCA.
All participants will sign in and sign a waiver prior to beginning that week’s class.
Remember to have frequent rest and hydration breaks.
Notes:
Warm up: Every week – running 2-3 laps around the gym
Stretching will be lead by the instructor
Footwork and drills led either by an instructor
Drills are represented as follows: The Attacker is in Bold The Defender is in plain text
When introducing a new element: 1. Explain and demonstrate 2. Have the students attempt the element with supervision 3. Review and correct if necessary 4. Perform basic drills, highlighting the new element 5. Gradually increase complexity of the drills in subsequent weeks, once the students have mastered the lesson
Patterned footwork is a series of actions, presented by the instructor that the student should repeat for a distance, and then return to their starting position with their stance reversed. An example of this type of pattern is Advance – Advance – Lunge – Recover – Retreat.
PUT IN 10 minutes of armour up time each class ****
Stretching
Run 2-3 laps around the gym with the following commands: Up – jump up Down – touch the floor Backwards – run backwards continuing in the direction of motion Forwards – resume running forward
Shoulder Stretch
• Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent • Place your right arm, parallel with the ground across the front of your chest • Bend the left arm up and use the left forearm to ease the right arm closer to you chest • You will feel the stretch in the shoulder • Repeat with the other arm
Shoulder and Triceps Stretch • Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent • Place each hand above your head and then slide both of your hands down the middle of your spine • You will feel the stretch in the shoulders and the triceps
Side Bends • Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands resting on the hips • Bend slowly to one side, come back to the vertical position and then bend to the other side • Do not lean forwards or backwards
Quadriceps Stretch • Stand a little a way from wall and place left hand on wall for support • Standing straight, grasp top of left foot with right hand • Pull heel toward buttock • hold 10 to 20 sec • Repeat on other side
Thigh Stretch • Stand tall and cross one leg in front of the other, keeping the feet close together and the knees bent slightly • Reach down and try to touch you toes
Lunge stretch • Lunge and hold position
Groin (Butterfly) Stretch • Sit with tall posture • Ease both of your feet up towards your body and place the soles of your feet together, allowing your knees to come up and out to the side • Resting your hands on your lower legs or ankles and ease both knees towards the ground
Ilio-Tibial Band Stretch • Sitting tall with legs stretched out in front of you • Bend the right knee and place the right foot on the ground to the left side of the left knee • Turn your shoulders so that you are facing to the right • Using your left arm against your right knee to help ease you further round • Use your right arm on the floor for support • You will feel the stretch along the length of the spine and in the muscles around the right hip
Stretches side of hip, hamstrings • Sit on floor with right leg straight out in front • Bend left leg, cross left foot over, place outside right knee • Pull left knee across body toward opposite shoulder • Hold 10 to 20 seconds • Repeat on other side • Breathe easily
