Grantham Sabre Camp

Sabreurs’ fitness 

Last week I had the pleasure of working at James and Ian Williams’ summer sabre camp in Grantham.  There were about 30 fencers there, from aspiring juniors to top ranked seniors. My role was to support the coaches by delivering group and individual fitness sessions. 

The fencing “season” usually means that a summer layoff is followed by a week long camp in preparation for competition season in the Autumn.  This, combined with the long days of training and competing on the camp, meant that my sessions had to be balanced between work and education. Too much intensity on a camp like this means an increase in injury potential, too little and there is minimal training effect.

I was working with Stephen Chappell who is a Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) instructor at Headley Court. Together with James and Ian, we tried to get the balance right. As the week progressed, Steve got busier with massage and treatment. Hydration, fuel and recovery (including ice baths) were emphasised and made available.

Agility for fencers

My first session was based around multi directional agility: with specific emphasis on hip projection. I started with the “lunge n’weep” series I got from Joe P at GAIN this summer. This requires movement in 3 planes, with the lower and upper body working in different directions.

Then I moved to a “wheel” drill starting with single leg squats, steps, lunges, hops and finally sprint actions in 6 different directions.  I was trying to show the fencers that trying to move fast without a solid foundation of balance, stability and strength will be unsuccessful.

I finished with a reaction drill where the fencers had to try and wrong foot their partner by seeing how they were balanced and sending them in a direction they would find difficult (video here).  I.e if their partner was shifting to one side (common in fencers) then send them in that direction. Two things happen then: either the partner is “frozen” or they have to do a false step to move.

Having fun

On the last day, with bodies and minds tired (the competions were running to 2200 on the previous nights) Steve and I arranged a fun team session.

First up was seated volleyball and then a command task with a “casualty” being carried over an obstacle course in the gymnasium.  It is always interesting to see how individual sports people co-operate (or not) as a team!

As I noted on my previous work on this camp, the professionalism of the RAPTC is second to none and I hold them in high regard.  The fencers I worked with asked good questions and seemed keen to learn and improve.  The discussions I had with the coaches and the information they shared about fencing fitness will help my work with the SW fencing hub.

Sabre fitness 2014