Welcome to the June edition of the Newton Abbot & Totnes Fencing club newsletter.
Just for you informations, I teach emergency First Aid at Work (eFAW) courses
(6
& ½ hrs in duration) through www.evexiatraining.co.uk (please
visit the website) & charge £55 per student for these courses. I
will deliver these courses to members of our lovely club Free Gratis, if
there are 10 members and you could organise the venue.
The qualification is valid for 3 years and each student receives hands on practice, booklets, Certificate & most importantly of all-the potenial ability to save a life.
3 little facts to digest whilst having a cuppa !!
-Fencing is conducted on a 14m x 2m “strip” or “piste” to replicate combat in confined quarters such as a castle hallway. The end of the fencing strip represents the line drawn in the earth by duelists’ seconds: to retreat behind this line during the duel indicated cowardice and loss of honor.
-The 750 gram weight test used to ensure a touch is scored with sufficient force is based on the amount of tension required to break the skin. In a duel, honor was done when blood was first drawn — even if from a minor wound such as a blister.
-The target area in sabre, originally a cavalry weapon, is from the waist up because it is contrary to the rules of chivalry to injure an opponent’s horse.
According to www.almdi.org/Operations/newfencer/FunFacts.htm
Don’t forget to catch up on very latest news on our Facebook page, Newton Abbot Fencing club or contact me direct berkleybill@blueyonder.co.uk
or text me on 07599 834694.
Don’t forget our Club Competions :-
1st Tuesday of each Month is Epee at Totnes Pavillions, 20.00hrs
2nd Tuesday of each Month is Foil at Totnes Pavillions, 20.00hrs
4th Wednesday of each Month is Sabre at Teign Acadamy, 18.00hrs
Please try and pop along to these events, where you will be most welcome and where it will be good fun.
Above are two of the Competitors in the Bristol Open on Saturday June 1st.
It
was really good event and I thank all the people who gave their
valuable time in referering and organising (Glen Golding, Nathaniel
Lewis & Rob Hillier) such a lovely day (Sofie Emmens-Photography).
It was the 1st for me as regards fencing on the proper fencing Piste.
Below is another really useful article from one of our own Masters, Jan Lacey BAF:
“How
often do we see, when the referee says ‘fence’, that competitors rush
towards their opponents, with wild unruly movements with their foils.
Foil
fencing was developed so that fencers could enjoy a pleasant fence
which required the knowledge of using blade skills, controllable foot
work and the mind of bluff and counter bluff against ones opponents.
As
follows, Fencer A, does a one-two attack, guessing that Fencer B will
parry quarte, Fencer A’s attack scores. Fencer A decides to use the
one-two again, Fencer B is waiting for the attack, parries quarte and
counter of quarte, makes his riposte and scores.
Fencer A
thinks, I will call B’s bluff & use my one-two again, guessing that B
will do the same combination of parries and ripostes Fencer A-then lets
B’s riposte, parries it, makes his riposte and scores by his first
counter, successfully having counter bluffed B’s intentions.
This
is how foil fencing should be played, with skill & bluff, as it was
intended. If fencers do not have these skills, then the club coach is
the only one at fault.
Jan Lacey, B.A.F. Newton Abbot Coach