Stretches back of leg and lower back • Sit on floor, legs straight out at sides • Bend left leg in at knee • Slowly bend forward from hips toward foot of straight leg until you feel slight stretch • Do not dip head forward at start of stretch • Hold this developmental stretch 10 to 20 seconds • Repeat on other side • Foot of straight leg upright, ankles and toes relaxed • Use a towel if you cannot easily reach your feet
Week 1: Basics (2:25)
1. Introduction of instructors (5) 2. Run (5) 3. Stretch (10) 4. Explain “Hold” (5) 5. For both Right and Left stances 5.1. The On Guard stances (5) 5.1.1. 90 degree angle of feet 5.1.2. Shoulder width apart 5.1.3. Hands on hips to isolate top and bottom 5.1.4. Lift toes to check balance 5.2. The Advance (5) 5.3. The Retreat (5) 5.4. The Lunge (10) 5.5. The Crossover Advance and Retreat (5) 6. Called Footwork Drills (Right and Left stances) 6.1. Advances & Retreats (5) 6.2. Cross Over Advances & Retreats (5) 6.3. Lunges (5) 6.4. All Advances, Retreats and Lunges(5) 7. The Blade 7.1. Anatomy of the blade (5) 7.2. How to hold a French grip (10) 7.2.1. Pinch the blade between your pointer finger and thumb on the wider side with it bending in towards your palm. 7.2.2. Rest your three other fingers on the grip 7.3. On Guard stances with the blade (5) 7.3.1. Position the elbow holding the blade one fist’s distance from your body 7.3.2. Put the pommel over your wrist 7.3.3. Make a straight line from the opponents eyes through the tip of the blade through your wrist and elbow 7.4. Footwork with the blade (5) 7.5. Hit the wall at extensions and lunges (5) 8. The Armor 8.1. Put on Armor (15) 8.2. Do armed footwork (with blades) All Advances & Retreats (5) 8.3. Calibration explained (5) 8.4. Hit the marshals (5) 8.5. Get hit by the marshals (5)
1. Run (5) 2. Stretch (10) 3. Review 3.1. Called Footwork with blade (15) 3.1.1. Left and Right Stances 3.1.2. Advance 3.1.3. Retreat 3.1.4. Crossovers 3.1.5. Lunges 3.1.6. Extensions 4. Distance without Blade (15) 4.1. Partner Drill Follow the Leader 4.1.1. Each person leads for 1 minute then switch partners 5. Upper Parries (25) 5.1. Demo / explanation of the nine parries 5.2. Parry 4 (Praying on the T) 5.3. Parry 6 (Reading on the T) 5.4. Drill Attack 4/Parry 4 5.5. Drill Attack 6/Parry 6 5.6. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Parry 4/Retreat 5.7. Drill Extend 6/Advance 6/Parry 6/Retreat 6. Ripostes (15) 6.1. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Parry 4/Riposte 4/Retreat 6.2. Drill Extend 6/Advance/Parry 6/Riposte 6/Retreat 7. Cuts (10) 7.1. Explain Tip, Draw, Push 7.2. Drill Tip 7.3. Drill Draw 7.4. Drill Push 8. Explain Calling Blows (25) 8.1. Disable 8.1.1. Arm Thrust or Two Cuts 8.1.2. Hand Thrust or Two Cuts 8.1.3. Leg Thrust or Two Cuts 8.1.4. Foot Thrust or Two Cuts 8.2. Death 8.2.1. Head Thrust or Two Cuts 8.2.2. Chest Thrust or Two Cuts 8.2.3. Abdomen Thrust or One Cut 8.2.4. Can’t hold a weapon 8.3. Drill Hit by a Marshal and they call all hits 8.4. Drill Hit the Marshal and hear the hits called
Week 3: Parries, Parries, Parries (and more Parries) (2:20)
Week 4: Disengages and Bouting (2:20) 1. Run (5) 2. Stretch (10) 3. Review 3.1. Called Footwork with blade (10) 3.2. Patterned Footwork with blade (10) 3.3. Distance with Blade (15) 3.3.1. Partner Drill Follow the Leader at extension & advance distance. Each person leads for 1 minute then switch partners 3.4. Upper Parries (10) If a parry is missed continue your attack hitting your opponent. 3.4.1. Drill in 4 Extend/Advance/ Parry 4/Retreat 3.4.2. Drill in 6 Extend/Advance/ Parry 6/Retreat 3.5. Lower Parries (10) If a parry is missed continue your attack hitting your opponent. 