Bayonet Fencing Training at Salle Green

Our host salle, Salle Green, will start bayonet training on Wednesday, 23 December, with a short session from 6:00 - 6:30 pm.

Simple Footwork Sets (2):

The second set of footwork exercises:

(first) 10 repetitions twice a day:

Retreat
Advance
Advance
Retreat

(second) 20 repetitions twice a day:

Advance
Extend straight thrust
Lunge
Backward recovery

Note that this is not a modern advance-lunge, but rather an advance with the lunge delivered as a reaction to an opponent's action (or unexpected lack thereof).

Simple Footwork Sets (1):

Good footwork results from constant, disciplined practice. This builds muscle memory and helps the fencer automate footwork responses so that he or she no longer needs to think about footwork, but can move smoothly based on the requirements of the bout. Each week we will be offering a new set of training footwork to help improve performance. So for the first week:

(First) 20 repetitions twice a day:

Advance
Retreat
Retreat
Advance

(Second) 10 repetitions twice a day:

Extend straight thrust
Lunge
Backward recovery

Insignia for Classical Academy of Arms student Skills Ranks

Students participating in the Academy's skills program taught by certified instructors may wear a sleeve patch 1 inch above the end of the sleeve of the non-weapon arm. These patches are white with red embroidery:

Ranks 1 through 3: one to three horizontal red fencing swords below the letters CF followed by the rank number.

Ranks 4 through 6: one to three horizontal red fencing swords (one for Rank 4, two for Rank 5, three for Rank 6) below the letters CF followed by the rank number, the whole surrounded by a red rectangular border.

Ranks 7 through 9: one to three horizontal red fencing swords (one for Rank 7, two for Rank 8, three for Rank 9) below the letters CF followed by the rank number, the whole surrounded by a red wreath.

Current Status of Classical Academy of Arms Skills Program

An update for everyone on the current status of the Academy's skills program. This program is designed to be used by Academy certified instructors in their Salles or clubs to provide a plan for fencer development, both in terms of technique and of knowledge. This is a 9 rank program.

Skills requirements for Ranks 1 through 9 have been defined and have been available and in use since 2005.

Knowledge requirements for Ranks 1 through 9 have been defined and have been available and in use since 2005.

Student study materials and written tests are complete for Ranks 1 through 8. The Rank 9 study materials are approximately 50 percent complete, with a target date of 1 August 2009.

Arm patches are in stock for Ranks 2 through 5.

Rank 8 Study Materials Completed

For those using the Classical Academy of Arms ranking system for students, the Rank 8 study handout has been completed. We expect to have the written test complete this week. This leaves only the Rank 9 and Master at Arms study guides to be completed.

Master Arms Badge Program

Draft criteria for the Master At Arms Badge is posted on the Classical Academy of Arms website. Our comment period will extend for the remainder of the month, after which we will revise as needed and go final.

Master At Arms Badge Program

We are currently working on a Master at Arms Badge program to recognize individuals who as classical instructors or classical fencers demonstrate excellent technique in multiple weapons. The classical period was distinguished by fencing with foil, sabre, dueling sword (epee), singlestick, and bayonet. Obviously, no standards exist for singlestick or bayonet play that can provide the safe environment created by current Federation International d'Escrime regulations. However, the use of these weapons can be studied safely, even if full contact play is not possible. The final design of the program is still in the works, but tentatively it would require qualification in either dueling sword or sabre at the Rank 9 skill level or as a Classical Fencing Instructor, combined with demonstration of technique in either single stick or bayonet.