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“Whatever else happens, I've got that sofa problem handled.”

About Sofa-Employed

Dan Kellner (That's me!) is a self-employed, award-winning graphic designer, web development consultant, and Olympic fencer. He spends a lot of time working from his sofa, and this is a platform for his thoughts and illustrations about working from home, the view from the couch, fencing, and just about anything else he feels like.

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Questions About Fencing?

kellner
Do you have a question about fencing?

Since I’m no longer competing and I’ve recently begun coaching, I’d like to share my fencing knowledge and experience with as many fencers as possible.

Whether it’s about tactics, training, equipment, or anything else concerning fencing (though do keep in mind that I’m a foilist), all you have to do is submit a question in the “Post A Comment” section below, and I’ll do my best to answer them in a blog post. (Please remember to include your first name and the city where you live.)

Tags: Dan Kellner, Fencing

Category: Fencing.

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58 Comments on “Questions About Fencing?”

Paul says:
I’m a relatively new fencer. I somehow got myself into the comfortable tall lefty pattern of marching attacks, ending with either flick, disengage finish to the back or flank. This has worked out splendidly for all but one category of opponents. The chest protector wearing esquive squad. Generally diminutive counterattackers who are impervious to chest flicks. At the moment, my only safe recourse is to try to set up very straight, strong ripostes and angulated attacks. Unfortunately, this is difficult, as I’m not of sufficient level to utterly outclass one of these protector types if they have reasonable distance and timing. My timing isn’t perfect; I’m still nailed occasionally by well timed attacks in prep where my tip doesn’t make it’s way to target in time, but I’m frustrated by this one class of opponent that I can’t hit. Generally, this type of fencer is not much of an attacker, so they can only rarely attack me successfully, but it’s very frustrating to fence a bout in which the final score is 5-2 or something of that sort.

What is the appropriate method to deal with evasion-oriented fencers?

Thanks
~P

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 14th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Hi Paul,

Thanks for the question!
Read my answer at:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=986

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Anthony says:
What’s the best way to go about flicking with the “new” timings, and how do you personally go about flicking with the new timings?

In your opinion, what’s the best cant, best blade, best target, best tip, best technique, best drill, and best situation, to use to be able to flick with the new timings?

I’m interested in hearing any different advice you have for a new fencer, intermediate fencer, advanced fencer, and elite fencer about flicking.

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 15th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hi Anthony,

Good question! My answer is posted at:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1017

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
C says:
Dan-

Ready? Fence
I attack with advance lunge. Attack is short. I stay in lunge position with arm in extension. Opponent attacks straight into my extended arm, no beat, no parry. Two lights go off. Who’s touch would it be?

Regards,

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 16th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Hi Cody,
Here’s my answer:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1052

Thanks for reading!

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Leslie says:
Hi! I know you’re a foilist but I thought I’d ask. I’ve been fencing epee for about 5 months. I’ve come to realize that when I fence I’m extremely passive, almost never attack, and pretty much rely solely on stop-thrusts (haha, I’ve got a mean arm shot though) and my instructor’s main advice to me is to be more aggressive. Now, I know what this means in everyday terms but I don’t know how to translate this into fencing. I find that whenever I try to be more “aggressive” (at least what I see as being more aggressive.) I essentially just run into my opponents blade trying to do so. I don’t know what I can do because I can tell my instructor is getting frustrated and so am I. So I’m at a stand-still in progress because I don’t know where to go from here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Reply to This Comment]
Leslie says:
December 14th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Sorry, I’m from South Carolina! =)

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Anthony says:
What’s your favorite Dan Kellner fact? http://www.fencing.net/forums/thread22361.html

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 14th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Here are my favorites:

There is no right of way, only touches Dan Kellner allows you to have. - D+F+P=Hadouken!

Dan Kellner does not make mistakes, he has mercy on you. - D+F+P=Hadouken!

Dan kellner flicked through a mans spinal cord once. - D+F+P=Hadouken!

When Dan Kellner falls into water, he does not get wet, water gets Dan Kellner. - stealingophelia

When you rearrange the letters in Dan Kellner’s name they spell out any damn thing Dan Kellner wants them to spell. - Redblade

Is Dan Kellner Chuck Norris? - MikeHarm
Chuck Norris wishes. - RebelFencer

Dan Kellner frequently signs up for beginner fencing classes, just so he can “accidentally” beat the ___ out of little kids. - noahz

Jesus owns and wears a bracelet that reads, “WWDKD?” - noahz

Who’s Dan Kellner? - Zilverzmurfen

[Reply to This Comment]
Colin says:
December 15th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Is it just me, or is this Chuck Norris stuff even funnier when translated into fencing? And I think I only get about 5% of the fencing jokes… heh heh…

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Oscar says:
How do you evaluate a coach? I recently had a coach who seemed to have some excellent ideas, but

1) he was obviously more interested in other students
2) he always started the lesson with “well what do you want to work on today ?”