3.5.1. Review 7 & 8 3.5.2. Drill in 7 Extend/Advance/ Parry 7/Retreat 3.5.3. Drill in 8 Extend/Advance/ Parry 8/Retreat 3.6. Ripostes (10) 3.6.1. Drill in 4 Extend/Advance/Attack 4/Parry 4/Riposte 4/Retreat 3.6.2. Drill in 6 Extend/Advance/Attack 6/Parry 6/Riposte 6/Retreat 3.6.3. Drill in 7 Extend/Advance/Attack 7/Parry 7/Riposte 4/Retreat 3.6.4. Drill in 8 Extend/Advance/Attack 8/Parry 8/Riposte 6/Retreat 4. Disengages (10) 4.1. Use the smallest movements possible such as a small V or circular. 4.1.1. Drill in 4 Extend/Advance/Attack 4/Parry 4/Disengage/Attack 6/Retreat 4.1.2. Drill in 6 Extend/Advance/Attack 6/Parry 6/Disengage/Attack 4/Retreat 5. Bouting (40) 5.1. Marshal supervised bouting between students
Week 5: Creating an Opening using Off-Hand Parries and Bouting (2:25) 1. Run (5) 2. Stretch (10) 3. Review 3.1. Called Footwork with blade (10) 3.2. Patterned Footwork with blade (10) 3.3. Distance with Blade (15) 3.3.1. Partner drill Follow the Leader at lunge distance. Each person leads for 1 minute then switch partners 3.4. Upper Parries (10) 3.4.1. Drill Extend 4 or 6/Advance/Respond with the appropriate Parry/Retreat 3.5. Lower Parries (10) 3.5.1. Review 7 & 8 3.5.2. Drill Extend 7 or 8/Advance/ Respond with the appropriate Parry /Retreat 3.6. Ripostes (10) 3.6.1. Drill Extend 4 or 6 /Advance/Attack 4/ Respond with the appropriate Parry & Riposte /Retreat 3.6.2. Drill Extend 7 or 8 /Advance/Attack 7/ Respond with the appropriate Parry & Riposte /Retreat 3.7. Disengages(10) 3.7.1. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/Parry 4/Disengage/Attack 6/Retreat 3.7.2. Drill Extend 6/Advance/Attack 6/Parry 6/Disengage/Attack 4/Retreat 4. Off-Hand Parries (15) 4.1.1. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/Parry 4/OffHand 4/Riposte 4/Retreat 4.1.2. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/OffHand 4/Riposte 4/Retreat 4.1.3. Reversed Stance 4.1.4. Forward stance, Refused stance. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/OffHand 4/Attack Weapon Arm/Retreat 5. Bouting (30) 5.1. Marshal supervised bouting between students
Week 6: Creating an Opening using Beats and Bouting (2:20) 1. Run (5) 2. Stretch (10) 3. Review 3.1. Called Footwork with blade (10) 3.2. Patterned Footwork with blade (10) 3.3. Distance with Blade (15) 3.3.1. Partner Drill Follow the Leader at any distances. Each person leads for 1 minute then switch partners 3.4. Ripostes (20) 3.4.1. Drill Extend/Advance/Attack/ Respond with the appropriate Parry & Riposte /Retreat 3.5. Disengages (10) 3.5.1. Drill Extend 4 or 6 /Advance/Attack 4 or 6 / Respond with the appropriate Parry /Disengage/Attack on the opposite line/Retreat 3.6. Off-Hand Parries (10) 3.6.1. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/Parry 4/OffHand 4/Riposte 4/Retreat 3.6.2. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/OffHand4/Riposte 4/Retreat 3.6.3. Forward stance, Refused stance. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/OffHand 4/Attack Weapon Arm/Retreat 4. Beats (20) 4.1. Snap wrist and hit opponent’s foible with the forte of your blade. 4.2. Beat 4/ Attack 4 4.3. Beat 6/ Attack 6 4.4. Extend/Beat 4/Extend4/Advance/Attack 4/Retreat 4.5. Extend/Beat 6 /Extend 6/Advance/Attack 6/Retreat 4.6. Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/Beat 4/Attack 4/Retreat 4.7. Extend 6/Advance/Attack 6/Beat 6/Attack 6/Retreat 5. Bouting (30) 5.1. Marshal supervised bouting between students
