The Simple Things

This week I was at the Salle as usual and assisting my coach with a group foil lesson. Andy announced that he was going to be doing a lesson regarding the engagement of sixte and some bright spark in the class said "Oh that's basic..." in a sarcastic tone. What that person didn't realise (and what we then demonstrated) is that a 'basic' technique can be made increasingly more complicated by upping the pressure on the student to perform it correctly by using a step, movement or increased speed or accuracy. In fact, there really are no 'basic' techniques in fencing. There are techniques that are taught early in a fencers career but they are foundations and should not be dismissed once learnt; rather they should be built upon time and time again through vigilant practice. It is a commonly held misconception (particularly in Western society) that once you've been shown something you know it. In the Japanese martial arts the first demonstration of a technique is just the start of the journey to apply it. Many times I see relatively experienced fencers lungeing incorrectly, the classic fault being the lifting of the back foot from the floor. This seems like a simple error but it completely negates the speed, power and balance of a lunge and weakens the attack. Once this habit pattern gets ingrained in the fencer it is very difficult to remove it. Only through constant practice of these simple things does the fencer gain greater understanding of the basic principles that underpin each technique. Ironically this basic understanding may take years to attain.....