Beginner, intermediate and even advanced fencers in all weapons need to develop the ability to use various step sizes in their footwork to be successful. Various situations and moves in a bout call for different sized steps and rhythms.

This drill is great for this purpose because it provides the fencer with feedback on their step size using a weapon on the floor. The student will use the weapon on the floor to help them check their step sizes themselves.

This exercise will be especially helpful for teaching students to pick up their feet as they move and to use their legs dynamically to push forward or back as them move instead flat footed steps.

Additionally, students should start each movement from a strong and still En Garde position and then try to finish each movement by being back in a balanced position when they finish. This last part is key!

Our rule of thumb at TMFC with our coaches is that students should finish a lunge in balance or complete a footwork sequence and then hold that position at COMPLETE stillness for at least a "1 Mississippi" before getting out of position.

In future lessons, we will add rhythm changes and half steps and also talk about the "Flare" and "Fun" that can go into an exercise. This exercise can be done by a student by themselves, with a coach and it is a great exercise for coaches teaching classes.

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