Week 7: Creating an Opening using Feints and Bouting (2:20) 1. Run (5) 2. Stretch (10) 3. Review 3.1. Called Footwork with blade (10) 3.2. Patterned Footwork with blade (10) 3.3. Distance with Blade (10) 3.3.1. Partner Drill Follow the Leader at any distances. Each person leads for 1 minute then switch partners 3.4. Ripostes (10) 3.4.1. Drill Extend/Advance/Attack/ Respond with the appropriate Parry & Riposte /Retreat 3.5. Disengages (10) 3.5.1. Drill Extend/Advance/Attack/ Respond with the appropriate Parry /Disengage/Attack /Retreat 3.6. Off-Hand Parries (10) 3.6.1. Drill Extend 4 or 6 /Advance/Attack 4 or 6 /Parry 6 or OffHand 4/Riposte appropriately/Retreat 3.6.2. Forward stance, Refused stance. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/OffHand 4/Attack Weapon Arm/Retreat 3.7. Beats (10) 3.7.1. Extend/Beat/Extend/Advance/Attack4/Retreat/Beat/Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4 3.7.2. Extend/Beat/Extend/Advance/Attack6/Retreat/Beat/Extend 6/Advance/Attack 6 4. Feints (15) 4.1. An attack intended to illicit a parry. If they don’t parry continue attack, if they do disengage and attack. 4.2. Feint 4/Start Parry 4/Disengage/Attack 6 4.3. Feint 6/Start Parry 6/Disengage/Attack 4 4.4. Extend/Advance/Feint 4/Either Parry 4 or nothing/Either Disengage & Hit in 6 or Hit 4/Retreat 4.5. Extend/Advance/Feint 6/Either Parry 6 or nothing/Either Disengage & Hit in 4 or Hit 6/Retreat 5. Bouting (30) 5.1. Marshal supervised bouting between students
Week 8: Other Forms and Bouting (2:20) 1. Run (5) 2. Stretch (10) 3. Review 3.1. Called Footwork with blade (5) 3.2. Patterned Footwork with blade (5) 3.3. Distance with Blade (10) 3.3.1. Partner Drill Follow the Leader at any distances. Each person leads for 1 minute then switch partners 3.4. Ripostes (10) 3.4.1. Drill Extend/Advance/Attack/ Respond with the appropriate Parry & Riposte /Retreat 3.5. Disengages (10) 3.5.1. Drill Extend/Advance/Attack/ Respond with the appropriate Parry /Disengage/Attack /Retreat 3.6. Off-Hand Parries (10) 3.6.1. Drill Extend 4 or 6 /Advance/Attack 4 or 6 /Parry 6 or OffHand 4/Riposte appropriately/Retreat 3.6.2. Forward stance, Refused stance. Drill Extend 4/Advance/Attack 4/OffHand 4/Attack Weapon Arm/Retreat 3.7. Beats (10) 3.7.1. Extend/Beat/Extend/Advance/Attack 4/Retreat 3.7.2. Extend/Beat/Extend/Advance/Attack 6/Retreat 3.7.3. Extend/Advance/Attack 4/Beat4/Riposte 4/Retreat 3.7.4. Extend/Advance/Attack 6/Beat6/Riposte 6/Retreat 3.8. Feints (10) 3.8.1. Feint 4/Start Parry 4/Disengage/Attack 6 3.8.2. Feint 6/Start Parry 6/Disengage/Attack 4 3.8.3. Extend/Advance/Feint 4/Either Parry 4 or nothing/Either Disengage & Hit in 6 or Hit 4/Retreat 3.8.4. Extend/Advance/Feint 6/Either Parry 6 or nothing/Either Disengage & Hit in 4 or Hit 6/Retreat 4. Bouting (30) 4.1. Marshal supervised bouting between students
Warm Down Lectures: Armor and weapons used in SCA rapier combat How to Inspect Armor and Weapons Armor requirements and Drop Testing Armor Etiquette on the list Historical Swordsmanship Melees Explain Authorizations Titles and awards in the SCA EK rules Go over the other forms with brief demos
Home Study : Practice Stance and footwork. Read the rules. http://www.eastkingdom.org/fencing/combatrules.html Practice footwork and review quadrant locations & the EK rules on Armor and hit locations Review all rules and materials Read melee rules Review requirements for an authorization (Marshal’s handbook)
Thank you to the following people for their input, suggestions and time working on this syllabus:
Don Connor MacGillavray Lord Quintin Brilliant Dona Lilias de Cheryngton Lord Pelgrin De Mann