Hello everyone,
This message to you all is long overdue.
First of all I would like to thank you all – whether you are a parent or student for your eagerness, persistence and consistency in participating in this noble sport. To date, I have truly enjoyed teaching and interacting with you all.
Secondly, I have attached a basic curriculum for you all have a look over and provide feedback. It is essentially a beginners course in the discipline of sabre – Sabre basics if you will. Upon the student successfully completing the program and grading then they will qualify as a Sabreur at Arms. The aim here is to introduce a system whereby Students have something to aim for and can count as an achievement – which can sit alongside gaining points or places in a tournament. The skills that one can learn within this sport should be more than just medals around a neck – participation, a code of honor, teaching others and comradeship should also be a part of what we do and who we are in this sport so this qualification hopes to capture some of those values. Further to this, we hope to build on this by introducing a further qualification next season – for those with more experience. For an idea on these basic beginner's learner's blocks please take a look at the attached Sabreur at arms basic course guide:
As a number of you have now entered your second season in this sport you will notice that actually the learning blocks have largely been completed by a number of you but in an informal sense. Having a formal program allows us to check these skills against a learning standard so we can all improve – both student and teacher. The Squad/Group activities have also been largely completely – what is underdone at this point in time is the bouting component so for most of you this will be the emphasis this half of the winter season particularly learning the tempo and tactics of bouting with the electric system. Towards the end of the year we will have a competition and introduce a challenge ladder with handicaps using the electrical equipment.
The basic course attachment is pasted below for those who can't download the attachment above - computer says no etc!
Please let me know what you think of the program.
Any and all queries/feedback/suggestions are most welcome!
See you at fencing!
LEARNING BLOCKS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | GRADING | COMPETITION |
TECHNICAL SYLLABUS | Introduction to Sabre Basics Safety brief, parts of the Weapon, the grip, En Guarde, Basic footwork, Basic Parry system, Parry 4th Riposte, the extension, The attack – Lunge | Defence concepts - counter riposte, Parry 3rd and 5th, The step attack + Riposting en-marchent, | Attacking concepts – the feint, the 1-2 in a simple step attack, The 1-2-3 in a development/compound attack | Counter offensive concepts – the counter attack, the stop cut, the line | Guarde line concepts – Simultaneous attacking, Intro to Phase play | Overview basic offensive system, Grading preparation | Grading session with guest coaches | Sabre Club championship |
SQUAD/GROUP ACTIVITIES | How to train with each other: Cutting & distance practice | Squad – Calibrated cutting intro to defence play training. | Squad – intro to box fighting | Squad - defensive actions & mobility drills | Squad – offensive actions, free bouting | Formal bouting | Grading session with guest coaches | |
BOUTING | Intro to free bouting, non electric. | Intro to Electric Bouting. | Basic rules of priority via bouting. | Structure of the bout, the referee & Judges | Informal competition part 1 | Informal competition part 1 + introduction to ladder & other competitive concepts | ||
LOGISTICS | n/a | n/a | Basic equipment | Introduction & demonstration of electric foil, epee & sabre | Equipment maintainence & care: Special guest armourer | Maintaining & repairing equipment, inventory | ||
LESSONS | n/a | n/a | n/a | High rotation individual lesson | The comprehensive individual lesson | Introduction to Combat training | ||
CULTURAL | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Seminar: European schools of fencing | Seminar: Modern Olympic Fencing | Social: Special guests & invited fencers from other clubs + Social event. | |
ADMINISTRATIVE | Registration, Insurance, Equipment issue/lease/purchase | Accounts |