KEEPING IN SHAPE

Harold Hayes

Because of the necessity of staying home and observing "social"

distancing during the covid 19 pandemic, it's unfortunately not possible now to
go to the fencing club and enjoy spending the afternoon or evening fencing. To
keep from getting completely out of shape, it's a good idea to take walks, go
cycling, do aerobics or yoga, or any other general exercise. In addition to that,
you can help to keep you fencing chops by practicing the manual of arms. It
won't be a substitute for actually fencing with an opponent, but it's an effective –
and even to some extent necessary – preparation for the bout.
To practice the manual of arms, you move your body and weapon in the
ways they have to be moved when you are fencing, and you do that with
mindfulness and precision. Mindfulness means knowing exactly what you are
doing (in terms of tactical purpose and results) when you move your weapon
from position to position in the fencing space; and precision means placing
every part of your body and the weapon exactly where it needs to be to
accomplish the task you are performing. Mindfulness also means being aware
of how your state of mind affects what you are doing (focused, distracted, bored,
interested, curious, tired, energetic, etc.). Precision also means placing every
part so that it becomes a good starting point for your next action.
You can accomplish a great deal by practicing the manual of arms. It
should be done in an orderly manner so that you can remember to include all the
categories of actions (offense, defense, preparation, actions on the blade, actions
not on the blade, and so forth). The main drawback, which sometimes can be an
obstacle, is that you are alone. You have to be a self-starter, and not require

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outside stimulation. A nice compensation for the solitude of this kind of
practice, however, is that once you embark upon it, it gets more interesting in
ways that you might not have anticipated. For just one example, in defense, you
can imagine how a very basic action, like a parry of fourth, can be adjusted in
one way or another to defend the appropriate line against the opposing blade
exactly wherever it could possibly appear, and still require a parry of fourth; or
imagine just when, if necessary, you would have to move to another parry. This
sort of study of variation can apply to any action. It mainly depends on
imagination, and of course, knowing basic technique.
Another kind of practice is shadow fencing. Remember that mindfulness
and precision still apply when you engage the imaginary opponent, the
"shadow". You can construct imaginary phrases with the shadow and go
through them as many times as you want to perfect your technique or to consider
and re-consider the tactical options that exist in any position that you and the
shadow create.
It would be nice if the manual of arms or shadow fencing could produce
the pleasure that a musician can have from practicing with a beautiful instrument
and hearing its sound. Solitary practice of fencing is a bit like playing an
instrument and not hearing it. Keep in mind, however, that the actual musical
performance is always in a cooperative and facilitative environment, whereas
performance in the fencing bout puts you up against an uncooperative and
disruptive opponent. From that point of view, it's easier to appreciate the
opportunity to develop the neuromuscular skills you want to have, exactly
according to your own interests, at your own pace, and without disruption. The
bout is great fun, and even more fun when you can do more things, and do them
more skillfully.