Clik here to view.
Week 11: Watching in the 4m Zone
Dear Instructor: Welcome to Level 2. This Level is all about Timing in sabre. Timing is often vaguely described by fencing coaches: a case of “I’ll know [good timing] when I see it”. This is at best...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Week 12: Accordion – prep steps, fakes, and finishes
Dear Instructor: Welcome to Week 12. This week, we expand on the timing ideas we introduced in the previous session for watching in the 4m zone to the Attacker on the March. Back in Week 2, we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Week 13: Jump-back Parry Riposte
Dear Instructor, Welcome to Week 13, the third week of Level 2. This Level focuses on timing in sabre. In the previous two sessions, we introduced the idea of rhythm and change-in-rhythm – or cadence...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Week 14: Advance and Double-Advance Lunge
Dear Instructor: Welcome to Week 14. We continue our exploration of timing in sabre as per the rest of Level 2, but indirectly this time: we introduce the concept of technique backups, and reinforce...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Week 15: Counterattack Timing
Dear Instructor, Welcome to Week 15, almost halfway through Level 2. We have spent the last few sessions exploring the idea of timing in sabre, focusing on rhythm. Much of this has been on applying...
View ArticleQ&A On the pros and cons of Advance step preparation
John, I was reading your blog about watching in the 4 meter. You talked about “Advance Step” prep. Most Korean fencers use “advance” prep. Who frequently uses “Advance Step” prep? Can you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Q&A: On training without electrics and games to teach right-of-way and...
Hey Sydney Sabre, I started a free youth sabre club in the States in XXXX. Not a lot of parents can afford electric gear so I have been coaching dry. This has the kids fencing clean as I am training...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Q&A: On archetypes for shorter fencers
Hi Sydney Sabre, My name is Vik. I am a sabre fencer in the USA. I started when I was around 10, quit for many years and returned to the sport earlier this year as a rookie once again. I fence at my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
John’s Guide to Sabre Gear (updated JAN 2024)
tldr; version: “Buy the minimum. For your body, now. The best quality you can afford. Start with things you can’t borrow.” If you’re fencing with us, you can always use our gear. But you may want to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Sydney Sabre Course (Updated JAN 2024)
When we started Sydney Sabre there were few guides for teaching adults how to fence sabre. The manuals we found focused on children and the foil: the standard training weapon of civilian duelists for...
View Article