How do you decide to stay with someone? How do you decide to move on…

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 17th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Hi Oscar,
Check out:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1073
for my answer.

Thanks for reading and contributing!

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Mitchell says:
i got this one. i’m also from sc.

when your coach tells you to be more aggressive, they’re telling you to focus on setting up more attacks, not simply blindly attacking. when you fence, its not an off/on between being passive with stop-thrusts and charging someone down.

a simple example would be to fill in the space where nothing particular is happening with a short beat/lunge to the wrist. it isn’t very aggressive, but it is more aggressive than nothing. you can build from there.

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 14th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Is the question here, what to do between doing nothing and starting your attack?

[Reply to This Comment]
mitchell says:
December 15th, 2008 at 11:46 am
nah, it was supposed to be a quick response to leslie’s comment :X

[Reply to This Comment]

December 14th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Anthony says:
Given that you’ve recently started coaching, do you have any pointers for less experienced coaches? I’d like to know what to do, and especially what not to do. I coach foil, so any foil specific stuff would be great.

Do you have any advice on what sort of tempos, distances, and bladework I should be using (and eliciting in the student) in a lesson?

[Reply to This Comment]
Anthony says:
December 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
By the way, I am from Madison, WI

[Reply to This Comment]

December 15th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Ken says:
Haha, I like the mini-Dan on the top right. Cool idea.

[Reply to This Comment]

December 15th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Barb Lynch says:
You know your resume does not include that you and I have known each other for a very long time and how your time in NJ high school fencing changed your life.(just how I do not know!!!) Anyway, love that you are giving advice-great idea!! Now if the right people ask the right questions….
Take Care,
Barb

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 16th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thanks Barb!
I should add my NJ High School results.

[Reply to This Comment]
Rob C. says:
December 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
You should also add your results in your freshman year at Columbia during the NYU meet just before you won JOs for the first time….

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 17th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
“Kellner, Lions Lose On Last Touch” - That Spec headline still haunts me to this day. But it is a good story…

December 16th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Byron Branch says:
Im heading to a NAC in louisville for my first time (fencing foil naturally) and i guess my question is this. As far as lunging go, when, in your own opinion, is the best opportune time to lunge? is it when the fencer attack fails on the attack and you, counter or start your new attack because the distance is so easy to close?

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 20th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Hey Byron!

Check out my answer:
When is the Best Time to Lunge?: Part 1
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=971

There’s also a 2nd part coming.

Enjoy!

Dan

[Reply to This Comment]

December 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Jimmy says:
Hi Dan!

I am very tall right handed foilist. Do you have any good ideas for techniques or tactics that favor tall people?

Thanks!

Jimmy

[Reply to This Comment]

December 16th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Non Panchan says:
Hey DK,

Just check out your website, rocking stuff. Especially your photostream illustrations, a life to envy! Anyhow i hope you and Sasha are doing well. Say hello to everybody for me. Drop me a line if you if you want to come to Singapore and explore Southeast Asia.

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 19th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Thanks Non!
I hope all is well!
What are you doing in Singapore?

[Reply to This Comment]

December 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Colin says:
Could you define some fencing terms for those of us who read this blog but don’t fence so we can follow along at home? Words such as flicking, lunging, priority, etc, clearly have different or modified definitions from the standard English language we know and love.

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 18th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Here’s a link to a glossary of fencing terms:
http://www.fencing.net/about/new-to-fencing/glossary-of-fencing-terms.html

[Reply to This Comment]

December 18th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Chris Q. says:
Hey Dan, Simon has been my coach for a few months now. I feel like I’m too passive and need to improve my attacks, straight and compound. What were your favorite drills that you did with Simon? As many as you can think of!

By the way. I saw a picture of you and my friend Ken Sin fencing on a baseball field. What’s up with that? Haha.

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 24th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Ken and I did a fencing demonstration at a baseball game.

[Reply to This Comment]

December 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Rick says:
What are your thoughts on footwork practice/drills?

Thanks!

R-

[Reply to This Comment]

December 20th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Anthony says:
Followup question to your post about when to lunge (http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1125).

When is the best time to fleche?

[Reply to This Comment]

December 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Anthony says:
Regarding the 2009 change to foil target area would would you say foil is broken and they should find another way to change it (or just change it back)?

Or would you say foil is acceptable and needs no changes?

(Optional third choice, foil is broken and there is no way to fix it )

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
December 25th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Another good question Anthony!
Here’s my answer:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1225

Dan

[Reply to This Comment]

December 21st, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Anthony says:
I’ve noticed that you stayed extremely low in your on guard position back in the day. I can’t remember ever seeing someone lower. I know coaches always tell their fencers to get lower, but your stance seemed excessive.

