Be a coach

How?

There are three stages to becoming a fencing instructor.

* Firstly you need a good instructor. One who can pass

on his teaching skills to you. A master of his trade.

* Secondly you need to learn teaching and coaching skills.

These are not easy acquired without hard work.

* Lastly and most importantly you will need to practice

these skills. From basic mobility and weapons handling skills through to complex combination moves and counter moves.

Where?

There are two routes to travel, neither is easy. Both at the end of the day will have required you to show your competence to both learn and teach fencing skills.

* The BFA route requires you to qualify through each stage at all 3 weapons.

* The BAF route allows you to qualify through each stage at a single weapon(s)

I make no comments about the efficiency of either method both have their respective merits.

It is up to the student which route he or she wishes to travels.

Note! Both these systems are at present under major review. However this should not stop you learning the basic instructional techniques.

When?

When you think you are ready. When you think you have sufficient fencing skills and experience and want to teach.

Do not be pressured into learning to be a coach. Many fine fencers have been lost to the sport they once loved through this added challenge. Many have also become good instructors.

Gaining experience

Opposite- is a young former school fencing pupil of mine who found it almost impossible at his club to get the teaching practice needed after attending a coaching course some months earlier. With the help of my Cranfield University fencing club students I was able

to setup for him a short introduction to a sabre course.

The students were as follows - Belgian international epee-ist,

Russian beginner, Spanish second year foil student, A French

(That must be a first.) beginner and a Mexican beginner.

Below- He is now taking regular group and individual lessons

at Salle JEUDI and MK Musketeers.

Why become an instructor

Some fencers become instructors because there is no one else in the club who is prepared to give their time to beginners.

To these I would say you are probably doing a good job - If you feel you do not want to qualify as an instructor don’t. however I would recommend that you attend a few of the joint fencing day’s where you will be able to pick up a few tips. You can then form your own opinion.

Some fencers become instructors because they enjoy the act of teaching and the added pressures. The majority of these will qualify at the basic level. There are also those who will wish to continue and qualify at the higher levels.

To the latter I say do not rush your ascent of the qualifying ladder, you will become a far better instructor if remember that at the end of the day it is experience that will draw students to you.

Avoid the following pitfalls - It is all to easy for experienced fencers to attempt to produce clones of themselves. Some will knowingly attempt to do this, others will fail to see that all their pupils are fencing in the same pattern all from the same mould.

There are many reasons to avoid this practice.

It is also all to easy to over complicate beginner lessons.

There is no set pattern as each pupil will be different, having an individual learning pattern. Enhance the good, do not neglect the poor.

Instructing and Coaching

the following is a view beginning to be put forward by some of the more experienced fencers and instructors. You will notice that in many section of the web-site the term instructor is used rather than the usual coach.

If you define the word coach it refers to the act of enhancing existing said skill or trade.

Where as an instructor is introducing and teaches

the said skill or trade.

There is a vast

difference between

teaching and

coaching.

In effect the

average well

trained fencer

can, and in

some clubs will

help to enhance

other fencers.

This does not

make that fencer a coach however it is a valuable asset to the club.

Teaching skills are however a very different matter. They require a knowledge, skill and experience beyond that of a coach.

To introduce a subject as complicated as fencing is no easy matter. Your pupil will wish to get in there and “Mix it with the good ‘uns.”

So after explaining to them the safety aspect, what do you start with?

The inexperienced will have them in the correct full stance going on to explain every aspect of fencing.

Getting them to - well you know the problem.

Over complication.

If you think about this and then turn to

lateral thinking.

Think about what you are requiring the student to undertake, it is equivalent to a

person having his first flying lesson as No4 with the Red Arrows. This is theme I use quite regularly in all my clubs.

Teaching

How to become a

Fencing Instructor

Fencing with the Salle JEUDI Group of Fencing Clubs

Fencing every day For Fencers in Four Counties

The Blade.

For the purpose of fencing weapons the blade refers to the blade only

The weapons.

The three weapons are

Foil, sabre and Epee.

Disengage.

An indirect simple attack or riposte hitting in the opposite line, by passing under the opponent's blade.

Compound attack.

An attack which comprises one or more feints.

Counter attack.

An offensive action into an offensive action.

It brings across the simple fact that fencing is one of the most complicated and taxing things to learn. Far more difficult than learning to fly! However there are a number of similarities. Keep it simple - stay within the envelope - learn the necessity of a light hand - listen to your instructor.

This way your pupils will soon be welcomed as partner/opponent by the other fencers in the club.

It is also you as an instructor who will be instrumental in the type of club that develops. Your personality above all that will be reflected in that club.

KEEP IT SIMPLE - KEEP IT TIGHT

Firstly find out what aspect of fencing that come natural to the student some thing you can work with and enhance. This will give the student confidence both in himself and your ability to pick an aspect of fencing he can in minutes accomplish. His first step into the world of fencing. Then is the time to use your well trained fencer.

A good fencer is always willing to go back to basics for few minutes.

A good fencer will make any fencing movement look simple.

Its what is frustrating to an opponent but, very encouraging to

a beginner.

If you make the right type of introduction.

The 8 principal points of modern fencing listed previously is in my view still the best basic strategy for any instructor approaching both method and technique for producing good fencers.

Building a Crew

If you decide to become an instructor or coach it is well to remember that you will have to take on the act of leader.

You alone must be responsible for the training of your pupils.

It is also no easy task to run all aspects of a club, however if you do decide to start a new unit from scratch the best advice is to not hand out duties to your pupils nor is it at this stage advisable to establish a formal club.

Treat it as you would a set of evening classes. Don't be to hasty with your quest to succeed

with these raw recruits,

they will be not only

your first Pupils but

also your First

Examiners who

truly matter.

If you have seen

this picture from

I will now try to

explain the

reasoning behind it. There are times when it is almost impossible to find out exactly what your pupil can do under pressure. To say “Right now your on your own.” does not always work because it is a prepared request and does not always put the right pressure on the student. I find it much better to place the student in the position where they are carrying out the moves in a light-hearted exercise with friends.

Attention to detail. This is very important for an instructor to learn, the stance, the position of the various elements of the sword arm and weapon, the head and shoulders. The list is long, all have to be checked in one swift glance and if necessary adjusted before continuing with the lesson.

It is sometimes impossible for an inexperienced instructor

to see every element when looking head on.

The 3 dimensional picture is not there. Being able to step back and watch not only the individual but also the full squad is invaluable.