John "Jes" Smith

In this comprehensive guide to the practice and techiques of foil fencing, Professor John 'Jes' Smith, one of Britain's foremost fencing masters, provides an essential reference work to this fascinating sport.

Informative and practical, Foil Fencing is illustarated with over 50 easy-to-follow diagrams, and offers expert advice on how to get the most out of your fencing training. Covering offensive and defensive stategies, established practices and more innovatinve modern concepts, Foil Fencing also includes sample demonstration exercises so that the reader, whether novice, experienced fencer or junior coach, can apply the material covered.

Professor John 'Jes' Smith is a Master of the British Academy of Fencing and a member of the Academie d'Armes International. He has taught at clubs, schools and colleges in London for many years.

Contents

Froeword
Introduction
Part 1: Starting out
The guard
The grip
Blade manipulation-Delivering a hit; Transports; The blade for preparation, offence and defence
The lunge
Fencing distance
Changes of engagement
Defence: Parry and riposte
Direct and indirect hits-Direct hits; Indirect hits
Part 2: Making progress
Indirect ripostes
Fencing distance
Blade manipulatin: Transports
Second intention: The first counter-riposte
Compoiund offensive actins-Compound attacks; Compound ripostes
Part 3: More blade and footwork
Half-steps
The fleche
Actions on the blade-Beat attacks; Beats and steps; Thrugh or grazing beats; Graze attacks; Pressure
Broken time-Broken time as attack; Broken time as riposte
Part 4: Beyond the basics
First intention
Second intention: Renewals-The redouble; The remise; The reprise; Reprise and riposte
Takings or prises de fer-Binds; envelopments; Croise
Defence: Ceding parries and defence againt prises de fer
Defence: Counter-Offensive actions
Part 5: Additional combat skills
Close-quarter fencing
Accelerating the hit
Second intentinon: Counter-time
Defence: Parries-Reactin, premeditation and inducemnet
The Derobement
Part 6: Tactical applications
The square
The circle
Inducing the attack
The winning hit
Appendix A: The conventions of fencing
Appendix B: Footwork development
Appendix C: Glossary of fencing terms… (meer)