Guide to Heavy Rapier Drill

Lilias de Cheryngton

The following is an assortment of drills to help a fencer gain familiarity with heavy rapiers . schlagers, Del Tins, and equivalents. The usefulness and duration of each drill is entirely up to the fencers involved, though I personally do one or more of them every time I fence. All of these drills were taught to me by Don Martin Quicksilver.

These drills require a varied amount of skill and experience, though, in their basic forms, most of them should be accessible to the beginning fencer. While these drills are specifically designed to help with heavy rapier, it is certainly possible to benefit from doing these drills with light weapons.

Calibration/Distance Drill

This drill will familiarize fencers with the length of their rapier and how lightly they must hit their opponent.

Equipment needed: A blade or something the length and weight of a blade, and an optional glove for comfort.

1. Fencer stands in en guard position at extension distance from a wall (or tree, or something else that won.t be hurt by repeated thrusts).
2. Fencer extends arm with blade to hit the wall, then returns to the en guard position. Repeat as necessary (at least 10 times).
3. Switch hands and repeat.

Note: Focus on calibration before speed.

Variations:

• a. Do this drill at different distances, including extend/advance, lunge, step/lunge, and closer than extension distance (as if your opponent had advanced during your attack).
• b. Do this drill with blades of different lengths.
• c. Pick different targets at head, chest, and knee heights and switch between them during the drill.
• d. Take a few steps forward and back between each attack to test your sense of distance. Make sure your calibration remains light!

Parry Drill

This drill will familiarize fencers with movement of their rapiers and the mechanics of making parries.

Equipment needed: Two fencers in full armor with weapons.

1. Fencers face each other at extension distance or slightly further apart.
2. Fencer A makes a simple (single action) attack.
3. Fencer B parries.
4. Fencer B makes a simple attack of her own.
5. Fencer A parries.
6. Etc. Continue until both fencers indicate a desire to stop.
7. Switch hands and repeat.

Note: Action should be continuous; as soon as one fencer is finished parrying he should be starting her attack. However, try to establish a rhythm in the drill . make sure your parries and attacks are two separate actions and try not to leave your arm extended while you parry (drawing it back during the parry will help you keep the motions distinct.) No, this is not exactly like fencing . it.s a drill! Focus on making your parries efficient and precise.

Variations:

• a. This drill can be done with any weapons form, though cloak could get messy.
• b. This drill can be done at any speed, from half to full. Pick a fencer to .lead. the speed and vary it throughout the drill. The other fencer must be careful to pay attention and follow changes of speed.

Hand Shot Drill

This drill will improve point control and is a good way to warm up one's mind and arm.

Equipment needed: Two fencers in full armor with weapons.

1. Fencers face each other at extension distance.
2. Fencer A moves one hand slightly.
3. Fencer B extends her blade to hit that hand with a thrust.
4. Repeat as necessary (at least 20 times).
5. Switch hands and repeat.
6. Switch roles (Fencer A now attacking) and repeat drill with both hands.

Note: Concentrate on point control, but also be careful of calibration. Try not to look at the hand you're targeting!

Variations:

• a. Do this drill at extend/advance distance or lunge distance.
• b. Give signals other than hand movement (weight shifting, blinking, etc.) to provoke a response (which is still an attack to one of the hands).

Blade Avoidance

This drill is a strengthening exercise that will also help fencers gain awareness of their opponents. blades. Equipment needed: Two fencers with blades; gloves for comfort.

1. Fencers face each other at extension distance.
2. Fencer A attempts to touch/push fencer B.s blade with her own while Fencer B tries to avoid any contact.
3. Fencer A continues to try and fencer B to avoid until both fencers. forearms cry for mercy.
4. Switch hands and repeat.

Note: Try to keep your tip pointed at your opponent whether you are attacking or defending; avoid wild movements or strange gyrations that you would not do in a bout.

Variations:

• a. Do this drill while moving. For example, the avoider can move back or to the side to avoid her opponent.s blade; the attacker can move forward or to the side in pursuit of the blade.
• b. Try this drill with different weapons forms.

Disengage Drill

This drill hones finer muscle control, and practices timing, distance, and the ability to react to your opponent in real time. Equipment needed: Two fencers in full armor with weapons.

1. Fencers face each other at lunge distance.
2. Fencer A extends her blade in a feint toward fencer B.
3. Fencer B makes a single parry.
4. Fencer A disengages around the parry and continues forward in a lunge to hit fencer B.
5. Both fencers return to en guard position.
6. Repeat with fencer A choosing different targets on fencer B to attack.
7. Switch hands and repeat.
8. Repeat entire drill with fencer B attacking.

Note: Try to keep your disengages small. As the attacker, make sure you are not too close to your opponent on your feint that you get caught in her quillions. Try to keep your movements smoothly connected without rushing.

Variations:

1. Throw in different reactions to the feint like circular parries . or do nothing at all. Attacker should respond accordingly and do what is necessary to hit the defender.
2. The defender can change distance (and therefore timing) by stepping forward or back in relation to the feint. Attacker should respond accordingly in order to successfully disengage and hit the defender with good calibration.
3. Do this drill with the patient making more than one parry, but eventually allowing the defender to hit. Attacker should disengage around each parry.
4. Do this drill with different weapons forms.

Angles Drill

This drill familiarizes fencers with the concept of using different angles to get around parries.

Equipment needed: Two fencers in full armor with weapons.

1. Fencers face each other at lunge distance.
2. Fencer A extends her blade in a feint toward fencer B.
3. Fencer B makes a single parry.
4. Fencer A changes the angle of attack, either by bending at the wrist/arm, taking a step toward fencer B to her outside or inside, or by some other method, and hits fencer B.
5. Both fencers return to en guard position.
6. Repeat with fencer A choosing different targets and ways to change the angle.
7. Switch hands and repeat.
8. Repeat entire drill with fencer B attacking.

Note: Try not to lean unless necessary. Make sure you remain balanced and safe at all times.

Variations:

1. The defender can change the distance on the feint by moving forward or backward. The attacker should react accordingly.
2. Do this drill with different weapons forms.

Off Hand Drill

This drill allows fencers to practice using their off hands against a heavy rapier.

Equipment needed: Two fencers, weapons, gloves.

1. Fencers face each other at extension distance with fencer A.s off hand on fencer B.s blade, as if he had just taken control of it.
2. Fencer B tries to free her blade by moving it while fencer A tries to retain control.
3. Warm up by remaining stationary, then begin moving around.
4. Repeat entire drill with fencer B controlling fencer A.s blade.

Note: Try to feel where your opponent is trying to move her blade. Be careful not to grab the blade or otherwise violate EK off hand rules.

Slow Fencing Drill

This drill will help fencers with the feel of bout while giving them time to think about their responses.

Equipment needed: Two fencers in full armor with weapons.

1. Fencers face each other at if they were going to bout, in an en guard position.
2. Fencers fence each other at half speed. Continue even if a fencer scores a killing hit.

Note: This drill is harder than it might sound . fencers have a tendency to speed up in order to defend themselves. If you find your speed creeping up, stop the bout and begin again at the original slow speed. Concentrate on the variety of options you have for defending yourself and creating openings.