"A
Cut Above The Rest"
| Contact Information and Photo Gallery |
| Fencing
Classes |
| School
Programs |
| Individual
Lessons |
| Competition and Equipment |
| Fencing Camps |
| Staged Combat |
| Event
Calendar |
| Fencing
Basics |
| About
the Instructor... |
| The
main goal of The Cutting Edge is to bring fencing to youth via
during-school and after-school programs. |
"Time reveals truth. And since distance creates time, it is only with this that you can ever know the truth."
"Winning isn't a some time thing--it's an all time thing."
-- Vince Lombardi
"Those who fear to try know not their limits, and thus--know not themselves."
"Parry as late as you dare."
-- Bruce Lee
"No different! Same! Only different in your mind!"
-- "Jedi Master Yoda"
"If you are afraid to be struck, you will be struck. If you are afraid to hit, you will be hit. If you wait to 'see' the moment to attack, you will be attacked. You must feel when the door is open, and no more."
--Master R. Chu
"When the moment comes--'I' do not hit. It hits all by itself."
-- Bruce Lee
"Do. Or do not. There is no 'try'..."
-- "Jedi Master Yoda"
"The highest art is no art. The best form is no form."
-- Bruce Lee
 Fencing camps
and workshops are great ways to really delve into fencing for a large
amount of time, meet a variety of fencers of all ages from many walks
of life, and to have fun cross-training with everything from team
colors, team points, prizes, swordplay & imagination games, and
friendly
bouting... to water slides, soccer, frisbee and basketball!
In general, fencing camps run for one or two weeks usually during (but not limited to) the summer months. Fencers intensively train, starting from around 9:00 or 10:00 AM, working on drills, games, fencing, lessons, cross-training, team goals, etc. Most fencing camps are complete for the day by 3:00 or 4:00 PM.  SUMMER
FENCING CAMPS!7/31 - 8/5 ► 11:00
AM to 5:00 PM, Mon-Sat
► Saturday Sabre tournament!! ► Snack & drink provided daily ► All fencing gear included ► Prizes, certificates, team points ► Games, lessons, drills & fencing ► Safe, fun environment ► Professional, licensed instructors ► Fence with the instructors!
Los Altos Youth Center Call 408-417-1148 for more information. $402 for 36 hour week! (Monday through Saturday) NOTE: small snacks and drinks will be provided each day Recommended for Ages 7 and up.
~~~ SABRE CAMP SIGN UP FORM ~~~
Additional camps will be held the following week at The Fencing Center in
General
directions to arrive at camp: Take highway 87 to the Julian / St. James
exit (6B). Exit onto Julian, heading away from downtown San
Jose. Turn onto Stockton Ave. Parking is limited, but
perfect for drop-off and pick-up of students.
Cutting Edge Camp Itinerary Day 1 -- (as an example...)
Role call, last minute paperwork Introduction to coaches, staff Introduction to equipment, rules, code of conduct during camp Explanation of camp point system for team prizes Explanation of prize of the day Basic warmup, calisthenics INSTRUCTION: 1st Position, En Garde, Advance, Retreat, Lunge Group footwork as a whole Team color distinction, Team members, callsigns & captains declared Jackets, Gloves, Masks, Weapons Team Tunics distributed Assign roles for designing of a "Team Crest" Suit up. Explanation as they go, so they are familiar with gear. From now on, points awarded to first team to suit up (or down!) Negative points awarded for dis-array, etc. INSTRUCTION: Delivering proper attacks with the cut, also proper holding of weapon here, hand position for en garde more specifically covered Team members work with one another Cut Head, Flank, Chest -- add footwork when ready Points awarded to teams with excellent form and attention to detail Negative points to heavy hitting, wild, and undisciplined actions! INSTRUCTION: Concept of "Right-of-Way" Demonstrate--first dis-regarding any type of parries Demonstrate Attack-Counterattack Demonstrate Simultaneous Attacks Focus on Hand Speed, Arm Extenstion is key GAME: "Snake Strike" All teams face each other. 3 touch "bouts". Each scored point awarded to corresponding team. Team with most points gains an additional +10 points. First with no footwork. Then with lunge, and advance lunge. Weapons, gloves and masks to group piles, jackets and colors can stay on. ~~ WATER / SNACK BREAK ~~ Upon return, all teams sit down in their groups. Each team member gets to speak up, state their name, age, why they wanted to learn about sabre fencing... REVIEW: Learned 1st position, en garde, advance, retreat, lunge, Proper delivery of cuts Explanation of "ready-to-go" team vocals. From then on, points awarded for teams that are first to organize, or be ready, or complete some sort of actions that are asked of them. As a TEAM! Negative points for teams failing to stay disciplined or general dis-organization! All teams get the remainder of their gear. INSTRUCTION: Concept of the types of defense Parries of measure and parries of steel. First, measure. Demonstrate. Team members drill the basics of using footwork as defense. They drill... Second, steel. Demonstrate. Team members drill the basics of using 3rd, 4th, 5th as defense. They drill... Team Points awarded as seen fit. Note how measure parries "all" types of attacks... ...and steel must be the correct choice in order to succeed. Demonstrate the adv/dis-adv of both at any given time. INSTRUCTION: Making the "riposte" to score the touch INSTRUCTION: Concept of "Right-of-Way" Demonstrate--now adding how footwork, tempo and bladework determine a touch Teams work on riposte after their defense--must be quick like "Snake Strike" game. Team Points awarded as seen fit. GAME: "Measure by Measure" Demonstrate. All teams face each other. 