O.P.S. Epee Club at home
With many weeks of no fencing we can all do things to ensure we are in our best condition and as highly skilled as possible for when the world returns to normal.
Technique Resources
Many of these bladework and footwork techniques will be able to be done indoors at home without the need for lots of space. Good to keep practice going.
Fencing Technique Sheets – here
Great timing/hand-speed exercise – here (thanks to Keith Cook)
First Target Hitting video ‘Getting Started’ – here
Practice Hitting of Balls Progression – here
Exercise 1 – Direct hitting to target routine. Footwork and with Epee – here
Exercise 2 – Remise/redoubles to hanging football – here
Exercise 3 – Changing target height – Body, Leg, Foot – here
Exercise 4 – Parry-Reposte practice using target and tennis ball on string – here
Exercise 5 – Counter attack in opposition (engagement) using target and tennis ball on string – here
Exercise 6 – Attack in Opposition (engagement) using target and tennis ball on string – here
Exercise 7 – Beat actions using target and tennis ball on string – here
Exercise 8 – Low line parrying and engagements using Fan base and epee/pole – here
Footwork 1 – Improving Stepping and Lunging – here (10 minutes)
Footwork 2 – Improving your Step-Lunges – here (10 minutes)
Fitness Resources –
These fitness sessions can be done indoors at home without the need for lots of space. Good to keep your fitness levels high.
Fitness target for all (well almost all) – Being able to do at least 10 proper press-ups – I will be adding some advice on progression for press-ups if you currently are unable to perform them. If you can already do press-ups target to increase how many you can do without stopping and how many you can do in one minute.
Progress to doing your press-ups – here
Fencing Fitness Sheets – here
Mobility Routine – here (BBC)
Quick Core Session – here (BBC)
HIIT Routine – here (BBC)
Great Balance Workout – here (BBC)
Mobility, Balance & Posture Circuit – here (thanks to Keith Cook)
Sister Club Redhill & Reigate Elite Fencer Fitness & Conditioning (by George Morris)
Elite Athlete 1 – Fencing Strength & Conditioning 1- link (Thanks to George @ Redhill & Reigate)
Elite Athlete 2 – Daily Trunk Conditioning 2 – link (Thanks to George @ Redhill & Reigate)
Making your own Hit-Pad/Target –
How to make a basic fencing target – here (facebook video)
How to make a full fencing target – here (facebook video)
Weekly Puzzle / Challenge – Weekly prize for first Under 14 local fencer to email (on parents email to chrishowser@hotmail.co.uk) with the correct answers of a ‘Free O.P.S. evening club session (in first month of sessions re-starting).
Spot the Difference 1 (28-03-2020) – Winner – Jude Odysseas
Fencing Crossword (05-04-2020) – Winner – Max Carter
Fencing Word-search (14-04-2020) – Winner – Lauren Shaffer
Close up Fencing (20-04-2020) – Winner – Robin Silk
Spot the Difference 2 (27-04-2020) – Winner – Robin Silk
Word Maze (10-05-2020) – Find the route to spell engarde from start to finish without crossing any walls or going through any square more than once.
Page will be updated day by day with more resources.
Lead Coach – The lead coach will be Chris Howser, he is a level 4 Registered British Fencing coach with over 30 years of coaching experience which has included coaching British Squad members at European Junior Championships and the England Ladies team to a Commonwealth Silver medal. He also coached a large number of fencers in Surrey (where he previously lived) and that group have won numerous British and England titles between them. That success has continued in our club, with Chris coaching many fencers to British titles and GBR representation. Chris was a high class international fencer in his own right, having fenced for Great Britain at 5 World Championships and having been Senior Men’s British Champion in 2005. He still competes, being ranked as a top 50 GB fencer (May 2023). Chris continues fencing at Veteran level, being ranked 6th in Europe (June 2023) in the 50-59 age-group.