What unique benefits does your super low position give you, and what drawbacks does it have? Is this something you were taught (I recall other NYC fencers with a similar stance), or does it just feel natural to you to be that low?

Further questions I have about the on guard position: Where do you like to keep your hand? Where do you point your tip? How do you carry your blade (where is your blade, what are you fingers doing)? Do you keep your heels in line? Do you keep your feet at a right angle (or do you point one in or out)? Is your torso twisted to present more of a profile, or do you square up your shoulders towards your opponent more? Do you balance your weight 50/50 between front and back legs? What type of shoes do you like? Do you feel the on guard position is important, or is it an unimportant static position in a dynamic game? Is keeping the torso upright at all times (specifically during a lunge) important?

Also, what kind of couch do you have?

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
January 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Hi Anthony,

Here’s my answer:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1458

Dan

PS I have a Burke Sofa from Room and Board.

[Reply to This Comment]

December 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 am
Allen Evans says:
Dan;

Give some specific examples of ways to slow a bout down that don’t involve a point in line (which many referees have a hard time calling correctly). Are there specific footwork or distance strategies you’ve found effective?

Thanks!

A Evans

[Reply to This Comment]

December 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Jacques says:
Hi Dan:

How did you manage your fencing and your University degree? How did you balance your training with your work later on, especially when it came to traveling to World Cups.

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
January 7th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Hi Jacques,

You can find my answer here:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1226

Dan

[Reply to This Comment]

December 24th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
LongDa says:
Dan,

Through our own training and differences in body types, there are many different “styles” of foil fencing that develop (i.e. preference for small point actions vs preference for wider flick attacks, or however you wish to stereotype them). At a high level, do you feel that certain styles inherently have an advantage over some, but are at a disadvantage to others? Did you ever struggle with a certain style of foil fencing?

Thanks a lot,
LongDa

[Reply to This Comment]

December 26th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Greg says:
Dan,

Fencing at such a high level for so long, What do you feel are the main reasons for U.S. International results these last ten years (after almost a century of irrevelence)?

Thank you,

Greg

[Reply to This Comment]

January 10th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Cody C says:
Another ROW Question:

Dear Dan,

Ready? Fence! My opponent and I both start coming forward towards each other. All of a sudden my opponent fleches towards me. I take a parry while retreating, and as my opponent is still fleching at me, I riposte to the flank while my opponent manages to get me as well. Both lights go off - who’s is it?

Regards,

[Reply to This Comment]
byron says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Depends, how many steps did you take backwards? if you didnt move at all, its your touch cause a reposte. If not the only thing i could see it being is a continuation of the attack, but that should end if your reposte lands and you havent moved. (i noticed you said while retreating, but you dont say if you stop after the parry or not)

[Reply to This Comment]
sdfgh says:
February 4th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
a riposte is a riposte regardless of what direction you are moving in as long as it is immediate.

[Reply to This Comment]
byron says:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:15 am
sure, but if he took a step back, and another then landed his reposte, he’d be out of what i would call a fencing phrase. i’ve seen it denied before at tournaments.

January 18th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Anthony says:
Hey Dan,

Do you have any good exercises or stretches to help with (lower body in particular) flexibility? How important is flexibility in fencing, and how much time should someone spend on it?

Anthony

[Reply to This Comment]

January 23rd, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Namson says:
Dear Dan,

I really liked your post about en-guard in response to Anthony’s question. I would like to see similar posts about other very simple things.

I’m from CA, but I’m currently living in Indiana.

– Parry 4 –
Given the very amorphous lessons and advice given by many coaches, what, in your experience its the proper way to execute a parry 4?

Further questions about the parry 4: Where do you keep your hand before you parry, with how much rotation? Thumb pointed to 12-oclock? 1? 2? ? How much rotation do you put into the parry? How much does your weapon move? How hard are you gripping with your fingers during the parry? Which fingers? Do you generally follow a tempo in your parry riposte? Do you generally come off the opponent’s weapon to riposte or do you attempt to lock-out the line and riposte with opposition? What type of things are you looking for when go to execute the parry riposte? What timing should the parry have relative to footwork? What about the riposte?

– Feint-Disengage –
Some people say let go of the weapon a little and drop the point, some people say rotate the point in a small circle with your fingers, some people say feint low near the guard and just move the weapon into the line as they go over the top; there are many schools of thought on the feint-disengage, what do you do? What is most effective?