3 touch "bouts". Each scored point awarded to corresponding team. Team with most points gains +15 points. First with advance lunge only. Then with more "open" footwork... Demonstrate how timing can play into this as well! Suit down, leave neat "piles" of gear ready to go upon return. Points awarded to first team to suit down. Negative points awarded for dis-array, etc. ~~ LUNCH ~~ No teams need suit up... yet. GAME: "Glovelling" All team members twice through. Points awarded for each caught glove. Team with most caught gloves gains +25 points. We take an overall team vote--play it again? Suit up! Points awarded to first team to suit up. Callsign "ready-to-go" +10 points. Negative points awarded for dis-array, etc. INSTRUCTION: Deceptive attacks (by disengagement, cut-over, or by feint) Demonstrate many types of these situations. Focus on hand technique--not pulling back, or hesitating. Clear decisions to do certain actions, not just flailing! Teams attempt these actions with coaching and step-by-step action. Points awarded to teams with excellent form and attention to detail Negative points to heavy hitting, wild, and undisciplined actions! REVIEW: Learned 1st position, en garde, advance, retreat, lunge, Proper delivery of cuts, defense of steel & measure, deceptive attacks GAME: Teams bout using what they now have learned. They may use any techniques that have been covered. All teams face each other. 3 touch "bouts". Each scored point awarded to corresponding team. Team with most points gains +50 points. Negative points to heavy hitting, wild, and undisciplined actions! Suit down, leave neat "piles" of gear ready to go upon return. Points awarded to first team to suit down. Negative points awarded for dis-array, etc. ~~ WATER BREAK ~~ No suit up... yet. All sit in their groups. If a team remembers to use their "ready-to-go" team vocals, +10 points. Questions & Answers. Each team gets asked three fencing questions. Teams may have a moment to discuss, but team captain responds. Correct answers worth +5. Incorrect worth -3! Bonus Question is available for answer by ALL teams, however team captains answer silently to the coach. Correct answers worth +25. Incorrect worth -15! Suit up. FINAL GAME OF THE DAY: Variations on "War". Possible that not all teams will face one another. Two teams compete at a time. Others wait, cheer and watch. Winners get +10 for all remaining team members. Suit down. Gear is put away nicely in bags. Questions, socialize, end of camp day.
If you have
interest in future fencing camps, please let us know. At this
time, fencing camps for the
months of June, July, and August of
2004 are
currently
being
scheduled and prepared! Sign up today, as there is limited
enrollment!
If you are a school associate, parent, or employee, and you would like to schedule a 100% FREE demo of how fencing works (where students suit up, and try out a "crash" course in fencing), send TCE an e-mail with your school contact information, or click here for more information! --Matthew Carauddo
(F.F.E. certified fencing
instructor)
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Additional
links or points of interest:
| United States Fencing Association (USFA) |
Learn about the basics of
fencing, find fencing clubs all over the United States, find
information about worldwide tournaments. |
| Coastside Academy of Fencing | Provost Anthony Joslin's introductory and intermediate sabre fencing classes are located in beautiful Half Moon Bay, CA. |
| Sonoma Fencing Academy | A three-weapon fencing academy located in beautiful Petaluma, CA which offers instruction, electrical fencing, and private lessons in all three weapons. Special thanks to Kendall-Jackson winery for their continued support. |
| Vector Theater Conservatory | Vector Theater promotes youth and adults to excel in the arts and grow their skills in acting, music, singing, stage combat, and fencing. |
| Blade Fencing Supply |
A well-known vendor of
fencing gear. Located in New York. |
| Esun Fencing Supply |
A fencing equipment vendor
located abroad. |
| The Bay Cup Website | Events local to our area and divisions (California) are listed here. Visit this site for information on upcoming events in all three weapons. Special thanks to Eric Dew for managing this site. |
| Fencing.net |
A collaborative site which
includes drills, information and other interesting details regarding
many aspects of fencing. |