Follow up questions about the feint-Disengage: Do you generally do some sort of body jerk for the feint or do you just stick the weapon out? How far out? Where do you aim to feint to? What are some tricks to get them to buy it? Do you generally move your hand/arm around at all? Or does your hand/arm stay in one place and simply extend? If you disengage with your fingers, which fingers are the muscle? which ones are relaxed? What is your hand rotation during the feint? During the disengage? Do you normally rotate your hand at all?

– Circle 6 –
Circle 6 tends to be a muddy parry to teach, and a muddy parry to be taught. Some teachers say its a disengage with a parry 6 at the end, and therefore with full supination of the hand. Others say its a languid wrist action, others still think you should aggressively move your hand in a small semi-circle keeping your wrist fairly straight. How do you properly execute the circle 6?

Further questions about the Circle 6: Where do you keep your hand before you parry, with how much rotation? Thumb pointed to 12-oclock? 1? 2? ? How much rotation do you put into the parry? How much does your weapon move? Does your point come off opponent’s target? If so, how far is acceptable? Do you generally move your hand/arm around or do you do the entire action with your wrist? fingers? How hard are you gripping with your fingers during the parry? Which fingers? Do you generally follow a tempo in your parry riposte? Do you generally come off the opponent’s weapon to riposte or do you attempt to lock-out the line and riposte with opposition? What type of things are you looking for when go to execute the parry riposte? What timing should the parry have relative to footwork? What about the riposte? Is your circle 6 riposte a single smooth action, or is it two distinct actions, i.e. do you begin extending your arm as you circle? How close are you to the opponent, on the norm, relative to the parry 4 execution distance? How loose do you keep your wrist/forearm when executing the Circle 6? What are some common mistakes that should be avoided?

Sincerely,

Namson

[Reply to This Comment]

January 26th, 2009 at 4:07 am
byron says:
So here is another one. Got any good tempo drills? - i talked to this kid (rhys Howell, an A from IN) about any tips after he saw me fence this guy and all he really said was that i needed to work on tempo, im quick, but i burst off really fast in the beginning so a lot of people are able to retreat just as quickly cause they see it coming. I need to learn how to make my distance deceptive. My lunge is already that way cause i usually hit people when they think they are out of distance, so ya, how do ya work on tempo?

[Reply to This Comment]
Anthony says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Expanding on Byron’s question: tempo? WTF?

When someone says tempo, what do they mean? I understand that it can mean many things, but it seems like most high level fencers and coaches have an agreed upon definition that escapes my grasp.

How do you define, understand, and utilize tempo? (And how can I?)

-Anthony from Madison, WI

[Reply to This Comment]
byron says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
yo dude, in response to what you said. I am starting to get it now. If you’re taking a step forward and the person goes back, and then you go back and they come forward so you’re in kind of a rocking state of 1 - and - 2 and - 1 and - 2. getting in tempo or hitting someone in tempo is hitting them on the “and” part. Its gotta be quick and if you do it right you should hit someone mid step. Watch some vids of really good fencers and you’ll see what i mean. Hope that helps, if not i will have to make a youtube video of it.

byron-

[Reply to This Comment]

February 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
THE FLASH says:
do you think it is ok to yell booyea after you get a touch ?
or will the ref not like it?

thanks
-THE FLASH

[Reply to This Comment]
Dan says:
March 30th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Flash,

Here’s your answer:
http://www.sofaemployed.com/?p=1707

Dan

[Reply to This Comment]

March 29th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Jake says:
Dan,

Have you in your work as a fencer and now coach, noticed or believe in a set of personality traits or self-beliefs that lead a fencer to success/failure on the strip? And if so do you have any drills to enhance/diminish these mental strengths and weaknesses.

Jake from Madison, WI

[Reply to This Comment]

April 15th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Frank says:
Hi Dan,

I’m 26 and I am interested in improving my fencing to a higher level. (just like every other fencer).

I’m doing fencing 4 times a week at nights at the moment and work full time during the day.
I finance my fencing through my work.

How much difference will it make to my fencing performance if I just dropped my job next year and went to train in a country with a higher fencing level for around a year?

[Reply to This Comment]

April 21st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Frank says:
I think I have a major problem with left handers.
They seem to have very little target to hit and their sword arm seems to be in the way most of the time. Also the angle and the distance seems foreign to me. There are not many left handers to practice against and I always seem to run into the odd few in a competition and I start freezing up about what I can do even before the bout begins. I seem to have less options in my mind compared with right handers where I feel more free and confident.

Can anyone give me some help…

[Reply to This Comment]
Pete says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 am
When you say that left handers have little target just remember whatever you see on a left hander they see on you. As a result, left handers tend to develop as defensive fencers at the lower levels. My basic lefty approach is to be defensive and to score mostly through parry-riposte either in 6 or 2. During a tournament it is nice to throw in a few slow-well timed attacks so they don’t read you as well. I hope this helps!

[Reply to This Comment]

May 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 pm